# Why is this font so commonly used in Europe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575 "2012-11-20T03:09:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/1 "2012-11-20T03:09:52Z")
Apparently it is called the Neustadt font, and here are some examples: [https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=873&tbm=isch&oq=Neustadt+font+&gs\_l=img.3..0i24l3.2481.2481.0.2613.1.1.0.0.0.0.44.44.1.1.0...0.0...1c.1.-9BIAqdqyPk&q=Neustadt%20font](https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=873&tbm=isch&oq=Neustadt+font+&gs_l=img.3..0i24l3.2481.2481.0.2613.1.1.0.0.0.0.44.44.1.1.0...0.0...1c.1.-9BIAqdqyPk&q=Neustadt%20font) My last couple trips to Europe, I’ve noticed this font (or similar ones) being used all the time on advertisements, signs, and the like. I’ve developed an irrational hatred of this font. It was nice to get back home today so I don’t have to see it nearly so often. Why is it so popular over there? And how can such a generic-looking font still manage to be so ugly? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/2 "2012-11-20T04:23:00Z")
This [link](http://justcreative.com/2011/06/10/8-new-sans-serif-fonts/) says it was originally a corporate font that was later released commercially. Presumably it got wide viewership due to the corporation’s usage. On the sample poster in that link Neustadt looks clean and simple, but still distinctive. I don’t buy your description of it as generic but ugly. If it’s generic looking you wouldn’t be noticing it continually. I’d use it if it was in my computer. Most fonts based on rounded rectangles are clunky, but this one is fairly graceful. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/3 "2012-11-20T04:35:39Z")
I’m from England, but don’t recognize it. Personally, I like it. Clean, uncomplicated, easily readable… Horses for courses… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/4 "2012-11-20T05:09:29Z")
Meh. I’m not paying $40 for it, when there are freeware fonts that give a similar effect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/5 "2012-11-20T05:18:54Z")
Fonts go through fashions, same as anything. Remind me to tell you of the time our government decided printing map labels in Souvenir Gothic would be a good idea. So maybe Neustadt is the European equivalent of Gotham. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/6 "2012-11-20T08:48:57Z")
It’ll be just as popular here in about 2 years. And I don’t think it’s that bad. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/7 "2012-11-20T16:22:53Z")
I agree that it is clean, simple and uncomplicated. I can also see where you could easily use this font when creating neon or letters out of metal bar or any other number of 3D products. So yeah, I can see how this could become popular. ---
**Author:** ![Mekhazzio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@Mekhazzio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mekhazzio)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/8 "2012-11-20T16:26:30Z")
So that’s the name of that font. I’ve been seeing that in a lot of computer games lately. Brink and Planetside 2 use it heavily. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/9 "2012-11-20T16:41:41Z")
I don’t think I would have noticed it if this thread hadn’t make me look closely, but those not-quite-round-yet-not-quite-square shapes really piss me off. Take a stand, man! Pick one!!! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/10 "2012-11-20T17:16:47Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Fonts go through fashions, same as anything. Remind me to tell you of the time our government decided printing map labels in Souvenir Gothic would be a good idea. [Searches for “Souvenir Gothic Font” in Google Images :p] So why would it **not** be a good idea?😕:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/11 "2012-11-20T18:38:02Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Meh. I’m not paying $40 for it, when there are freeware fonts that give a similar effect. Are there really any good freeware fonts out there? I’ve had bad luck finding anything worth using that doesn’t come from a professional foundry. I admit, I am somewhat picky when it comes to fonts. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/12 "2012-11-20T18:42:32Z")
Hey, at least it’s not Comic Sans. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/13 "2012-11-20T19:35:34Z")
I’m from the Netherlands, and to me the font has a distinctly German air to it. Neat, orderly. I don’t find it all that attractive, but it doesn’t bother me much, either. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/14 "2012-11-20T20:13:31Z")
It is simple and clean, sans serif. The wide rounded look makes the letters easily distinguishable. That makes it highly legible in print and on screen. That makes it good to use in signs and things that you want people to be able to read easily from a distance, or in small print. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/15 "2012-11-20T20:21:41Z")
Meh. I think it’s kind of ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-font-so-commonly-used-in-europe/641575/16 "2012-11-20T20:46:22Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Hey, at least it’s not Comic Sans. Or Peignot, which a shopmate used to refer to as Painful when it was in vogue. Or Serpentine, fellow galaxian.