Helvetica is a typeface with a history of over 50 years of near-ubiquitous use, especially on signage. It’s also used quite a bit in the U.S. Government (tax-forms!).
About three years ago some independent documentary film makers released a movie about the history of the typeface and what’s more: graphic design in general. One of my favorite typeface personalities, Mathew Carter, is interviewed on it – it was worth it for me just for that bit. There is a lot more to see and learn in the movie, however, and I recommend it for all design geeks who seek inspiration and entertainment.
My only complaint is the over-weighted importance that they place on typefaces – but I suppose if they hadn’t done that they wouldn’t have a compelling movie either. Hey, you’ve probably never seen the process of putting letters together on a frame dramatized in quite this way before! And the beginning sequence, where you watch this process along with the rest of the printing procedure (inking, pressing, etc.) is almost mesmerizing.
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