Helvetica

Helvetica designed by Max Miedinger in 1957 is one of the worlds most widely used fonts. Having watched the Helvetica movie it was interesting to see how different designers comments about the typeface.

Wim Crouwel said "The meaning is in the content of the text not the typeface"(Helvetica Movie)- from this I took it that he thinks the typeface should be neutral and that the words should express something not the formal aesthetics of the typeface. I feel that is why Helvetica has been /is widely used throughout the world on city signage and in the transport area.

Above: NYC Subway Sign set in Helvetica.1

Massimo Vignelli designed the 1972 NYC Subway Map using the typeface Hevetica. Again he said that he did not think type should be expressive. I agree with these designers to a certain extent and think that typefaces designed for body copy. But typefaces that are purely display faces I feel should be expressive in someway or another. What the typeface is expressing doesnt have to be completely obvious though. See below for the map he designed.

Above: 1972 NYC Subway Map designed by Massimo Vignelli.2

In a way this subway map is a snapshot of the city with only the relevant transport information display. So the city is viewed from a simplified Lookout point.

1. Helvetica Sign NYC [Online], Available: http://nosleeptill.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/nst_subway_entrance.png

2. Helvetica 1972 NYC Subway Map [Online], Available: http://www.nycsubway.org/img/maps/system_1972.jpg