Helvetica Film in Bangkok and post-screening discussion with Stefan Sagmeister, Anuthin Wongsunkakon and Pracha Suveeranont. SF Cinema Central World 13 October 2007. Organized by art4d as a part of Bangkok Design Festival 2007.
➜ It is almost unnecessary to talk about Helvetica after an 80 min. screening of the film since pretty much every aspect of the type face has been covered. Nevertheless, a fine meal is always followed by a dessert.
When one speaks of Helvetica, one speaks of neutrality. It defines a well-designed sans-serif that had been stripped down to the bone and one could go as far as considering it the most ‘naked’ typeface. Moreover, it is extremely versatile. Take Helvetica World for example, because of its neutrality, it made it possible to base almost every written language, even Arabic, on this typeface.
Of course, one typeface can not rule it all. Helvetica does not serve well in every design project. If, however, designers can only choose a single typeface, Helvetica would obviously be one of the more popular choices. This only illustrates how people react to the typeface and confirms its neutrality and versatility.
Not everyone look at Helvetica from the same perspective and this mostly depends on where and when one was first introduced to it. People in the post-digital era would probably see Helvetica like any other ordinary typefaces since most computer come installed with this font. With such immediate access, it is not surprising that many would take it for granted. On the other hand, looking at Helvetica from an academic point of view, one would learn to appreciate (or possibly hate) its history and eventually the type itself.
Certainly, Helvetica is not the only ‘classic’ typeface out there. Many typefaces in the past still shine even today. When asked whether there would be a typeface that would fall into the ‘classics’ in the same category as helvetica, Anuthin Wongsunkakon believed there would, however, such typeface would have to deliver the message quickly efficiently, and modestly.
“The storyline is very Helveitca as well as the soundtrack,” Anuthin Wongsunkakon commented on the film. Even though the “soundtrack” part was a bit unexpected and was intended to be a comic relief, he seriously meant it. “If Helvetica – The Movie is like a straight shot of tequila, we would have the right to loosen up a bit and talk about something odd like the soundtrack.”
Some foreign audience commented that the discussion was a car-wreck and the content was somewhat pointless. We should, however, take into account that this particular discussion is held in Thailand; therefore, talking about Helvetica in Thai context is rather typical. “By the way, we were generous enough to conduct it in English instead of Thai,” added Anuthin.
Unluckily, the movie does not have Thai subtitle. It could certainly give a better understanding and appreciation to the Thai audience. Thai people, including some professional designers, are usually ignorant of typography. The screening of Helvetica – The Movie in Thailand can be considered a milestone in its field and even though Helvetica is not a Thai typeface, it has a universal aesthetic and would continue to inspired countless designers.
Text: Poom Rattavisit
Special thanks to Piyapong Bhumichitra and Wee Viraporn for the photos.