Helvetica Notes:
After watching this movie, I learned that the typeface Helvetica means “the Swiss”, but was originally named Neue Haas Grotesk. It was invented in Switzerland in 1957, and brought to popularity the design style called Swiss Design, which revolved around simple, clear, and timeless typefaces. A few other design movements discussed in the movie were Modernism, Postmodernism, and Grunge.
Apart from informing us about the typeface Helvetica, this movie was educational in the general subject of design. We were able to hear opinions and advice from several famous designers such as Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel (gridnick), Michael Place, and Matthew Carter. A few examples of these designers’ works can be seen below.
Massimo Vignelli:
Wim Crouwel: (Inventor of the Grid System)
Michael Place:
Matthew Carter:
These designers had many interesting and insightful things to say such as, “It’s not about the black, it’s about the white” (Vignelli). He was trying to convey the fact that often times typefaces are not characterized by the letters themselves, but rather by the spacing between and around them. A female journalist said that Helvetica gives off a more humane and accessible vibe, which is why it is often used in things like marketing, which requires an ad to reach out to its human targets and seem more relatable and friendly. Another designer stated that “Something is designed to stand the test of time”, which I thought was not necessarily always true, but an interesting observation nonetheless.
After watching this video, I was curious to see where I might find Helvetica in my every-day life. Here are a few pictures that display this universal typeface being used in society:
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