Bibliograph

Helvetica, a Swiss Dots production ; in association with Veer ; a film by Gary Hustwit ; produced and directed by Gary Hustwit

Type

Label

Helvetica, a Swiss Dots production ; in association with Veer ; a film by Gary Hustwit ; produced and directed by Gary Hustwit

Language

eng

Characteristic

videorecording

Intended audience

Not rated

Main title

Helvetica

Oclc number

184841541

Responsibility statement

a Swiss Dots production ; in association with Veer ; a film by Gary Hustwit ; produced and directed by Gary Hustwit

Runtime

Series statement

Design trilogy

Summary

A documentary about a typeface? When said typeface is a ubiquitous piece of graphic design, yes. Helvetica--a sans-serif typeface developed in 1957 at the Haas Foundry in Munchenstein, Switzerland--has partisans and detractors, a great number of them graphic designers and theorists, who express their opinions on the famous font. It is seen as neutral and efficient, concise yet inexpressive, purposeful yet not caustic, utilitarian and unembellished, or as frustratingly familiar, perfectly subliminal, or as the typeface of socialism. From storefronts, street signs, product packaging, government forms, and advertisements, it is almost guaranteed that after viewing, you will be scanning the world examining Helvetica's continuing impact

Table Of Contents

Opening (with Manfred Schulz) -- Massimo Vignelli -- Graphic design in the 1950s -- Amsterdam & Wim Crouwel -- Matthew Carter -- Helvetica story -- Linotype -- Widgco -- Hoefler & Frere-Jones -- Berlin & Erik Spiekermann -- Type's "secret spell" -- Lars Müller -- Paula Scher -- Stefan Sagmeister -- David Carson -- Experimental Jetset -- Michael C. Place -- Norm -- Democratization -- What we have now

Technique

live action

Contributor