next
Koviljka
thoughts on design  Community
Why designers hate comic sans?

3/16/2007 at 8:33 PM


.
.
.
.
.
.
...coming soon...
.
...coming soon...
.
...coming soon...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

helvetica. 50 years after.

1/20/2007 at 9:38 AM


We all know Helvetica.
It's the first choice of many designers and was recently chosen as number 1 on Font Shop International's The 100 Best Typefaces of All Time list. And it doesn't end there.

It's a celebrity typeface. Although it is still very much 'alive' a film about it has been made.
It's the feature-length independent film called Helvetica by director Gary Hustwit - 'a film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture', celebrating the typeface and it's ubiquity over the last 50 years (it was developed in 1957). (www.helveticafilm.com)

The most interesting thing about Helvetica is that it is really everywhere. On my way to school there are about 20-25 signs that use Helvetica (and it's a ten minute walk :)).

But the issue I would like to discuss here is the reason for its popularity, and this question keeps popping up -
is Helvetica so popular because it was designed as a neutral typeface, or is it just neutral because it's so popular and we're used to it?

I would really like to hear some opinions about this, and if you're not a graphic designer - don't let that stop you ;).

~kae

View Details
Image  Art
View Details
Image  Art

Uploads
by this user
view all 28

Untitled Untitled Untitled Mos Def True Magic Talib Kweli wallpaper Lolypop Sketch - baby g Heaven can wait

Friends
of this user view all 252

Connect and Share

Log in to connect with Koviljka

Last login: 8/17/2008
Member Since: 1/19/2007

1,484 points
252 friends
15,169 page views