Helvetica

I actually quite enjoyed the Helvetica film. It was much more interesting than i first anticipated. It surprised me in a few ways also, i was shocked at how much Helvetica is used all over the world and how i have never realised it before. I learned quite a lot that i did not know before like how Helvetica’s original name 'neue hass grotesk', also how Helvetica is Latin for 'the Swiss typeface', also that Helvetica is owned by 'Lingotype' in Germany.

I discovered some new designers from the film like Massimo Vignelli who was all about creating order. He invented the grid and other tools for creating order. He states 'Creating order is typography'. Matthew Carter is a designer who learned to make type by hand by following in his father's footsteps who was a type designer. Erik Spiekerman has a different take on Helvetica, he believes it has been over used as it is everywhere you look and it is a default for so many things, he is very passionate about type but not about Helvetica. Another graphic designer featured in the film is Nevel Brody who speaks about the different messages a typeface can portray. David Carson also speaks about the message typefaces portray, he talks about legibility, he says that even if something is legible it may still not communicate the correct message, the message could be lost due to the typeface, he states how there is a fine line between simple, clean and boring.

I would say i am pro Helvetica, i like the typeface it is clear, legible and versatile. I think the fact the film showed the extent Helvetica is used all over the world emphasizes this point. My relationship with Helvetica is to be honest something i am only recently aware of however i can see myself using it more now that i have learned more about it.

That font sure is saucy

Getting around

I chose to analyse my bus ticket as its something i see every day. I think the typeface used is 'arial'. I would say it does its job relatively well as it is legible and some of the important features are in bold. I think this typeface was chosen because it is a friendly typeface. it is easy and clear to read. It communicates meaningfully due to its bold and clear appearance.

The hierarchy is quite centred with the first logo and website behind the text making it confusing and harder to read. Id say the most important aspects of the ticket are well identified with the ticket type and price emphasised by being in bold; however the destinations and dates are slightly less obvious, i think they should be more prominent on the ticket as they are the main things the driver/ ticket inspector are looking for.

The users for this item would be the general public. Everyone from students to children to working class to the elderly. Their needs would be a clear and simple bus ticket which states the important points like the price, date and destination. I think it fulfils this to an extent as the type is clear and legible but the important factors are not as obvious which could give users with poor eye site difficulty. 

Modular Grid

From the 'Coming Together' font designed in 2010 with all proceeds going to doctors without borders to assist with the Haiti earthquake appeal. The font consists of 483 ampersands. I chose this ampersand. To me, this ampersand appears as two letters. An 'E' and a 'T' combined.(Only after reading chapter 6 of Simon Garfield did this become much more obvious) The two characters are bold upper case letters which have been assembled together to create 'and'.

The 'E' is larger; however the stem of the 'E' conjoins with the stem of the 'T'. The two characters are completely consistent in width throughout the design and the weight appears the same displaying a strong solid appearance. I would say the type classification of this ampersand is transitional sans serif.To me, this ampersand appears equal and balanced  despite the size difference of the two characters as they seem almost united and part of each other. The characters seem completely connected to one and other. Although 'E' and 'T' are two completely dissimilar looking characters. It seems to me like the blend together here. 

Long Lists Exercise