Stephen's Answer
At this point we’re reacting to a pre-release version of iOS 7. Lots of stuff could change before it’s officially released. But I’ll comment on what I think won’t change too much.
I commend Apple for making typography the core of the interface, eschewing the unnecessary chrome and skeuomorphism of buttons and other elements. They wisely followed Metro’s (Microsoft!) lead on this. It makes for a simpler, more timeless OS, and I think it’s the path forward for most interfaces.
But the omnipresence and importance of type in this kind of UI approach makes the choice of a distinctive and legible typeface all the more vital. Unfortunately, that choice was Helvetica (specifically Helvetica Neue AKA Neue Helvetica).
Bill Dawson has the right idea when he uses the word “superficial”. I fear this decision was made with fashion, not usability, as the main priority. And after going with the obvious designer fallback (Helvetica), it’s as if they picked a very light weight to avoid the ironically generic nature of the typeface.
But even more problematic than Helvetica’s generic quality is its lack of readability — particularly in the light weights and when spaced so tightly. Helvetica (as it exists today) is a very uniform (and monotonous) design, meant for large, graphic settings, for word marks and posters, not for text and UI. It’s the only thing I hate about reading Quora, for instance, but here at least the regular weight is used and it isn’t tracked tighter.
A better choice would be a simple Humanist (like JAF Bernini Sans) or Gothic (like Benton Sans, which Myspace uses throughout their new UI). These kinds of sans serifs have lettershapes that are more open and individually distinguishable. They create a more readable rhythm.
Or, as Bill suggests, Apple would do even better to make their own typeface that is not only designed specifically for their OS and devices, but also lends the products a distinctive identity. Because in iOS 7, more than ever before, the type is the brand.
Update: I’m painfully aware that this answer is as shallow as the surface-level iOS7 typography that it mocks. The new font technology behind the visual choices is more interesting and probably more important in the long term.
I commend Apple for making typography the core of the interface, eschewing the unnecessary chrome and skeuomorphism of buttons and other elements. They wisely followed Metro’s (Microsoft!) lead on this. It makes for a simpler, more timeless OS, and I think it’s the path forward for most interfaces.
But the omnipresence and importance of type in this kind of UI approach makes the choice of a distinctive and legible typeface all the more vital. Unfortunately, that choice was Helvetica (specifically Helvetica Neue AKA Neue Helvetica).
Bill Dawson has the right idea when he uses the word “superficial”. I fear this decision was made with fashion, not usability, as the main priority. And after going with the obvious designer fallback (Helvetica), it’s as if they picked a very light weight to avoid the ironically generic nature of the typeface.
But even more problematic than Helvetica’s generic quality is its lack of readability — particularly in the light weights and when spaced so tightly. Helvetica (as it exists today) is a very uniform (and monotonous) design, meant for large, graphic settings, for word marks and posters, not for text and UI. It’s the only thing I hate about reading Quora, for instance, but here at least the regular weight is used and it isn’t tracked tighter.
A better choice would be a simple Humanist (like JAF Bernini Sans) or Gothic (like Benton Sans, which Myspace uses throughout their new UI). These kinds of sans serifs have lettershapes that are more open and individually distinguishable. They create a more readable rhythm.
Or, as Bill suggests, Apple would do even better to make their own typeface that is not only designed specifically for their OS and devices, but also lends the products a distinctive identity. Because in iOS 7, more than ever before, the type is the brand.
Update: I’m painfully aware that this answer is as shallow as the surface-level iOS7 typography that it mocks. The new font technology behind the visual choices is more interesting and probably more important in the long term.
