Helvetica Info

ELVETICA INFOHELVETICA
DESIGNER Max Miedinger DESIGN FOUNDRY Linotype SOURCE Linotype
The Helvetica® typeface is one of the most famous and popular in the world. It’s
been used for everytypographic project imaginable, not just because it is on
virtually every computer. Helvetica is ubiquitous because it works so well. The
design embodies the concept that a typeface should absolutely supportthe
reading process – that clear communication is the primary goal of typography.
HISTORY
Helvetica didn’t start out with that name. The story of Helvetica began in the fall
of 1956 in the smallSwiss town of Münchenstein. This is where Eduard
Hoffmann, managing director of the Haas Type Foundry, commissioned Max
Miedinger to draw a typeface that would unseat a popular family offered by onehis company’s competitors.

Miedinger, who was an artist and graphic designer before training as a
typesetter, came up with a design based on Hoffmann’s instructions, and by the
summer or 1957,produced a new sans serif typeface which was given the name
“Neue Haas Grotesk.” Simply translated this meant “New Haas Sans Serif.”

The Stempel type foundry, the parent company of Haas, decidedto offer the
design to its customers in Germany, where Stempel was based. The company,
however, felt it would be too difficult to market a new face under another
foundry’s name and looked for onethat would embody the spirit and heritage of
the face. The two companies settled on “Helvetica,” which was a close
approximation of “Helvetia,” the Latin name for Switzerland. (“Helve tia” was notchosen because a Swiss sewing machine company and an insurance firm had
already taken the name.)

Over the years, the Helvetica family was expanded to encompass an extensive
selection of weights andproportions and has been adapted for every ty pesetting
technology.

Helvetica Usage
Helvetica is among the most widely used sans serif typefaces and has
been a popular choice for corporate...