Help!!! Can I still design using cursive now that younger generations can’t read it?

[u/Alone-Swordfish-7086]

I’ve been a graphic designer since 1997 and now I find out that they no longer teach cursive. I’m not sure if this has been brought up before or not, but what are people doing about designing logos or incorporating text using cursive? Kids these days, including young adults, already can’t read it and it’s only getting worse. If I design a logo that a company plans on using for years, should I leave cursive out? Should I just stop using it all together? Thoughts? Thank you! #graphicdesign

[u/bemur1]

I’m gen z have never met anyone who can’t read cursive. Everyone in my design classes uses script typefaces. Just because they don’t teach you to write it doesn’t mean that everyone doesn’t learn to read it. Not sure what “kids these days” you’re referring to

[u/Alone-Swordfish-7086 → u/bemur1]

The 15 & 18 year olds in my family can’t read it! Other kids just out of high school can’t read it. Cursive isn’t being taught in most schools now so it’s only a matter of time until no one uses it or reads it. It’s headed that way now.

[u/Hazrd_Design → u/Alone-Swordfish-7086]

It’s a non issue. It’s just a slightly modified version of the English alphabet, not a whole different language. If they can’t read it, it’s just because they don’t want to. 10 minutes tops and they would understand it. Don’t base design choices on what a few kids can or can’t do.

[u/disabled_pan → u/Alone-Swordfish-7086]

It could be a regional thing too, my teenage sister can still read cursive.

[u/kamomil]

People can still read blackletter

[u/_pounders_]

not being able to write it and not being able to read it are two v different things.

[u/Alone-Swordfish-7086 → u/_pounders_]

Well, my cousins are 15 and 18 and they can’t read ANY cursive. They always have to ask adults what things say.

[u/Spiritual-Road2784]

I mean, if they can learn to read the names of death metal bands from those logos, they can learns to read a couple of short words in cursive. But I would avoid subjecting them to entire paragraphs.

[u/Extrask1n]

I think cursive is fine for logos as maybe short headers. Kids know all sorts of cursive logos even if they don't know or havnt been taught cursive yet. 

[u/Alone-Swordfish-7086 → u/Extrask1n]

Thank you!

[u/MaverickFischer]

They stopped teaching cursive years ago. I hardly see any adults who even write in cursive now and I'm 46.

[u/Superb_Firefighter20]

I feel you just need to include it in your design thinking. Some letterforms are going to cause more issues than others—this was also true while cursive was still taught in school.

[u/Reasonable-Peanut-12]

That’s an interesting take. Will italic be considered archaic at some point?

[u/Superb_Firefighter20 → u/Reasonable-Peanut-12]

Probably not. It has a lot of use in typographic style to give emphasis in things like titles. For it to fall out of fashion it would need to drop out of established guides like AP style.