"The subway, he says, 'is just covered in Helvetica. I wanted to know why.' And it’s not just the subway. New York taxi numbers are also in Helvetica. The font is on IRS tax forms, U.S. mailboxes, and ConEd trucks. The 50-year-old sans serif font spells out countless logos: Sears. Bloomingdale’s. JCPenney. Crate & Barrel. Target. Fendi.
Jeep. Toyota. Energizer. Oral-B. MetLife. Nestlé. Once you realize Helvetica is everywhere, says Hustwit, “you just can’t stop thinking about it.'"
The passage above is an excerpt from an interview between journalist,
Virginia Postrel and Gary Hustwit (pictured), director of Helvetica, a documentary film about opinion and feeling towards the nearly universal typeface, Helvetica. To read the entire article from the Atlantic, click here.
Our class watched the film yesterday during class, and I really couldn't believe how much Helvetica is actually used. From the signs in the subway to the American Apparel logo.
During the phone interview, Postrel asked about the responses Hustwit received after attending 90 screenings around the world. His audiences ranged from general documentary film lovers and graphic designers along with typographers and students.
Hustwit made the comment, "One thing I discovered was that graphic design students are exactly the same in every country and even look exactly the same. They wear the same clothes. It is a truly global network of designers. I did feel very much like I was showing the film to the same group 90 different times."
Kind of silly, but oh so true. Hustwit isn't finished making movies. He will be showing a new documentary, Objectified in March at South by Southwest. This film is about ordinary objects that we use everyday and the designers behind them. Hustwit isn't straying from his desire to soak up knowledge of objects, how they're designed, and the impact they have on our everyday lives. Check out the interview with dwell.com's blogger, Miyoko Ohtake.
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Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI have been contemplating the gray area that is associated with typography since I saw that video. In recent years, I have been told that typography should be reflective of whatever story/project you are designing for. It was very interesting to hear different sides in the film. I am starting to think that simple typography allows a story to speak for itself. David Carson might have other ideas....Zingbats for one example...
Hahaha of course you post for us to view an interview on dwell.com. You should get paid for all the advertising you do. I am kinda curious to hear your opinion on Helvetica's dominance in NY. Did you notice it all the time? Your NY blog is fantastic, while I am on the subject. This one's not bad either. :)
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