It’s time to say goodbye to Calibri. For the first time in 15 years, Microsoft is changing its default Office font. Next year, it’ll have an entirely new look—and you can even choose to.
That’s because Microsoft has revealed five possible new looks. Instead of leaving the decision-making to the corporate, the company is asking users like you to share your thoughts on social media. React and comment on social media, and your favorite fonts could be the future face of Microsoft Office.
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First: Here are the fonts you can choose from
The best default fonts fly under the radar. When they blend into the background, you can get straight to your work without any distractions.
At least, that’s what Microsoft thinks. “A default font is often the first impression we make,” the company said in a recent blog post. “It’s the visual identity we present to other people through our resume, document, or email.”
That’s why the tech giant is saying goodbye to its old font. Calibri stole the show back in 2007 when it replaced Times New Roman in the Microsoft Office app. Now its reign is over, and five new claimants are competing for the throne.
These new fonts are the work of different designers. Some worked in teams, while others went solo and created new forms.
Each typeface has its own story
For example, Steve Matson designed Bierstadt to imitate Swiss typography in the mid-twentieth century. While it has a subtle soft design, the ends of its strokes are clearly cut. It is reminiscent of Helvetica and Ariel.
He named it after Mount Bierstedt, a 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado. “When I think of the Swiss type, I think of the Alps,” he told Microsoft. “Since I’m located in Boulder, my Alps are the Rockies.”
Another font design you can choose from also has European inspiration. This is the Grandview, a striking design by Aaron Bell that found inspiration in Germany’s classic street and railway signs.
These iconic signs are designed to be easily legible in poor conditions or from afar. Bell thought they would translate well on a computer screen, although he changed some of the letters to make reading longer.
All of these designs are now available in Microsoft 365’s Font menu. This means you can play with them before choosing your favorite.
Once you choose the font you like as the new default, you can share your thoughts on social media. There may be polls and other ways to share your feedback. After Microsoft picks its winner, it will pop up as the default font in Office apps in 2022.
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