type hype: helvetica

Posted by tobysturgill in culture, feature on April 29, 2010

It’s been said by more than one source that, “Helvetica is the most perfect font” and I have to admit that I kind of agree with them. All of them. Why? I’m not sure… it just works.

A friend of mine, fashion designer @signsealzip, was asking me the other day, “What’s the big deal about Helvetica… everyone’s saying it’s the perfect font.” My response was, “oh, but it is!”

There’s even a feature length movie about it!

What are your thoughts? Do you think Helvetica is the most perfect font? Is there something better? Gotham is making a big splash these days and has been hailed as “the next helvetica.” I’ll feature that next week. But really… why all the type-hype?

Helvetica, the movie

Posted by tobysturgill in design on October 27, 2008

We use it every day on our computers, we see it on street signs — and we take it for granted. Now, Gary Hustwit’s unique documentary introduces us to Helvetica, whose readability has made it the most popular font in the world. Interviews with designers and artists offer insight into the development, use and universal acceptance of Helvetica as the typeface of choice for everything from writing letters to creating corporate logos.