Recently I discovered that Netflicks has some movies and TV shows available for online viewing. What is significant about this is that I was able to watch the movie Helvetica. But, only after I had watched an episode of the Rockford Files. Some time has past since I first watched Helvetica, and Rockford. Lets focus on helvetica. The first time I viewed helvetica was with my wife, who had an awareness of type fonts but never dreamed that anyone could love or hate a font as much as Helvetica. I have to agree, It’s only a type font!

Some people say it bores them to death, it’s over used and may even have a connection to modern wars. While another group of designers feel it is pure perfection. It may just barrel down to the age old debate, Expressionless vs. Expressive typography. Is there one right choice for a designer.

I’ve used, and even over used Helvetica. It is often an appropriate choice. Legibility is often the deciding factor in my design decisions. I feel typography has two function. It can be texture and message. Texture is like music. So the total sum of the text used can be expressive, even helvetica. But helvetica may not be able to express what what you desire as the lone design element. Then again, maybe it shouldn’t be asked to do all the work... it is only one design element. Maybe you have an illustration, or a page layout that conveys the massage and helvetica plays a supporting role. This debate can go on and on. Does it really matter to most people. Sure, to those of use who are exposed to it day in and day out it should matter. But it shouldn’t be our kryptonite. We are not super heros.  

The funny thing is to imagine any of these designers explaining to a client why or why not use helvetica. I learned a long time ago that a client does not want to hear design theory. You may impress some clients, but some look at you with disdain. It may not be a battle you wish to wager. Make the appropriate choice based on the input give to communicate the right message.

Always searching the internet for something fresh and inspiring. Eyemagazine's blog happened to catch my attention on this rainy Monday morning. In their 2009 archives I found a blog post about LP album cover art. Yes, I have come to find out that vinyle still lives. Although in somewhat obscurity. With this knowledge I realize that with every album comes a cover. I always thaught it would be cool to have an opportunity to design art for an album cover. But around the time I entered the design profession albums srunk to the CD format and cover art never seemed to have the same impact. There is something to be said about that. Today I buy music online. But I never really feel as strong of a connections as what I had in the good ol' days. Kicking back in a Bean-bag chair, grooving to some tunes and getting lost gazing at the cover art and reading the liner notes. It goes deaper than that. From a branding standpoint we loose even more of a connection. I have a hard time visualizing what is in my MP3 collection. It's hard to be left with a lasting impression from a thumbnail image. Back in the day you could never forget a YES album with it's fantisy landscapes by Roger Dean artwork. Or even the lack of any art, The Beatle's White album, was great marketing.

So if you get a chance venture over to Best Art Vinyl 2009 is an award