Tuesday, June 25th 2013
Today we only have to watch a movie titled "Helvetica" and Ms Uma asked us to give some opinions about the typeface.
We also have to write some quotes from the famous designers. So here is my report:
while I watched the movie, I also took some notes
Helvetica
Helvetica is one of a thousand
typefaces and Helvetica was born in Switzerland. Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann developed this typeface in 1957. It was
initially called Neue Haas Grotesk. Neue Haas Grotesk didn’t sound very good for a typeface that
was intended to be sold in USA. Alfred
Hoffman, Eduard Hoffmann’s son, said that Stempel suggested the name of
Helvetia (the Latin name of Switzerland). But his father was not agreed; he said
“you cannot call a typeface after the name of a country”. And he suggested, “Why
don’t you call it Helvetica”. In other words this would be the Swiss typeface.
“Helvetica”
a documentary film by Gary Hustwit, shows some typographers, artist, and designers’
opinion about Helvetica. Some of them love it, and some of them don’t. Here are
some quotes from the designers:
·
“Type shouldn’t
be expressive.” –Massimo Vignelli
·
“Helvetica is more neutral, that’s why we love Helvetica very much.” –Wim
Crouwel
·
“…it’s a typeface of socialism.”
“Helvetica: perfume of the city.” –Lars Muller
·
“Just because something’s legal, it’s not mean to be communicative.”
“Helvetica sometimes not work well in a few word.” –David Carson
·
“Typefaces are a brand.” –Erik
Spiekermann
·
“Typography give a personality.” –Paula Scher
·
“The biggest thing in design is got some emotions in sort things.”
“Helvetica: it’s just a beautiful font.” –Michael C. Place
·
“It has a certain style in Helvetica.” –Manuel Krebs
·
“...And the choice of typeface is the prime weapon, if you want, in that
communication.” –Neville Brody
For
me, Helvetica is a good typeface, indeed. What I love about Helvetica is that
typeface works well in many of things. It’s just…fit. Just like Lars Muller has
said, it’s a perfume of the city, because we can find it everywhere such as in
a restaurant, store, road sign, and even on the trash bin. Not only on the
city, many companies, brands and organizations use Helvetica as its typeface
such as EPA, NASA, Panasonic, BMW, TOYOTA, American Apparel, Lufthansa, American
Airlines (the one which is consistent using Helvetica from the first time until
now), and many more.
This typeface also has a personality,
people can easily realize that is Helvetica. Helvetica is simple, but quiet
efficient in giving information to people. It’s easy to read and the
composition is perfect. I mean the space from other letter to the other one is not
to close and not to far.
But
I’m agree with David Carson. Helvetica sometimes not work well in a few word.
For example you write “Sunshine” using Helvetica it didn’t shows the real Sunshine. That word doesn’t
have a sense of Sunshine. Take a look to another example, “King Kong”. Does it describe King Kong? Do
you feel the sense of King Kong there? Where is the sense of scary, big,
strong, and brave King Kong using Helvetica?
And
Helvetica doesn’t give a characteristic to some brands. Here is it. Lufthansa and American Airlines. What makes it
unique and different each other? Different with Coca Cola. Coca Cola has its
own typeface. It gives a characteristic. Every time we see that typeface, we
remember Coca Cola. So, it also gives a benefit to the company.
In
conclusions, we have to choose a typeface depends on the purpose. I think if we
want to share information, choose Helvetica as the typeface will be a good
decision because it’s clear and easy to read. But if we want to make the word
more alive and have a characteristic, just take a look to the word, and decide
what typeface that fit in and also give a sense to the word. So we can feel the
word.
and here's my homework:
