Helvetica is about the most ubiquitous typeface most people have ever ignored. It was developed by the Haas Foundry in Switzerland in 1957 and first introduced in 1961. It is one of the most common typefaces in use today. But rather than ask why this typeface is so popular, first-time director Gary Hustwit asks: How did two guys in a studio create the typeface, and why? To find out, he embarks on the first film of a planned trilogy relating to various aspects of modern design.
This time, he talks to numerous designers and typographers, all of whom have their own theories on why the font become so in demand, especially in the Western World. Many praise the typeface for its clean appearance, its flexibility, its symmetry, and its scalability. Others lament that it is overused. Director Hustwit gives everyone their say.
