Helvetica: The Movie

Designers everywhere rejoice! If you haven't heard, there is a film out (now available on DVD) called Helvetica: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit. If you can't figure out by the aptly named title, it is a documentary about, you guessed it, the typeface Helvetica. The movie was released in 2007, celebrating Helvetica's 50th birthday, and no other typeface is more deserving of such a film than good ol' big H. (Bonus points for counting how many times I can use the word "typeface" in a movie review.)

As the fallback typeface for every modern designer it gets a lot of flack from some as being a bit of a copout, but others insist that there is no need for any other typeface because Helvetica is, well, perfect. I, being a fan of the latter viewpoint, have to say that I loved this movie (especially since Helvetica Neue UltraLight is the best font ever). It gives a great background to the history of the typeface and has interviews with many world renowned graphic designers about their thoughts on its use. A lot of big name designer-rockstars are in it such as: Massimo Vignelli, David Carson, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, Eric Spiekerman, Neville Brody, and many more. The views expressed range from Helvetica being the embodiment of the modern corporation, to it being a simple and elegant solution for any design communication problem.

The film has a great soundtrack and very nice cinematography that incorporates an example of the typeface in nearly every shot.

Type nerds will salivate over this film although I doubt it's one to have your non-artsy friends come over and watch. But it is a nice, palatable introduction into what us crazy designers think about for the better part of our day, while watching movie credits, looking at food labels, reading magazines, browsing book titles or anything else with legible type printed on it. A good designer can never shut off that part of their brain so try to get your non-designer friends to start noticing things like where Helvetica is used and WHY its important and you will no longer be the annoying friend who is talking about critiquing the motion type during cheesy TV commercials. Helvetica is really THE typeface of the modern era; it's everywhere you look and I challenge you to walk down a city street without seeing it used somewhere.

If you want to check it out for yourself search for it on Amazon.com or pop over to the film's main site at www.helveticafilm.com

And some clips: