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Editorial Reviews
Review
Blissful..it sharpens your eye...and makes connections between art and life. -- Chicago Tribune
Helvetica is truly a work of art. -- Austin Chronicle
One of the wittiest, most diligently researched, slyly untelligent and quietly captivating documentaries of the year. -- Time Out London
Provocative. -- NY Times
Viewers are in for an exclamation point of joy from such a well designed doc. "A -" -- Entertainment Weekly
Helvetica is truly a work of art. -- Austin Chronicle
One of the wittiest, most diligently researched, slyly untelligent and quietly captivating documentaries of the year. -- Time Out London
Provocative. -- NY Times
Viewers are in for an exclamation point of joy from such a well designed doc. "A -" -- Entertainment Weekly
Product Description
Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Ronda Davis
Format:DVD
The historical significance of the typeface as well as the on-going evolution of typography make this a must see for anyone interested in typography and graphic design, but also a fine entertainment for film enthusiasts. Compelling interviews with notable professionals are informative, witty and often hilarious. Visuals run the gamut from elegance to true grit. Kudos to Gary Hustwit and his crew for this living history before it is not longer possible.
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By edgepixel
Format:DVD
I'm a working graphic designer.
I'm an art graduate. As a child, I enjoyed to look at fonts for hours - a Letraset catalogue(titled in big Helvetica letters) from the 80s was one of my (most) prized possessions.
When I first heard about this movie I was thrilled. Now that I saw it, I can say it was worth my time. The movie is smart, witty, and a pleasure to behold - an endless stream of layouts. And valuable insights, commentaries and history. Oh yes, the film is also inspirational - it makes you think about good design. It makes you desire good design, whatever that may mean today.
My favourite quote from the movie:
"The life of a designer is a life of fighting--fight against the ugliness, just like a doctor fights against disease. For us visual disease is what we have around and what we try to do is try to cure it somehow, you know, with design." Thanks Mr. Vignelli for putting things into perspective.
Given Helvetica's importance in design history, this is not a movie you should miss.
I first saw Helvetica(the font) as a child, I first acknowledged it as a high school design student, now it's one of my 3 most used fonts at work. I know it's flaws and shortcomings, and I've come to rely on it's many strengths and virtues. It's versatile, strong and straightforward. It's one you can trust. It's also got a softer side, when you come to know her better. It's an old friend of mine, that now is starring in it's own movie! Now that's something to celebrate.
Cheers, Helvetica! Cheers, old friend!
I'm an art graduate. As a child, I enjoyed to look at fonts for hours - a Letraset catalogue(titled in big Helvetica letters) from the 80s was one of my (most) prized possessions.
When I first heard about this movie I was thrilled. Now that I saw it, I can say it was worth my time. The movie is smart, witty, and a pleasure to behold - an endless stream of layouts. And valuable insights, commentaries and history. Oh yes, the film is also inspirational - it makes you think about good design. It makes you desire good design, whatever that may mean today.
My favourite quote from the movie:
"The life of a designer is a life of fighting--fight against the ugliness, just like a doctor fights against disease. For us visual disease is what we have around and what we try to do is try to cure it somehow, you know, with design." Thanks Mr. Vignelli for putting things into perspective.
Given Helvetica's importance in design history, this is not a movie you should miss.
I first saw Helvetica(the font) as a child, I first acknowledged it as a high school design student, now it's one of my 3 most used fonts at work. I know it's flaws and shortcomings, and I've come to rely on it's many strengths and virtues. It's versatile, strong and straightforward. It's one you can trust. It's also got a softer side, when you come to know her better. It's an old friend of mine, that now is starring in it's own movie! Now that's something to celebrate.
Cheers, Helvetica! Cheers, old friend!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Ann Makowski
Format:DVD
If so, this is the film for you. I was lucky enough to see it at the annual conference of the Society for Environmental Graphic Design - and loved it! It's accessible not only to designers but also to me - the biology major in the room. Gotta love a detailed history of something that you see every day - but may not notice.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must see
One of a series of docs about the world of design by Paola Antonelli.
I love it. At a reasonable price.
I love it. At a reasonable price.
Published 9 days ago by MimarCharles
3.0 out of 5 stars
There's only so much you can say about a font
Ok, so Helvetica is like the ultimate universal font. It doesn't take two hours to get that message across. Read more
Published 11 days ago by J. Ellington
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really Great.
This was awesome....very useful....clear, enlightening
...great view of the 'big picture'of typography and design
in recent 'modern' history including interviews with... Read more
...great view of the 'big picture'of typography and design
in recent 'modern' history including interviews with... Read more
Published 20 days ago by anna ackers
5.0 out of 5 stars
captivating
A really fascinating look at typography and culture. It's perhaps half an hour too long, but it includes terrific interviews with some of the luminaries of 20th-century type... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Miles Kimball
5.0 out of 5 stars
part of a must see trilogy along with Objectified and Urbanized....
part of a must see trilogy along with Objectified and Urbanized. Helvetica is maybe the best of the trio ,
Published 2 months ago by Luca Piccirilli
4.0 out of 5 stars
It makes you notice Helvetica ... Everywhere!
This is a very interesting documentary. As a person who writes novels, I recently found that I love Courier Prime, and I was raving about how much I loved it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Pirtle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helvetica
Helvetica, the movie, might be a bit obscure for the normal viewer. I bought this as a gift for a font designer (yes, there are such people). She LOVED it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Golfer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Well produced movie. Very entertaining and a great movie for design buffs. Now all I want to do is use Helvetica.
Published 2 months ago by fufanuer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Is Purgatory Found In Perfection?
The font that changed the direction of history and help give birth to a new world.
That's not hyperbole. Read more
That's not hyperbole. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MadMacs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtprovoking
This documentary will cause you to consider the craft of an every day object:signage and fonts. And do it in a very interesting way too. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hepzi
