Once upon a time, there was a typeface called Helvetica. It was sans-serif, clean, beautiful, and used in all places where clean, easy-to-read typefaces were needed.
When Microsoft wanted to create a universal typeface, it could not take Helvetica, so they “invented” a similar typeface, called Arial, for their operating system. Those of us who grew up with Helvetica still prefer it, and can tell the difference. The real Helvetica comes with all Apple computers.
Can you tell the difference between Helvetical and Arial? Take the test to find out.
Helvetica’s half-century mark is being celebrated by the release of a documentary on typeface design and use, as well as a special exhibit at the Mueseum of Modern Art in New York. The show opened on April 7 and will continue till early 2008.”Helvetica is one of those typefaces that everybody knows, everybody sees, but they don’t really see it at the same time because it’s so good at its job. It communicates efficiently and quickly without imposing itself,” said Christian Larsen, curator of the MoMA show.
Helvetica is the typeface used by the New York Subway system, and Harley-
Davidson motorcycles. How did the typeface come to be so universally loved?
In 1957 Edouard Hoffmann and Max Miedinger, two designers in Muenchenstein (near Basel, Switzerland) were searching for a way to create an easy-to-read typeface.
According to a story in the Washington Post, “Miedinger, who once wanted to become an artist before training as a typesetter, came up with a design based on Hoffmann’s instructions, and by the summer, a clean sans-serif script had been born, which was given the name ‘Neue Haas Grotesk.’
“The company’s marketing department soon realized the name would have to be changed to something more pronounceable for an international market. So, to reflect its origins, they called it “Helvetica” — Latin for ‘Swiss.’”
So celebrate in an appropriate typographical way–cake and candles are fine, and be glad that we have Helvetica so we don’t all have to use Comic Sans and Papyrus.
–Quinn McDonald is a writer and artist. See her work at QuinnCreative.com (c) 2007 Quinn McDonald, All rights reserved.
… but my friend just call me “Bold Italic”.
I know what you mean, David. My name used to be Axzident Grotesk, and then Helvetica took that over. So I changed my name to Lucida Grande. Sigh. It just never ends. . . .
I named my daughter Arial, but had to change her name after Microsoft’s lawyers sent me a cease & desist letter. Silly me – I then chose the name Vista. Little did I know…
I use Arial all the time and had no idea it was ripped off from Helvetica. Sad, huh? What’s sadder is to know that there’s actually people out there using Comic Sans.
Your range of interests never ceases to amaze me – you’re just a one woman mine of endless, sometimes bizarre, but always interesting information. I need a favour. I made a ‘Journal’ category but it’s on view to everyone and really it’s somewhere to store things – or possibly have people look at if they visit the blog. I don’t know how to make it private – I’m sure you do! Give me a hand please – when you get a spare hand!?
J
I scored 8/10 on the first run through… and 10/10 after reading the article
I knew about the slanted top of the ‘t’, but it was good to be clearer on the finer points. I love typography, after studying it as part of my graphic design degree (20 years ago!). Microsoft’s rip-off of Helvetica via Arial still makes me cross.
I write crosswords for a syndicator, and used to set them in lovely fonts, all carefully chosen for each crossword series. Until some of the small newspapers complained as they “couldn’t handle ligatures”. And I was *ordered* to re-set everything in ARIAL. Industry standard, apparently! I nearly choked. Still makes me wince when I do the finished artwork 0_o
And YES – let’s move beyond Comic Sans and Papyrus people!
Happy Birthday Helvetica!
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