It’s impossible to think of print design – or design in general – without thinking Helvetica, the dazzlingly simple sans-serif font that dominated 20th century typefaces and continues to maintain an impressive foothold.
You can see Helvetica in the signs for the New York City Subways, as well at the logos of dozens of companies, from Target to Toyota, American Airlines to American Apparel.
So, what’s the big deal about Helvetica? Designers praise its quiet neutrality – Helvetica lets products speak for itself, without endowing them with a prepackaged personality.
Additionally, Helvetica is one of those rare fonts that looks great both tiny and blown up, allowing companies to create uniform building fronts and business cards.
Some Helvetica designers consider Helvetica more of a discovery than a creation, as if it was there all along, waiting to light up billboards across the globe.
In any event, Helvetica was invented (or discovered) in 1957 in Münchenstein, Switzerland. The name Helvetica actually means Swiss.
Helvetica has inspired its own book, documentary, and even an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. I’d like to see Arial do that!