Like a lot of graphic designers, I find Helvetica to be one of my top choices for font usage. Its almost hard to put in words how this simple, sans-serif font has had such a huge impact and significance in society. Who could have guessed that this well-known font, created back in 1957 by Swiss typeface designers Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffman, would be such a huge hit. I can totally agree when Mia Fineman says, "Miedinger's letterforms were smooth and well-proportioned, with a pleasing roundness that feels friendly yet sleek and efficient, like an amiable, perfectly groomed flight attendant in business class."
In a way, this font takes on its own personality and speaks to us as a way of saying, "Hey, I’m simple, readable, and I won’t put a strain on your eyes. Choose me, if you have a hard time choosing from another font-face." It has enough power to be corporate or friendly, boring or exciting, plain-jane or illustrative. After watching "Helvetica" in class, I found myself driving and looking for any and everything that Helvetica might have been used for, on the way home. I immediately became amazed by the number of business logos and street signs the typeface was responsible for. Target was easily among the few recognizable business, along with JCPenney, the Toyota dealer, and even the lettering on the back of my iPod.
http://www.slate.com/id/2166887/slideshow/2166963/fs/0//entry/2166966/
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