Netflix has a movie online right now called "Helvetica"... it's all about typefaces, and it's actually very interesting.
It mentions how anything that needs to be communicated effectively is in Helvetica. It is a clean, modern design. It unifies elements of society together quite nicely. This is why public transit systems, street signs, many story logos, and more use Helvetica.
It was part of an intentional movement. It was considered a real step away from previous typography that could clearly communicate -- a font that doesn't have a meaning in itself, because the meaning is in the actual words. IE: Just because you see the word dog doesn't mean that it has to bark like a dog.
I believe this is what the Imagineers were doing with the original EPCOT Center font. It went far beyond the reasons we normally mention on this discussion board. They wanted to communicate an intentional movement to be a possible part of the future. This would tie into the messages behind Spaceship Earth.
However, they had to give it a slight amount of flair because they were intentionally trying to communicate the future, and still transport us to another land, but one that we could find familiar and relate with as demonstrated by the modernist "Helvetica movement".
The 90s decisions to remove that from EPCOT are pretty sad. Especially as EPCOT also gets many foreign visitors. Having just arrived from a long trip in Europe, the things which always comforted me and clearly communicated to me despite being in a different languages was anything in a clear Helvetica font. It made train schedules, trackages, and languages I couldn't read make some more sense. I never really thought about it.
It also then shows an interrelationship and transition between Future World and World Showcase. Either direction you move, you see how we've transitioned and moved along to better communicate with each other.
Just some interesting insights I had. I found the movie fascinating (a lot of people might not enjoy such a documentary though).
My appreciation for the design of EPCOT grew after schlepping through Europe for the past month on a train pass.
It mentions how anything that needs to be communicated effectively is in Helvetica. It is a clean, modern design. It unifies elements of society together quite nicely. This is why public transit systems, street signs, many story logos, and more use Helvetica.
It was part of an intentional movement. It was considered a real step away from previous typography that could clearly communicate -- a font that doesn't have a meaning in itself, because the meaning is in the actual words. IE: Just because you see the word dog doesn't mean that it has to bark like a dog.
I believe this is what the Imagineers were doing with the original EPCOT Center font. It went far beyond the reasons we normally mention on this discussion board. They wanted to communicate an intentional movement to be a possible part of the future. This would tie into the messages behind Spaceship Earth.
However, they had to give it a slight amount of flair because they were intentionally trying to communicate the future, and still transport us to another land, but one that we could find familiar and relate with as demonstrated by the modernist "Helvetica movement".
The 90s decisions to remove that from EPCOT are pretty sad. Especially as EPCOT also gets many foreign visitors. Having just arrived from a long trip in Europe, the things which always comforted me and clearly communicated to me despite being in a different languages was anything in a clear Helvetica font. It made train schedules, trackages, and languages I couldn't read make some more sense. I never really thought about it.
It also then shows an interrelationship and transition between Future World and World Showcase. Either direction you move, you see how we've transitioned and moved along to better communicate with each other.
Just some interesting insights I had. I found the movie fascinating (a lot of people might not enjoy such a documentary though).
My appreciation for the design of EPCOT grew after schlepping through Europe for the past month on a train pass.
