For users who took our first steps in the world of computing in the 90s, Times New Roman is a classic. This was the default font for all Office applications until the release of Office 2007, when it changed to Calibri. 15 years later, we once again change the default Office font, Aptos being the chosen one.
Changing the default font of Word can be a problem for many users, so Microsoft has not made this change based on the tastes or preferences of users, but rather, in 2021, announced its intention to replace Calibri with a new from five different options: Bierstadt, Grandview, Seaford, Skeena and Tenorite. Finally, the chosen one has been Bierstadt, which has changed its name after the selection phase to Aptos.
Changing the default font of the applications that are part of Office is not a whim of Microsoft, just as it has not been to change the location of the start menu to the bottom center of the computer. This change was made to adapt to the type of monitor that most users use (16: 9) to make it easier to access without having to turn your head or even your eyes to press it.
The reason Microsoft claims for making this change is to improve the display of text on high-resolution monitors, now that they have become more than commonplace in millions of homes and offices. This change will roll out across Microsoft 365, initially coming to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook apps in the coming months.
Aptos is a san serif typeface, which in Spanish means that it is easily readable thanks to its strokes in both large and small format and is similar to the Swiss typeface of the mid-20s. The designer who has been in charge of this typeface is Steve Matteson, a designer who is also behind Windows TrueType fonts and Segoe, one of the most widely used Windows fonts.
Matteson says he wanted Aptos to have the sly tone of host Stephen Colbert and the appeal of the late NPR host Carl Kasell. This typeface will be available in different thicknesses to capture the reader’s attention. In the end, the only thing that users are going to notice is that the font has been changed, if we stop to look carefully at the new shape of certain letters such as r, i, j or l.
When Aptos becomes the default font for Office, it doesn’t mean Calibri is going away. This will continue to be available to all users who want to continue using it, however, they will have to access the applications settings to set it manually instead of Aptos.
