In a recent blog post, Microsoft announced the end of its longstanding default font, Calibri, and introduced Aptos as the new default font for Microsoft Office. After considering user feedback and commissioning five new fonts (Bierstadt, Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite), Microsoft selected Bierstadt, which has now been renamed Aptos.
Aptos, designed by renowned type designer Steve Matteson, strikes a balance between professionalism and relatability. Drawing inspiration from the landscape of Aptos, California, the font embodies sharpness, uniformity, and excellence in display type. It combines elements of mid-20th-century Swiss typography with clean-cut stem ends and subtle circular squares within the letter contours, enhancing legibility at small sizes.
Steve’s design process involves starting with pencil and paper to preserve the handmade craftsmanship before digitization, ensuring that the font retains its warmth and humanity. Aptos features different font weights and distinctive characteristics, including a lowercase “l” with a tail and circular dots for the heads of “i” and “j.”
While Aptos becomes the new default font across Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft acknowledges that font preferences are personal choices. Users will still have options like Times New Roman, Arial, and the other font contenders to choose from—Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite. The introduction of Aptos is part of Microsoft’s broader efforts to make Microsoft 365 more expressive and inclusive.
