Directed by Gary Hustwit • 2007 • United Kingdom
Developed in 1957 by Swiss designers Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann, the typeface Helvetica quickly appeared in corporate logos, signage for transportation systems, fine-art prints, and myriad other contexts, becoming one of the most ubiquitous fonts in the world. This illuminating documentary traces Helvetica’s rise to explore how graphic design and typography shape the world around us. Featuring interviews with renowned designers, HELVETICA encompasses the worlds of advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day.
Up Next in Documentaries by Gary Hustwit
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Urbanized
Directed by Gary Hustwit • 2011 • United States
Over half the world’s population now lives in an urban area, and around 75% will call a city home by 2050. But while some cities are experiencing explosive growth, others are shrinking. The challenges of balancing housing, mobility, public space, c...
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Objectified
Directed by Gary Hustwit • 2009 • United States
On an average day, each human uses hundreds of objects. Who makes all these things, and why do they look and feel the way they do? All of these objects are “designed,” but how can good design make them, and our lives, better? Through vérité footage...
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Rams
Directed by Gary Hustwit • 2018 • United States
One of the most influential designers of all time, Dieter Rams has left an indelible mark on the field of product design and the world at large with his work at Braun and Vitsœ—pioneering a functionalist, minimalist aesthetic that has impacted the ...
