Microsoft Announces Change of Default Font to Aptos
The announcement from Microsoft includes some humorous remarks, including a pun on “Calibri-ations” in the tagline. The post also adds a touch of font snobbery by referring to the circular dots above certain letters as opposed to “grotesque squares.” Overall, Microsoft’s new default font Aptos aims to provide a fresh and visually appealing option for users of Microsoft Office software.
Microsoft has announced that the default font in its Office suite will be changing from Calibri to Aptos. The new font was chosen following feedback from users on five new fonts commissioned by Microsoft, which include Bierstadt, Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite. Bierstadt was originally chosen but has been renamed Aptos, while the other four fonts will still be available in Microsoft’s Office suite.
Aptos will become the default font across Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel for Microsoft Office users worldwide. Previously, Calibri was the default font in previous versions of the software, but it will now be replaced by Aptos. Microsoft notes that the font change will be implemented gradually over the coming months for all PCs running Microsoft software.
The font Aptos was designed to be the perfect font for higher resolution screens, with a focus on clarity and balance. Creator Steve Matteson crafted the font to embody various aspects of the human experience, including a slight humanist touch.
“We wanted to give Aptos a sense of humanity,” Matteson explains. “We added a little swing to the R and the double stacked g to give it that human touch.” The font is derived from the name of an unincorporated town in California, meaning “the people” in the indigenous Ohlone language.
Matteson describes Aptos as bold, well-defined, directive, and constrained. The font features clean cut stem ends and subtle circular squares within the letters’ contours for higher legibility. In addition to this, Aptos features circular dots above i’s and j’s, contrasting with “grotesque squares” found in other fonts.
Interestingly, Matteson ideated Aptos using paper and pencil rather than working on a computer. He explains, “I prefer the nuances and physical expression that come from drawing on paper. Every little line has a purpose. Every dot has a meaning.”
Calibri will still be pre-pinned at the top of the new font menu, alongside Times New Roman and Arial. Microsoft acknowledges that fonts are personal and understands the attachment users have to their preferred fonts.
You can read the full announcement regarding the new font Aptos here.
Alternatively, take a look at some of the best fonts for business and professional use. You can also find out how to stop automatic updates on Windows 10, or how to get the best gaming PC specs for your rig.
