Helvetica Turns 50: Cool Modernism Turns Gray

—By

| Tue Jan. 30, 2007 1:45 PM PST

The once ubiquitous typeface, which is still the signifier of accessible modernism (Hello Target! Hello Crate and Barrel, Microsoft, Muji, American Apparel...) turns 50 this year. To mark the anniversary of Helvetica's release, Gary Hustwit has made a documentary that will be doing the film festival rounds this spring. To get a taste, check out the clips here. The Berlin montage is a witty look at Helvetica's takeover of the city but mostly the interviews are for font geeks.

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