Fontroversy: The Fonts That Just Aren't Quite Our Type

When Lena and Sean start fuming about the most famous (and infamous) font there is, guest expert Freya Kargard steps in to modernize their thinking about Helvetica. This might well mark our limited series' finale, but stay tuned as we might have one or two surprises in store as well!Segment Producer: Freya KargardResearcher: Robert DittyStory Editor: Izzy GavazaSound Editing and Mix/Mastering: Orion CortezThis episode was recorded Tuesday, May 30, 2023.__PRODUCTION CREDITSFontroversy was created by the students of DES 399 Public Design Communication in the Spring of 2019 as part of Portland State University’s Graphic Design program in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about PSUGD at psu.gd. You can learn more about the PSU School of Art+Design at pdx.edu/art-design.Host: Lena HallShow Art: Robert DittySocial Media Coordinator: Ashley HeekeProducer: Sean SchumacherEditorial Assistance by: Orion CortezMusic: “How Can Things Be” by HoliznaFor more about Fontroversy, visit fontroversy.com or follow @fontroversy.psugd on Instagram.

When frustration around the meme-iest of meme fonts starts to go viral around the studio, guest expert Sophia Mick bursts in to help set Lena and Sean straight on Impact’s… impact.Segment Producer: Sophia MickResearcher: Mette VoldengenStory Editor: Milos Dugas"Candy Paper Wrap Crinkling" Sound Effect by Emile99, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 License.This episode was recorded Tuesday, June 6, 2023.--PRODUCTION CREDITSFontroversy was created by the students of DES 399 Public Design Communication in the Spring of 2019 as part of Portland State University’s Graphic Design program in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about PSUGD at psu.gd. You can learn more about the PSU School of Art+Design at pdx.edu/art-design.Host: Lena Hall Show Art: Robert Ditty Social Media Coordinator: Ashley Heeke Producer: Sean Schumacher Editorial Assistance by: Orion Cortez Music: “How Can Things Be” by HoliznaFor more about Fontroversy, visit fontroversy.com or follow @fontroversy.psugd on Instagram.

When a typeface ripped from the funny pages starts to get contentious, surprise guest expert Whitney McPhie intervenes to school Lena and Sean on what Comic Sans can really do.IMPORTANT EDITORIAL CORRECTION: Gentle Giants Dog Food does NOT, in fact, use Comic Sans on its packaging—it instead uses a DaFont-style Disney-inspired sans paired with, of all things, Bank Gothic Sean apologies for this truly shameful oversight, although in their defense, attempting to look at any one specific type block on the package without being immediately distracted is basically impossible.Segment Producer: Whitney McPhieResearchers: Ashley Heeke, Sophia StokerStory Editors: Anna Stanton, Hannah JosephSound Editing & Mix: Orion CortezThis episode was recorded Tuesday, May 30, 2023.---PRODUCTION CREDITSFontroversy was created by the students of DES 399 Public Design Communication in the Spring of 2019 as part of Portland State University’s Graphic Design program in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about PSUGD at psu.gd. You can learn more about the PSU School of Art+Design at pdx.edu/art-design.Host: Lena HallShow Art: Robert DittySocial Media Coordinator: Ashley Heeke Producer: Sean Schumacher Editorial Assistance by: Orion Cortez Music: “How Can Things Be” by HoliznaFor more about Fontroversy, visit fontroversy.com or follow @fontroversy.psugd on Instagram.

When Wingdings becomes a sore subject around the studio, Lena and Sean turn to guest expert Lea Thompson to help settle once and for all what good those dingbats are for.Researcher: Lena HallStory Editor: Malia MastersonSegment Producer: Lea ThompsonThis episode was recorded Tuesday, May 23, 2023.---PRODUCTION CREDITSFontroversy was created by the students of DES 399 Public Design Communication in the Spring of 2019 as part of Portland State University’s Graphic Design program in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about PSUGD at psu.gd. You can learn more about the PSU School of Art+Design at pdx.edu/art-design.Host: Lena HallShow Art: Robert DittySocial Media: Ashley HeekeProducer: Sean SchumacherEditorial Assistance by: Orion CortezMusic: “How Can Things Be” by Holizna---For more about Fontroversy, visit fontroversy.com or follow @fontroversy.psugd on Instagram.

Wanna know the stories behind all the fonts we love to hate? Introducing Fontroversy, a limited-run series about typefaces that just aren't quite our type, hosted by Lena Hall. Listen every other Thursday starting July 20!Fontroversy is produced by Sean Schumacher (Did I Do That? podcast) and created by the students of the Spring 2023 Public Design Communication course from PSUGD, part of the Portland State University School of Art Design.