When designing non-fiction books, I have repeatedly had to deal with authors or clients who suggested using Comic Sans as a text face for sections that needed a human touch.
Clearly, the average humanist sans (or serif, for that matter) was not seen to meet their needs. And although I think educating the client is part of the job, I can’t help thinking they had a point. Where we (specialists) tend to see striking differences between typefaces, normal users tend to see, well, nothing special. So in order for the text face to convey that subliminal message of friendliness we are sometimes looking for, we may need typefaces that are a little more different than others.
In the sans serif realm, spelling out “human” and “warm”, while avoiding to become childish or silly, isn’t as easy as some type designers assume. Morten Olsen’s Dancer is one of those new, and newly conceived, text faces that seem to do the job. It strikes a balance between typographic quality and charisma, between conventional wisdom about legibility, and expressiveness. Also, it has an equally eloquent serifed companion.
I would immediately suggest using Dancer to any client wanting more “humanity” in a piece of text. Typographers will appreciate the way in which striking features (squarish counters, rounded terminals, ink traps) are used to enhance the typeface’s personality without making it a novelty font. The “normal” reader — and the client — will hopefully notice that this typeface is different, in a likable way.
This font has everything i searched for! thanks for this great list!
Seems to come straight down the road paved by Underware’s Sauna some years ago: “warmth and comfort with a contemporary flair”. At first sight a little bit less playful, though. Looks well done, nonetheless.
I actually used Sauna in one of those projects that the client suggested Comic Sans for, so you’re right. Dancer is different enough though, and what I like about it is that it’s slightly more bookish. Also, what Sauna lacks is a good Text/Book weight: at small point sizes, Sauna Regular is a bit too light for my taste.
Your description of the font is so impeccably right on. You also see in the potentially difficult request of the use of Comic Sans a wonderful opportunity for this typeface. Talk about turning something around!