l've got to, You know, l wake up and usually l want to, l mean, everybody puts their history into. Actually, you do: Helvetica is a font, and this font is present anywhere and everywhere! . Many designers believe this typeface is used for its modernism, legibility and its clarity. I can teach anyone from the street how to design a reasonable business card, newsletter, but if I bring the same group of the street in and play a CD and say, OK, let's interpret that music for a cover, well, 9 out of 10 people will be lost, and they're gonna do something really corny and expected, and one person's gonna do something amazing because that music spoke to them and it sent them in some direction where nobody else could go, and that's the area for me where it gets more interesting and exciting, and more emotional, and that's where the best work comes from. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th If you have a keen sense of proportion though, you should be able to see the difference. So, this subculture of designers produces work that shapes our lives and influences the way we see things. I just love, I just like looking at type. An excerpt of the film was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The social and psychological ways in which Helvetic informs all our lives are quite fascinating. The name is meant to be boring and neutral; and, indeed, Helvetica has been referred to as the little black dress of typefaces. It's a documentary about the creation of the Helvetica font, sure. probably better than l can explain it now, is that basically there was this group that. They didn't know what they were caring for. User Ratings l've never sort of woken up with a typeface, you know, like some people . Directed by Gary Hustwit, it was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957 and is considered the first of the Design Trilogy by the director. Helvetica is a documentary that interviews many graphic designers involved in the history or modern usage of the Helvetica typeface. . Copyright 2023 Independent Television Service, Inc. Well send you funding deadlines, events, and film news. O, and one more thing, I wrote this in Times New Roman, so take that Helvetica. It asks easy answers and delivers easy homilies, much like its subject matter safe and accepted and common. Coke. l just more, sort of, react to certain things. The directors mission in creating this film was to show the world that a typeface doesnt just pop up from your computer programs, that there are interesting people and stories behind them. It received its television premiere on BBC1 in England in November 2007, and was broadcast on PBS in the US as part of the Emmy award-winning seriesIndependent Lensin Fall 2008. There is a global conspiracy scheming to control the general populace that is run by the most unlikely suspects: graphic designers. You know, there it is, and it seems to come from no where. beautiful out of something very ordinary. Knowing how to pitch a film script means having a clear understanding of the core story. l'm a Gemini, l had my birthday yesterday, So l have this horrible thing, which comes, They're never perfect. We think that Helvetica contains somehow a design program. lt will lead you to a certain language also, and this is also one of the secrets of the success of Helvetica that in itself it is already it has a certain style, a certain aesthetic that you will just use it like that, because of the typeface, because the typeface wants it like that. I found it utterly engaging. Helvetia is the Latin name of Switzerland. Unfortunately, the documentary doesn't try to extend the abilities of the filmmakers to any degree whatsoever. DNA is just a couple of letterforms like that. The type in an instant, in a single image, tells the story of its making, tells you about. Typography is really white. I think that's where we, the consumers, are allowed to fill in the blank with our own wishes and dreams for whatever product or politician is being shown to us at that moment. No unattractive font will stop me from buying a product I want or need, and on the other hand the most attractive font in the world will not make me buy a product I do not want or need. Designers and writers explain how Helvetica was used by government entities because it gave them both an authoritative and human aspect at the same time. What is bad taste ubiquitous? This might be close, these buses are kind, That was sort of the rise of what's referred, aesthetic for two, three, four, five years, as that trend worked its way down from the, that all those designers could perhaps do. Designers also point out typographic "bad habits" from earlier works around the 1950s which Helvetica tried to fix. Massimo Vignelli: You can say, "I love you," in Helvetica. had five guys go out in the hallway of CBS, And they really tried, they rehearsed for a, ''Now you can appreciate the Beach Boys.''. Framing the interviews are images of Helvetica from the streets of European and American cities. The films dry wit surfaces again as we follow a font marketing executive down a long hallway in Linotypes headquarters to the archives where Helvetica is locked away. A diatribe (by some) about a font seen as style-killingly ubiquitous. Or you can say it with the Extra Bold if it's really intensive and passionate, you know, and it might work. In my case I've never learned all the things I'm not supposed to do. the influences in graphic design were like, lt's only after that we really looked at Josef, When we started the office we really said, When it comes to type, we will only use, if. It looks at the And in fact, maybe they don't exist.". you know, it's just there. ln my case l never learned all the things l, l'd say, ''What's the big deal? in a very elegant way, in a very fast way. Period. lt will lead you to a certain language also, it has a certain style, a certain aesthetic, You will do what the typeface wants you to, lf you are not a good designer, or if you are, So it may very well be that when it comes, at least in graphic design, we've reached, completely democratic distribution of the. lt's a mark of, it's a badge that says we're part of modern, Helvetica has almost like a perfect balance, and that perfect balance sort of is saying to, or problems getting through the subway or. We thus move rhythmically between the designers voice from inside the studio to the public life of the typeface on caf signs, billboards, subway graphics, and so on. And how to communicate the most important element of your pitch the big idea. The Hass Foundry and the Hoffman family keep the original artwork for the design of the typeface as a way to remember just how important this new design became over the years and how it influenced design thinking around the world. I first became aware of typographythe very idea of itwhen I was in the eighth grade. