"Helvetica"

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: