Explore Design in Duluth

Gary Hustwit’s trilogy of documentaries on design will serve as a springboard for discussions with local designers as we highlight their work and the philosophies behind it.

Helvetica features a panel afterwards of local graphic designers moderated by UMD professor Steve Bardolph.

Participants include:

Rick Kollath, Kollath Graphic Design

Tommy Kronquist, The Medium Control

Jesse Michels, Loll

David Moreira, Skat Radio

Cody Paulson, Swim Creative, Jambox

David Sadowski, Swim Creative

Deb Salzer, HTK Marketing

In 2005 a number of provocative, award-winning ads appeared that touted the Helvetica font; Gary Hustwit explores the subject protractedly with his feature-length essay film Helvetica. The documentary, produced in 2007 (and thus commemorating the typeface’s 50th anniversary), uses the omnipresent font as a lens through which it examines contemporary visual culture and how typeface is used, aesthetically, spatially, and culturally, to impart shape and character to urban environments. Hustwitthen segues into a discussion with a number of acclaimed designers about their work, their creative visions and processes, and the aesthetic reasoning behind various decisions regarding font. Hustwit interviews over 20 design experts in the film, including Michael C. Place, Paula Scher, Matthew Carter, and David Carson.