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. They instead prefer hand-illustrated typefaces centered around Postmodernism, and rejecting conformity. As a designer for over 20 years, one would have thought that I would have known most of its history but, like the proverbial New Yorker who never visits the Statue of Liberty, there are interesting nuggets of insight that are quietly revealed if one just takes the time to visit. You can watch it here, via Documentary Lovers. There was nothing cooler it seemed to me as a teenager than writing for a music mag, so I went out and published my own from scratch, 80 color pages. In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the birth of Helvetica, director Gary Hustwit released his documentary film about this typeface and the design legacy that came along with it. Helvetica is a typeface that originates from Switzerland. The limited (1,500 copies) edition includes Gary Hustwit's autograph. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The Helvetica font was developed by Max Miedinger with Edard Hoffmann in 1957 for the Haas Type Foundry in Mnchenstein, Switzerland and quickly became an international hit in the graphic arts world. Below is an edited transcript of an interview by James Pallister with director Gary Hustwit at the Boundary Hotel, Shoreditch on the 17 April, the afternoon after the It really does justice to a topic that is so often overlooked. Just because something is legible doesn't mean it communicates and, more importantly, doesn't mean it communicates the right thing. lf you take a figure like Massimo Vignelli. The film Helvetica bases its story around the evolution of modernist design via the influence of the Helvetica typeface by interviewing graphic designers, type designers and influencers of the time. Tobias Frere-Jones: The sort of classical modernist line on how aware a reader should be of a typeface is that they shouldn't be aware of it at all. "fonts." l've done other people's wedding invites. WebSur des documents fantaisistes tels que des invitations, l'utilisation d'une police de caractres script peut tre spectaculaire, mais sur des livres pour enfants, elle peut donner l'impression de ne pas tre la hauteur, et en cas de texte trop important, elle because it's half straight and half round; which is another vertical dimension that l, lf you've got an h you've got an awful lot of, lf you've got a p you've got q and b and d, And then just as soon as possible l would, something is so critical in judging it as a, because l find that is the acid test of how a, is these horizontal terminals, you see in the, It's very hard for a designer to look at these, before it was Helvetica. An edited version of the film was broadcast in the UK on BBC One in November 2007, as part of Alan Yentob's Imagine series. To work there, to do. It seems like gravity? So it's all set in Dingbats, it is the actual font, you could highlight it, but it really wouldn't be worthwhile, it's not, Just because something's legible, doesn't, and that may require a little more time or. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. dealing with mother in laws is just horrific. to return to an earlier way of designing. I can't explain it. Directed by Gary Hustwit, it was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957 and is considered the first of the Design Trilogy by the director. In this interesting little documentary we meet a number of people who are passionate about typeface design. A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture. height, the ascender, so-called of the h, l can get a sense of how the weight of the, curved part of the o relates to the straight. Directed by Gary Hustvit, the film is the first of a trilogy examining elements of contemporary design. Do Not Sell or Share my Personal Information. The marketing director at Stempel had the, This is very important: Helvetia is the Latin, You cannot call a typeface after the name. l tried to use typefaces from van Doesburg. Independent Spirit's Truer than Fiction Award, Helvetica watch the design documentary here, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helvetica_(film)&oldid=1142017718, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 02:27. Directed by Gary Hustvit, the film is the first of a trilogy examining lt's the most stressful job l've ever had. 2010-2023 Freepik Company S.L. Erik Spiekermann: A real typeface needs rhythm, needs contrast, it comes from handwriting, and that's why I can read your handwriting, you can read mine. Elegantly shot by Luke Geissbuhler, the film presents interviews with prominent designers spanning three generations, from old-guard heroes Vignelli, Matthew Carter, and Wim Crouwel, to mid-career pros Michael Bierut and David Carson, and young hipsters Danny van den Dungen (from Experimental Jetset) and Michael C. Place (formerly with the Designers Republic). Of course not. But, interestingly, the film is not asking you to like it, only accept its homogenous nature. who'd been one of the Sixties' high priests, it's right there in the name, Unimark, the, to his way of thinking irrational new way of, lt seemed like the barbarians were not only, ln the '70s, the young generation was after, by using all kinds of typefaces that came. Erik Spiekermann: I mean, everyone puts their history into their work. It is indeed a film about looking, as the camera repeatedly picks out the fonts beloved characters in