Twitter rolls out a web and app redesign, implementing its first proprietary font, Chirp, high-contrast black and white follow and unfollow buttons, and more

It's inevitable: Twitter changes Twitter, and Twitter users complain on Twitter. But does Chirp make you feel like a woodpecker is pounding on your skull?

CNET 2021-08-12 Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Context & Ripple Effects

Twitter had already been standardizing its experience across mobile, desktop, and the web in a 2017 cross-platform redesign, then tested a more structured two-column web interface in 2019. The new visual system extends that progression from layout consistency to Twitter-owned typography and more forceful interaction controls.

The rollout also immediately became an accessibility issue: related coverage records Twitter changing the new button contrast after users reported headaches, making the redesign notable as a feedback-driven product correction rather than a purely cosmetic refresh.

First-order effects

Twitter users encounter Chirp and high-contrast follow controls across the company’s web and app surfaces, while Twitter gains a proprietary typeface as part of its shared interface system.
Reports of discomfort and accessibility concerns require Twitter to revise the contrast treatment of its new buttons.

Second-order effects

Twitter’s design team must balance a more distinctive, consistent brand treatment against usability feedback, turning a global visual rollout into an iterative adjustment.
The reversal makes accessibility response part of the practical bar for subsequent interface changes, rather than a post-launch concern limited to a single screen.

Third-order effects

If Twitter continues to unify web and app design while revising contentious elements after release, interface ownership will increasingly depend on maintaining accessibility across every surface, not simply deploying a consistent look.

The trend: Twitter’s product design is moving toward a unified, proprietary visual system whose rollout is constrained by immediate accessibility feedback.

Discussion

Twitter Donna Lamar on x
Imperfect, by design — Twitter's got a new look. Get a peek behind the design.
@twitterdesign @twitterdesign on x
Notice anything different? Today, we released a few changes to the way Twitter looks on the web and on your phone. While it might feel weird at first, these updates make us more accessible, unique, and focused on you and what you're talking about. Let's take a deeper look. 🧵 http…
@twitter @twitter on x
wait did our font change?
@twittera11y @twittera11y on x
Today we release updates for colors & typography! See @TwitterDesign post for full details. The A11Y updates are: - Higher color contrast of buttons, links, focus - Easier reading with left-aligned text & more space between text - Fewer distracting gray things What do you think? …
@davewiner Dave Winer on x
This is what passes for innovation at twitter. https://www.cnet.com/...
@twitterdesign @twitterdesign on x
We've updated our colors to be high contrast and a lot less blue — a change made to draw attention to the photos and videos you create and share. We're also rolling out new colors soon, giving you a fresh palette.
@queer_queenie Queenie on x
I love how I use dark mode to prevent eye strain and headaches and then twitter is like “what if we made the follow button bright white on a dark background wouldn't that be great” no it's giving me the eye strain I'm trying to avoid
@favoniussol Sol on x
@TwitterDesign So you keep our custom colored buttons for “Tweet” and “Reply” but not follow? That's just so jarring, and we would rather keep the custom color for everything, not be forced to have the one you pick for us Hope you take this into consideration https://twitter.com/…
@jennschiffer Jenn on x
just had a brief “fuck fuck did i unfollow this person and now have to follow them back after which they'll know i unfollowed them in the first place” moment but twitter just changed the color of buttons
@twitterdesign @twitterdesign on x
Our new buttons are high contrast too. Now the most important actions you can take stand out. Yes, the follow buttons look different, but they'll help you see what actions you've taken at a glance.
@twitterdesign @twitterdesign on x
In January, we revealed our new font, Chirp — and it's ready for you to use today. All Western-language text now aligns left, making it easier to read as you scroll. Non-Western languages remain unchanged. https://twitter.com/...
@twitterdesign @twitterdesign on x
Finally, we cleaned up a lot of visual clutter. There are fewer gray backgrounds and unnecessary divider lines. We also increased space to make text easier to read. This is only the start of more visual updates as Twitter becomes more centered on you and what you have to say!
@_psot P'Sot Pop on x
@TwitterA11y @TwitterDesign The new typeface worsens my astigmatism. I cannot read without having a headache. My systems typeface is tailored for my eyesight.
@rkrigney Ryan K. Rigney on x
The new Twitter font isn't actually supposed to look like this, right? Like every other letter vertically misaligned? https://twitter.com/...
@dcurtis Dustin Curtis on x
At this point, it's just comical how Twitter executes absolutely zero things correctly. I am no longer frustrated. I laugh. Apple makes San Francisco. Airbnb makes Cereal. CNN makes CNN Sans. Twitter's font literally makes people nauseous. https://www.cnet.com/...
@inflatabird @inflatabird on x
@TwitterA11y @TwitterDesign I can't focus on this font at all, glasses or no glasses. I could read the old one even without glasses.
@bloops_ Bloops on x
Say what you want about the new Twitter font but switching around the Follow/Following button so it's now highlighted if you're NOT following is putrid. https://twitter.com/...
@cnet @cnet on x
It's inevitable: Twitter changes Twitter, and Twitter users complain on Twitter. But does Chirp make you feel like a woodpecker is pounding on your skull? https://www.cnet.com/...
@revrrlewis Bobby Lewis on x
new twitter font looks like the letters are slightly misaligned. love to have something else on here drive me insane
@andrew3lash Andrew on x
Sorry @Twitter but this character spacing stresses me out https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@shoe0nhead Shoe on x
WHAT IS THIS NEW TWITTER FONT WE WERE NEVER ASKED
@wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on x
There's been a number of small visual refreshes being worked on across different parts of the UI over the past few months When I tried it out myself before release, it felt gradual Now that they've launched them all I can finally see the big picture 😄 https://twitter.com/...
@cmclymer @cmclymer on x
I really like Twitter's new font.
@andraydomise Q. Anthony on x
This makes no sense. Just about every UI you encounter, an empty or greyed-out button indicates a condition needs to be met before an action can be taken, and a filled-in button indicates the condition has been fulfilled. Every other aspect of Twitter's UI supports this https://t…
@patrickmoorhead Patrick Moorhead on x
I thought something looked different! https://twitter.com/...
@joshwcomeau Josh W. Comeau on x
Digging the new Twitter font and design principles, but I really hope they fix the alignment here 😬 https://twitter.com/...
@dantley Dantley Davis on x
👋🏾 The Twitter visual language needed an update to align with our brand and principles, so we're launching a set of features that levels up the accessibility and usability of our platform. We will iterate and learn based on feedback from the Twitter community. https://twitter.com…
@gavreilly @gavreilly on x
Have had the font online for a month or so (thought it was standard?) and not wild about it. Looks like the sort of generic typeface they'd feed into a mathematical engine https://twitter.com/...
@andraydomise Q. Anthony on x
The new Twitter UX just loaded into my browser, and yeah this reversal of filled/unfilled follow buttons is unintuitive as hell. https://twitter.com/...
@ztsamudzi @ztsamudzi on x
Brand sentience is one of my least favorite parts of internet corporatism https://twitter.com/...

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