Sans Serif
Currently Watching:
Helvetica is an amazing documentary about the font and typography/graphic design in general. Probably the most interesting piece I’ve seen on graphic design since an article I read about Paul Rand years ago.
I highly recommend this doc. In it they explore the history, usage, and proliferation of Helvetica. They talk to people who love the font as well as Helvetica Haterz. The Haterz are the most entertaining part of the film: “Why is Helvetica so ubiquitous? I don’t know — why is bad taste so ubiquitous?..” “It’s on every street corner — well McDonalds’ is on every street corner, people can go eat garbage if they want to eat garbage…”
I dabble in graphic design myself and got a lot out of this pic. The rise of Helvetica is in sync with the rise of corporations, modernism, and urban living. This doc’s now out on DVD — check it out.
My Work in Print
Year Zero
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Cowboy Versus Samurai
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2 Comments
I always wanted to know why AZN girls really liked to use Century Gothic when different font styles were an option in Instant Messaging. But I guess that’s another documentary for someone else to make.
When people that I don’t like IM me I change their incoming font to Dingbats.