Helvetica: the Movie

One has to wonder how a typeface could be worthy of a feature documentary. A 50th anniversary surely isn’t sufficient reason. But as has oft been quipped by typographers, Helvetica isn’t just a typeface, it's a way of life!

The film is really quite entertaining, though I’m not sure its appeal could carry over to the non-designer demographic. These debates about typefaces and ideology (modernism, post-modernism, etc.) are great fodder for graphic designers — I've engaged in them for as long as I’ve been in the business — but for some it may seems like a lot of blather about nothing.

Still, given the incredible ubiquity of Helvetica, it's worth learning why it’s as popular as it is. And, conversely, why some high profile designers hate it so. Me, I’ve always preferred Helvetica's near twin, but (to my eyes) eminently more beautifully drawn family of fonts, Univers.

You can pre-order the DVD here (I already did!). And my good friend, Eman, has done up some very cool anniversary t-shirts that you can see here.