Probably the most used typeface worldwide, Helvetica has been around since the late 60’s. People who love it tend to emphasize the clear lines, easy legibility and elegant — yet laid back — look. The ones who frown at the sight of this Swiss typeface complain that it has no identity and that it has been overused. Both sides have a point.
My way of seeing Helvetica is that it was groundbreaking when it came out, but it has lost a good part of its luster for being used without precedents. When this Swiss typeface was developed, in 1957, using a sans-serif font like this one was considered provocative. At that time, choosing Helvetica to write a mission statement of a company, for example, meant that the institution was modern, innovative and cutting-edge. That is not necessarily true in our days anymore.
Helvetica has become normative when people, not just designers, want to use a typeface without much fuss. As a graphic designer, I avoid using it as much as possible. It’s a shame, since Helvetica definitely is a beautifully designed typeface. I just feel that it’s now seen as cliche and a sign of laziness; as if we all knew Helvetica goes well in most circumstances, so we have to work harder to find another typographic solution.
