Helvitca

Helvetica the film I thought was incredibly insightful. There was always a feeling to me whenever I looked at a magazine, or saw a commercial, even a billboard or company sign that provoked this supremely aesthetic modern look, but it was very hazy in my mind how that was created. All of these things resembled each other, and there was this lingering similarity that I couldn’t quite grip. I wanted to know what exactly they did to create this look. Now I know what I was seeing all along that I never could put any finger on. It was Helvetica, it was everywhere, it is what I have been seeing my whole entire life. It was almost reassuring and strongly relieving to finally understand what was everywhere but did not exactly understand. Helvetica itself seems to be a virus that infiltrates all levels and systems of society to produce modern aestheticism.

The filmed offered both praise and criticism of the typeface. Many typographers disagree on its use and what it stands for. When it came out in the 1950’s it revolutionized design in typography and therefore allowed for all levels of advertisings, signs, magazines etc… to evolve. Personally I think what Helvetica has done and continues to do is great, I really enjoy what Helvetica does as a typeface. I think it promotes pure form, simplicity, and an overwhelming good look. Others though disagree, Typeface designers in the film criticized Helvetica and its modern look. They were working for more of a postmodern jumbled non-restricted look that seems to combat what Helvetica stood for. Other typeface designers respect Helvetica but still wanted to push further and redirect the sails of typeface design. Older typeface designers saw Helvetica, as something that is everywhere, always will be everywhere, and is all that you need. Though if Helvetica were all that was used in typeface design, there would be a complete absence of identity to any thing it was used in, it would be impossible to identify anything from something else. We would have an almost socialized design system. . Yet, I still don’t mind it being everywhere as it is today, and I think that its look is still something that is bold simple, condensed, clear and great to look at. Long live Helvetica.