Dear Amigos,

Almost every computer in the world has the Helvetica typeface installed. Today, Helvetica is a widely used font family that has not only survived the test of time but has become a symbol of minimalism, order, function, and the Swiss Style. From pharma to airlines, Helvetica is everywhere — from iconic logos that live in our brains without paying rent to the title of the school document you wrote in 2010. You are probably here because you where looking for an outstanding 2 hour Helvetica documentary. Here we’ve gathered for you all the highlights you need to know about the typeface, and you’ll also find other more contemporary alternatives

Helvetica is considered a classic nowadays, so much so that in the design world, it’s sometimes seen as a “turn down” or an “easy,” even “unexciting” choice when it comes to picking a typeface. It’s great, it was great, and it will continue to be great. But with so many neo-grotesque alternatives out there (some of which we’ll add at the end of this article), the creative director of your studio knows you can do better than Helvetica, unless you are doing the corporate identity of the swiss embassy, or the cover for Dieter Ram’s biography.

When choosing design elements for a project, understanding the context, origin, and meaning is crucial. This is especially true for typography. So, if you’re choosing Helvetica for your next editorial project or branding wordmark, get ready to travel back in time to Switzerland and discover the power of simplicity and function.