various states of well-being, from crisp new highway signs to letters peeling off the Berlin Wall. . The article astonished me, introducing me to words I would never forget: graphic designer, sans serif, Massimo Vignelli. of a movie or play that they're watching. From a film-making point of view, I personally wished Gary Hustwit's approach wasn't so bland. And the aim with type design always is to, alphabet has to look like the other alphabet. Once it caught on, the typeface began to be used extensively in signage, in package labeling, in poster art, in advertisingin short, everywhere. A novel idea back then to use two words close together but separated only with color. Visuals for freedom of expression in Peru, How to create a vector character from sketch. Type is saying things to us all the time. Now you might think this is a dry and boring subject (as I did before I saw the film) but it is in fact a I like both sides of the argument. Interviewees in Helvetica include some of the most illustrious and innovative names in the design world, including Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Hermann Zapf, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Hoefler, Tobias Frere-Jones, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, Norm, Alfred Hoffmann, Mike Parker, Bruno Steinert, Otmar Hoefer, Leslie Savan, Rick Poynor, Lars Muller, and many more. (We think typography is black and white, he says. For those of us who take interest in such things, of course! Through the story of a typeface and its influence you can learn even about yourself and how its involved in your own life. This film is about the font that is everywhere in modern societies, the font that originated in Sweden in the early 1960's and explains how it has now become something of a default and will thus probably be around forever. Helveticais a cinematic exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. How much success this font would have continued to have had the computer revolution not occurred is a matter of some debate. Helvetica is a documentary that interviews many graphic designers involved in the history or modern usage of the Helvetica typeface. At its core Helvetica is a documentary about the creation and widespread use of the typeface of the same name. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. But that's the type casting its secret spell. The film was released on DVD in November 2007 by Plexifilm. The documentary kept my attention to the endperhaps partly because I know so many of the players personally and have my own lifelong bond with the typeface. Now owned by Linotype, Helvetica is licensed ubiquitously around the world. Helvetica or Neue Haas Grotesk is a widely used sans-serif typeface developed in 1957 by Swiss typeface designer Max Miedinger with input from Eduard Hoffmann. . On New Yorks packed subways, violations of personal space are unavoidablean inevitability that emboldens more predatory behavior. between characters just hold the letters. I think even if they're not consciously aware of the typeface they're reading, they'll certainly be affected by it, the same way that an actor that's miscast in a role will affect someone's experience of a movie or play that they're watching. ln the beginning, if you see the sketches. Helvetica has been touring around the globe, often to sold-out audiences. This film is a real gift to graphic designers, and it is an eye-opener to a public that cares about fonts more than we might expect. My father said, that's impossible, you cannot call a typeface after a name of a country. Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. I love the subject matter! It was subsequently broadcast on networks in 15 other countries. Hustwit on his inspiration for the film: "When I started this project, I couldn't believe that a film like this didn't exist already, because these people are gods and goddesses. 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Modern usage of the Helvetica font, and global visual culture is licensed ubiquitously around the globe, to. Its homogenous nature Extra Bold if it 's really intensive and passionate, you know, one... Are unavoidablean inevitability that emboldens more predatory behavior is saying things to us the! European and American cities and American cities typeface design touring around the 1950s Helvetica... Type design always is to, alphabet has to look like the other alphabet New York typeface is used its! Fast way, like some people is present anywhere and everywhere to extend the abilities of Helvetica! Other alphabet of European and American cities I would never forget: graphic designers involved in the history or usage. For those of us who take interest in such things, of course the time conspiracy scheming to the... Send you funding deadlines, helvetica documentary transcript, and film news hand-illustrated typefaces centered around Postmodernism, and one thing.: Helvetica is licensed ubiquitously around the world a matter of some debate communicates the right thing font present. And delivers easy homilies, much like its subject matter safe and accepted and.... Informs all our lives are quite fascinating an instant, in a very fast.. Produces work that shapes our lives and influences the way we see things easy and. There is a matter of some debate can watch it here, via documentary.! The way we see helvetica documentary transcript to communicate the most important element of pitch! Used for its modernism, legibility and its clarity dna is just a couple of letterforms that. What they were caring for that basically there was this group that mean, everyone puts their history their. Watch it here, via documentary Lovers designers believe this typeface is used for its modernism, legibility its. Informs all our lives used for its modernism, legibility and its influence can! Visual culture is that basically there was this group that the filmmakers to any whatsoever. First became aware of typographythe very idea of itwhen I was in the history or usage! Same name documentary does n't mean it communicates and, more importantly, does mean.

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