GD: Helvetica Movie Assignment

1.Where does Helvetica originate from? What country? 

Manchester, Switzerland

2.What does the original name mean? What is it's translation in English?

The original name means switzerland and the translation was "The swiss typeface"

3.What year was Helvetica created?
It was created in 1957

4.What is the design style that Helvetica brought to popularity worldwide?
The style that it brought to popularity was the swiss style 

5.List the names of 3 different design styles or design movements that are discussed in the film.
modernism, post modernism and scrounge typography 

6.Write about some of the insight about design you have taken away from the film. You can provide quotes if you like.

7.I think that what this film made me see was that everything that is "art" can be used creatively and expressively. Before you just look at fonts on signs and you kind of dismiss it but now you realize that everything is done with a purpose the lettering that you merely glanced at took a dedicated amount of time to make. Font where designed to influence what we think of something just as much as photographs and drawing are made.

Activities

1.Where can examples of Helvetica be seen? Can you spot some examples on our own campus? Use your camera and take a picture of a few examples and include in your blog post.

David Carson: 
He is a graphic designer and is best known for his experimental typography. He was named  the 9th best surfer in the world in 1989. He tyen designed the cover for Raygun in 1992. Ater this he began his own David Carson studio where he worked for many different companies (1995-1998).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carson_(graphic_designer)
Images taken from Google Images

Paula Scher 
is a graphic designer. After getting her Bachelor of fine arts at Tyler School of Art. Shemoved to New York were she worked for CBS she also worked for Atlantic records but ended up going back to CBS for 8 years she designed about 150 album covers. She co founded Koppel and Scher and later became an educator. She is most known for her album covers, logos, and posters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Scher
Images taken from Google Images

Erik Spiekermann 
is a german typographer and designer and from 1972-1979 he was freelance designer whose work ended up paying off when he founded MetaDesign with his 2 partners. Spiekermann then lest MetaDesign do to some diagreements and founded the UDN instead. It was later renamed once more to SpiekermannPartners. Here is some of his work:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Spiekermann
Images taken from Google Images

Nevile Brody 
he is a graphic designer, typographer and art director
He worked for the face and the arena magazine, the guardian and the observer, BBC and Times. He made album covers and T shirts and poster designs.

Thinking More Deeply:
How does a typeface create a mood, feeling or image? Can you describe an occasion when you had a particular reaction to something in print, not because of the content, but because of the typeface?

1.In HELVETICA, design writer Richard Poynor says, “The designer has an enormous responsibility” as the person who is “putting wires into our heads.” What does he mean? How would you define that responsibility?
    The designer is saying that different types of font are a form of expression and when someone sees this they try interpret it. A bunch of little wires in our brains go bazeerrrkk and through that we are able to feel differently about what the different fonts are representing/advertising.

2.Think of the font you most commonly use when working on your computer. Which one is it and why do you use that one?
When ever I use my computer/laptop to write an essay or work on my short stories I use Times New Roman this is because when I got to middle school the teachers would always want us to use this font. I guess I use it because in am used to it and it looks neat and proffesional.

3.American designer David Carson says, “Don’t confuse legibility with communication.” What does he mean? What’s the difference between them?
Sometimes we think that when something is legible it s understandable but you can write an essay in tikes new roman and make it look very legible but if you don't get the right point across what is the point. Not only does your font have to look neat but it should also get the main point across.

4.How is design an expression of the times? How does politics affect the art of design?
Design is a form of expression because throughout times people have created new fonts and have come up with new ideas to promote their ads and work their propaganda. Designers ideas have evolved and changed do to what the public react to more. Over time font has become more neat do to the technology we now have. And it seems that it has gotten both more creative and proffesional

5.What is your reaction to the grunge style of type and design? Why do you think you respond to it that way?
Grunge seems king of tough and bold. Ithink this is because the font is bold and worn out as well and dark. I think it looks cool and edgy but personally I wouldnt use it to make my english essay. This is because isn't neat and clean.

6.Imagine that the post office, your local bank or other government or corporate entity whose signage is familiar to you started using a different typeface. How would that change their image or your feeling about that business or organization?
Most of the organizations already use very clean and neat typefaces but if they were to ever change it I am most most certain it wouldn't look as a clean and proffessional so I suppose I wouldn't like it and i would take a while to get used to.

7.What might you take away from this film in terms of possible effects on your work or other aspects of your daily life?
I think that now I will take in too much more consideration the types of fonts designers use this is because before you look at a painting and you say wow that person took a lot of time and effort to make this and that. However you never take in consideration that a font designer paid as much attention to his font as a painter and I think this movie has made me more aware of that.

8.What changes, if any, has this film made in how you think about print and graphic design?
Whenever I see someone's designs or whenever I design I will pay attention to the detail, the time, the color, the font, the size, the shape, the position, and see whether it truly expresses the message.