Part 1:
- Where does Helvetica originate from? What country?
- Switzerland
- What does the original name mean? What is its translation into English?
- Die Neau Hääs Grotesk was the original name, Helvetica means the swiss font because Helvetia is the latin name of switzerland
- What year was Helvetica created?
- 1957
- What is the design style that Helvetica brought to popularity worldwide?
- Swiss style
- List the names of 3 different design styles or design movements that are discussed in the film.
- Modernism, high modern, swiss style, neutralism, postmodernism, grunge
- Write about some of the insight about design you have taken away from the film. You can provide quotes if you like.
- I had never before considered that someone, an actual person who was at some point living and breathing, had to design Helvetica. Before computers people had to hand draw fonts. The fonts I see everyday haven’t all simply existed for all of time. Also, I’d never considered that fonts and design styles shift with political climates and ideologies and that people created aesthetics to follow those ideologies.
Part 2:
Part 3:
Paula Scher:
Paula Scher has worked on album covers, book covers, theatre posters, map paintings, and logos. She had always had a passion for art and discovered a practical use for it in graphic design, however being a part of counterculture in the 70’s she put a distinctive spin on things.
- Flask, Dominic. "Paula Scher : Design Is History." Paula Scher : Design Is History. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Dunne, Carey. "Graphic Designer Paula Scher: "I Figured Out Every Identity I've Ever Done In A Taxicab"" Co.Design. N.p., 13 Apr. 2015. Web.
- "Paula Scher Maps." Paula Scher Maps. N.p., n.d. Web.
Part 4:
- American designer David Carson says, “Don’t confuse legibility with communication.” What does he mean? What’s the difference between them?
- If something is only legible, it can be read clearly but it will not necessarily have a visceral and immediate reaction. Which ties into my thoughts on…
- What is your reaction to the grunge style of type and design? Why do you think you respond to it that way?
- ...The grunge style. I find it very aesthetically compelling, probably at least partially because I was raised by edgy people in the late 90’s. However, because it’s been around so long it feels contrived and over used. On top of that, I’m rather dyslexic and it’s generally difficult to read busy and edgy lettering. Overall it feels comforting and historic, however not the most practical for most projects.
