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Bringing a Classic into the Digital Age with Helvetica Now
Optimized for screens and design flexibility, an old favorite gets a rehaul
In April 2019, Monotype launched a complete rehaul of the classic Helvetica typeface. Named Helvetica Now, it comprises an impressive three optical sizes (Micro, Text, and Display), 48 font styles, and 815 glyphs (that’s 38,976 characters in all).
To understand the context of this rehaul, we have to go back in time a bit.
Quick History
Helvetica, originally called “Neue Haas Grotesk,” was designed in 1957 by Max Miedinger for the Haas Type Foundry in Switzerland. Haas parent company D. Stempel AG later renamed the font Helvetica — inspired by the Latin name of Switzerland, Helvetia — arguing that it would sell better. And it did. Helvetica took the world by storm and quickly replaced the previous darling of typography, Futura (released in 1928). Helvetica began popping up everywhere and inspired scores of fonts and designs. There’s even a feature-length documentary about it.
