Helvetica (the film)

Yesterday I returned to Osaka from Tokyo on the Shinkansen. As usual I grabbed a delicious ekiben and a bottle of tea before I rushed on the train and settled down for a relaxing 2.5 hour, high-speed trip back home through the Japanese countryside. Somewhere after Yokohama I unwrapped the bento, pulled out my MacBook Pro, inserted the DVD and kicked back to watch a documentary film called Helvetica by Gary Hustwit, a film I had been waiting to see for a very long time. I know what you are thinking—a film about a typeface? Are you mad? Yes, the idea of creating (let alone watching) a film about a single typeface seems quite insane, about as insane I guess as a film about a guy doing a slide presentation on climate change. (Helvetica was created by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann in the late '50s in Münchenstein, Switzerland. The original name was Neue Haas Grotesk. The name was later changed to Helvetica—Helvetia is the Latin name for Switzerland).


I snapped this pic out the side window while watching the film Helvetica.

A wonderful documentary
Maybe I am just a geek, but this documentary blew me away; 80 minutes never went by so fast. Luckily, the DVD contains 95 minutes of bonus interviews. The DVD—which contains English and German subtitles—is an incredible bargain at around $20 on Amazon (get institutional pricing here; still worth it). Stop what you're doing right now and order this film. I found it entertaining, educational—and don't ask me why—but inspirational as well. My favorite bits were the interviews with Eric Spiekermann, especially in the extras section where he lambastes Arial (Hey, what's wrong with Arial?) and rips Microsoft a new one. Dr. Spiekermann remember was the designer who hated the World Cup logo as well. The film is for designers and non-designers alike, though it is surely not for everyone. For those comfortable with media that won't even devote three minutes exploring an important single news story, an 80-minute film about a typeface might not be very interesting. But for those deeply interested in the world around them, even if they are not designers, this film should be quite stimulating. Anyone who is interested in learning more about typography and graphic design and how they influence our lives and cultures will not want to miss this one. Here are some short clips below to give you a feel (though they do not do the film justice).



The famous designers in the film were a mix of those who like Helvetica and those who really hate it. After you watch the film you'll know why. Me? I tend to like Helvetica. I understand why some hate its use, but I find since it is a bit boring, yet somehow beautiful in its perfection, it works well inside images that are quite busy or otherwise dynamic. After the film you will surely have a greater appreciation for typography and the power of graphic design. I am not an expert by any means, but I absolutely love type. (Actually, I have a bit of a Gill Sans fetish that I am trying to break.) When you consider how powerful type is in setting mood and even in subtle manipulation (such as in advertising), everyone should have a course in at least the basics—perhaps a kind of typography for non-typographers class should be added to the curriculum.

LINK
• How to spot Arial
• Helvetica merchandise
• Helvetica blog

Comments

[Paul Robinson]

I'm giving away a free copy of the Helevtica movie this week on my blog if anyone cares to enter.

http://kupuk.com/2008/01/27/helvetica-movie-contest/

[L]

Ah, Gill Sans - a wonderful typeface, but yes it can become a bit obsessive.

I've only seen the BBC cut down version of the Helvetica movie but I have to agree that it is a must see. Didn;t know it was available as a DVD so thanks for that.

[Andreas Illmer]

Thanks for that post!

I got the DVD from Amazon today ... and yes, your absolutely right. A fantastic film. And in my eyes, an excellent font, too ;-)

Greetings from Germany,
Andreas

[Robin Ting]

I always had trouble identifying specific typefaces despite developing an interest in the subject of typography as a whole in the last few years. Having watched this film however, I now see Helvetica everywhere. Since I live in NYC I see that type staring me in the face every time I step on a subway train.

Everyone that develop an interest in type from this film should read "The Elements of Typographic Style" by Robert Bringhurst. It's a wonderful book about type.

[Sheridan Haskell]

What's your opinion of Myriad Pro? I've found it to be more optimistic yet professional twist on Helvetica.

[GCM]

Wow. "Helvetica at 300kmph" is a brilliant picture. I think it also speaks of either (a) your steady hand at photography, or (b) the Shinkansen being so flawlessly smooth.

I have a fetish for Gill Sans as well :) And yes it is hard to break.

[Allan W.]

Ahh, Garr (& Robinson), you've touched a nerve with your Gill Sans comment. I was *supremely* disappointed to see your otherwise peerless book set with large swaths of Gill Sans. I detest Gill Sans, with its pointy 'p' ascenders and other oddities. My wife is sick of hearing my type rants ("what kind of man would set his book in Gill..."). I think I overused it in school (guilty!), and haven't touched it since.

Whew! Got that out of my system. Nothing personal, still a fan and all. =)

[Allan W.]

Helvetica I ignored for years until jumping on the train of its resurgence - this doc implored me to to take another look at it, and I do find it useful in situations. I find myself liking the Ultra Light (no tar!) versions in print or hi-def.

Helvetica is bland unless it's really isolated or very large (great for posters), and it's all about communication, not much else. It exudes a quietness, a stillness about it. I recall a post you wrote a way back about the "I'm a Mac" ads - how Mac was more humble, more "Japanese" in demeanor. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a personality connection there. (What does that say about your Gill attraction... =)

@ Sheridan: Myriad Pro is one I've loved for years, and still use it in presentations due to its sheer readability, with just a hint of style.

Another I've gotten hooked on is Caecilia (see Real Simple mag), both bold and italic. It's clean, very readable, and is sort of a semi-serif face. I use it a lot for worship lyrics - very readable, and a distinct change from the Arial most PowerPoint monkeys use at events.

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/pmn-caecilia/

[Mike Dudding]

Garr, Thanks for pointing me to this documentary. I was truly inspired. I am already seeing my world through a new perspective.

[Robert Fripp]

"Helvetica" the film was interesting, but I was disappointed that it made no mention of Will Burtin, the designer who brought the Helvetica font to New York from Zurich in 1958, one year after its birth.

Roger Remington and I describe Helvetica's reception in North America in our monograph, "Design and Science: the Life and Work of Will Burtin" (Lund Humphries, London, 2007):

"During the summer of 1958, in Zurich, seeing work by [Max] Bill, Mueller-Brockmann, Ernst Keller, Armin Hofmann and others, Burtin determined to take sans-serif to a larger world. (He was already campaigning for the 'clarity' of Swiss Style, having invited three Swiss designers to address Aspen in 1956.) Miedinger had designed Helvetica to convey the message equally well in any or all of Switzerland’s four official languages, two of which, French and German, took different sets of accents. Burtin saw the potential: Helvetica was suited, in fact designed, for international travel. The font itself is neutral, faceless, bland.

"When the Burtins retrieved their daughter from Berlin and returned to New York…in the fall of 1958, they imported Helvetica with them. Carol Burtin Fripp recalls her father’s unwavering opinion: 'Helvetica succeeds in conveying the message because it is so plain that there is nothing but the message to see. In this respect, the medium serves the message.'"

Disclosure: Carol and I have been married for more than 40 years.

Readers can find two chapters from "Design and Science" on my web site.

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That's insane. A movie about a type face. Although from the looks of it is quite enchanting so will have to give it a try.

[Rick]

Garr, Thanks for pointing me to this documentary. I was truly inspired. I am already seeing my world through a new perspective. http://www.rapidpig.com

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