I'm a sucker for a good font. Typography has been a passion of mine since I became involved in publishing. Most people never give a second thought to that little piece of type urging them to make this or that decision. A lot of thought has gone into that font. Some designer had to sweat out the decision and finally choose that font. The most used font in our society is Helvetica. It has become a standard on computers everywhere.
Helvetica is a cute documentary by Gary Hustwit and introduces a lot of people that are passionate about fonts and typeface design. The film explores the font of Helvetica from social, historical and design standpoints. Hustwit gladly investigates what can be considered the worlds most ubiquitous typeface and traces the roots of Helvetica back to a small foundry names Haas, in Münchenstein, Switzerland in the 1950s. The film charts its rise as a basic of corporate logos, warning signs and other functionality. He uncovers its controversy in the graphic arts community over cultural connotations and artistic worth. One interview with German typographer and designer Erik Spiekermann even goes so far as to compare the uniform appearance of the font to Nazi soldiers marching in line.
The film is artfully photographed and sharply edited. The photography, which can be credited to Luke Geissbuhler, is sublime. The soundtrack pushes the film through strong ambient rock. The film is a study in philosophy argument rather than the forced construction of say a Michael Moore offering. The seemingly unremarkable subject matter should not keep you away from this film. Helvetica is a witty, diligently researched documentary. It is very interesting, even if you're not a fan of the typography. Gary Hustwit has put together one of the most captivating documentaries of the year. One thing is guaranteed. After viewing this film you'll spend some time afterward scanning all that you see for Helvetica.
Helvetica is a cute documentary by Gary Hustwit and introduces a lot of people that are passionate about fonts and typeface design. The film explores the font of Helvetica from social, historical and design standpoints. Hustwit gladly investigates what can be considered the worlds most ubiquitous typeface and traces the roots of Helvetica back to a small foundry names Haas, in Münchenstein, Switzerland in the 1950s. The film charts its rise as a basic of corporate logos, warning signs and other functionality. He uncovers its controversy in the graphic arts community over cultural connotations and artistic worth. One interview with German typographer and designer Erik Spiekermann even goes so far as to compare the uniform appearance of the font to Nazi soldiers marching in line.
The film is artfully photographed and sharply edited. The photography, which can be credited to Luke Geissbuhler, is sublime. The soundtrack pushes the film through strong ambient rock. The film is a study in philosophy argument rather than the forced construction of say a Michael Moore offering. The seemingly unremarkable subject matter should not keep you away from this film. Helvetica is a witty, diligently researched documentary. It is very interesting, even if you're not a fan of the typography. Gary Hustwit has put together one of the most captivating documentaries of the year. One thing is guaranteed. After viewing this film you'll spend some time afterward scanning all that you see for Helvetica.