Helvetica Assignment

Where does Helvetica originate from? What country? 

Munchenstein, Switzerland

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

Helvetica means "The Swiss Typeface"

What year was Helvetica created? 

1957

What is the design style that Helvetica brought to popularity worldwide? 

Clarity and modernness in art; getting the point across. Angular, simple design.

List the names of 3 different design styles or design movements that are discussed in the film. 

The Modern Movement, the Post Modern Movement, and Grunge.

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

• Meaning is in the words, not necessarily the type face. (simplicity)
• However, organization and clarity of the type does not mean that it conveys the message. (emotion)

Where can examples of Helvetica be seen? Can you spot some examples on our own campus? 

Name 4 Designers that appear in the film. Look them up and show examples of their work, research and provide links to websites and any biographical information about them.

David Carson

        David Carson was born on September 8th, 1954. He graduated college from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. He was a professional surfer, and in 1989 was ranked 9th in the world. In 1983 he began experimenting with graphic design, and he subsequently attended the Oregon College of Commercial Art. He worked at several magazines: Transworld Skateboarding, Transworld Snowboarding, Beach Culture, and HOW, until 1992, when he became a design editor for the magazine Reg Gun. Just five years later, in 1997, he left Ray Gun to open his own studio, David Carson Designs, in NYC, which he has since moved to Charlestown, SC for personal reasons. His website is:  http://www.davidcarsondesign.com. 

Paula Scher

          Paula Scher was born October 6th, 1948 in Washington, D.C. She attended the Tyler School of Art and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts. She worked at CBS Records and their competitor, Atlantic Records, for ten years designing album covers as the artistic director. In 1984, she co-founded Kopple & Scher, her design company. In 1991, she joined Pentagram, a London-based design company, an in 1992, she began teaching at the School of Visual Arts, as well as at other institutions. She has designed numerous posters for the The Public Theater and Shakespeare in Central Park. Her website is:  http://www.paulascher.com.

Michael C. Place

          Michael C. Place was born in 1969 in North Yorkshire, England, and he attended New Castle College. He first worked at Bite It!, London, before switching to The Designers Republic, Sheffield in 1992. While with these companies, he worked mostly on album covers. In 2001, nine years later, he opened his own design studio, Build, which is based in London. He works mostly in made-for-print design.

Lars Muller

Lars Muller was born in 1955 in the city of Oslo, Norway. He has been based in Switzerland since 1963. Between 1963 and 1982, Muller studied in the United States and Holland and worked at an apprenticeship. He returned to Switzerland in 1982, when he created his studio in Baden. In 1996 he has been a partner at "Integral Concept," an international, interdisciplinary design studio. Muller is also an educator, and he teaches at colleges in Europe as well as guest lecturing. In addition, Muller began publishing books a variety of design subjects in 1983 and has published some 300 titles as Lars Muller Publishers. His website is:  http://www.lars-mueller-publishers.com/en/.