Ikea defends new catalog typeface after backlash

STOCKHOLM -- Ikea, the Swedish furniture chain, says it never expected such a backlash after switching typeface in its new catalog.

The catalog — which the company advertises as the world's most printed book — was distributed last month. Changing font from Futura to Verdana sparked a worldwide reaction on the Internet.

"We're surprised," says Ikea spokeswoman Camilla Meiby. "But I think it's mainly experts who have expressed their views, people who are interested in fonts. I don't the broad public is that interested."

Verdana was invented by Microsoft for use on a computer screen, not on paper.

Ikea said Sunday that in order to reach many people in many different ways, it needed a font that works in both digital and print media, in all media and languages.

Ikea has 246 stores selling inexpensive but stylish furnishings globally and around 140,000 staff members.