Helvetica is a Swiss typeface that is celebrated for its ability to be neutral. It emphasizes the color and design aspects, without drawing attention to itself. However, it generates a range of responses among the design community. Some adore the simplicity while others find it over-used. Many consider it a timeless font because it is over 60 years old but still relevant today.
In "Helvetica: Love it or Leave it," Roger Remington explains that Helvetica started with the Akzidenz-Grotesk font from Munich. It was adapated and the name was changed to Helvetica in 1957 in order to market it world wide.
The Swiss had an existing reputation for excellence in graphic design and the Helvetica name promoted the Swiss sensibility.
Helvetica was a great success, quickly adapted into serveral formats. IBM followed by creating a similar typeface called Arial.
Helvetica is used for a number of logos because it is changed through color and size and does not compete with additional elements such as in North Face below.
The Stendig Calendar and variations by Massimo Vignelli are adaptable.
Karlsson flip clock and others were popular in the early 1970's.
Helvetica now stands as "the designers' font." Some people argue it inhibits the creation of new fonts. Others suggest new fonts are too easy to make using computers, like one below called "Koolhand" created from Rem Koolhass' studio, and the result is a pollution of typefaces that needs the simplicity of Helvetica.
And keep in mind there are always new ways of seeing old things. Read this article on 13 ways to look at a typeface.
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