Helvetica - KM

1. Describe Helvetica – what are some core visual characteristics of the font? Helvetica is a sans-serif font that is very clean. A special characteristic of Helvetica is the horizontal cut-off on the lower case e’s and g’s. Helvetica also has the little twirl on the bottom right of a lower case a or and upper-case R.

2. Provide a brief history of the typeface. What was so different about Helvetica from other typefaces? Helvetica was developed by Max Miedinger with Edüard Hoffmann in 1957 for the Haas Type Foundry. In the late 1950s, the European design world saw a revival of sans-serif typefaces such as Akzidenz Grotesk. Haas' director Hoffmann commissioned Miedinger, a former employee and freelance designer, to draw an updated sans-serif typeface to add to their line. The result was called Neue Haas Grotesk, but its name was later changed to Helvetica. The name came from the Latin word for Switzerland Helvetia.

3. Choose one of the people in the film who supported Helvetica, explain his/her argument. Helvetica is neutral and efficient and can be used for almost anything. It’s a clean font that gets the point across. Jonathan Hoefler believes Helvetica is really open to interpretation and therefore can be used in many different situations.  Since Helvetica can be interpreted in so many different ways, it is a very versatile font. The versatility of Helvetica is the reason it is seen world wide on every stage.

4. Choose one of the people in the film who dislikes Helvetica, explain his/her argument. Erik Spiekermann is a man who is opposed to Helvetica saying it has no rhythm and contrast unlike our handwriting. Helvetica is too tight and needs more white space. Each letter looks the same not making things stand out and its like an army of letters coming at you. Since Helvetica is everywhere he believes its developed a brand like American eagle and you want to use it simply because its Helvetica. Others dislike Helvetica simply because it has become the type of corporate America, and the typeface of the major wars like Vietnam and Iraqi. Some designers don’t want to associate themselves with these wars and therefore disapprove of Helvetica.

5.Having just watched an entire documentary devoted to a single typeface, what is your position on Helvetica? Explain.  I had never really looked into the type face used for essays or posters I just picked one that jumped out to me at the time. After watching the documentary on Helvetica it really broadens your mind as to the potential typefaces out there and what each of them offers. After seeing only the first half of the documentary, I noticed Helvetica everywhere around me. It is truly amazing how a single typeface has engulfed the modern world, and taken over the signs of every street.