Review of Helvetica

Graphic Content

I am not entirely sure if Helvetica would be enjoyed by those not into typography and design, but frankly, I don't even understand how people could not be into typography and design. Serif versus sans serif! Uniform type versus graphic expression! This is fascinating stuff! If that last paragraph had you thinking, "Yeah, Aaron's right!" instead of rolling your eyes, you will probably dig this documentary about the design and subsequent omnipresence of the Helvetica font. The film interviews a number of designers who have been highly influential from the sixties to the present day. Their views on Helvetica and its use run the gamut. While some of the old guard espouse their ideas about it being the perfect typeface for any and all uses, one latter generation designer equates the use of Helvetica with fascist complicity in the Vietnam and Iraq wars. These are passionate nerds of the best kind. The use of a typeface does more than merely convey a product name or an instruction; it conveys ideas of how those products should be regarded or how people should behave. A look at Helvetica should change the way you look at your magazine, your city, your identity. For reals. Aaron. whatsaninternet.blogspot.com

Posted on 12/08/07 by: Aaron 01:21 AM

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