Richard over at AceJet is currently running Helvetica Week in preparation for the screening of the Helvetica Film in Belfast on Friday evening.
But let me introduce you to the man who didn't design Helvetica, although he did design nearly every other modern 'Swiss' typeface: Adrian Frutiger. His typefaces include Apollo, Avenir, Breughel, Linotype Centennial, Linotype Didot, Egyptienne F, Frutiger, Frutiger Capitalis, Frutiger Stones, Frutiger Symbols, Glypha, Herculanum, Icone, Iridium, Meridien, OCR-B, Ondine, Pompeijana, President, Rusticana, Serifa, Univers, Vectora, Versailles and Westside.
One of these faces appears right at the top of this page - in the 'davidthedesigner' banner. Would anyone like to guess (or, if you're a typographer, tell me) which one?
And, in case you're wondering, Helvetica was designed by another Swiss type designer, Max Miedinger:
I have no idea but I'm very interested. Is his name typeset in Helvetica on that award he's holding????
Posted by: Kevin | 27 June 2007 at 01:20 PM
Hi Kevin. In fact the typeface on the award is the same as the one at the top of this page - and thus is not Helvetica.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 27 June 2007 at 01:51 PM
As no one else is guessing, I'll guess Frutiger.
Posted by: Neil Scott | 27 June 2007 at 03:21 PM
I thought i knew from the a and the d, but the s confused me at first, so I had to check, and now i know.
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | 27 June 2007 at 03:29 PM
Is it Comic Sans? Do I win a prize?
Posted by: Coops | 27 June 2007 at 04:01 PM
Bah. Just checked on What the Font?
http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/Option3?imageid=5185125&id=00000f1d46818a81000d34c7000030ea&glyphcount=17&wtfserver=wtf4.bos.mf&md5=ba04842114274737586eab3ae7c50f1f
Posted by: Neil Scott | 27 June 2007 at 04:04 PM
I'll give you a clue - it doesn't begin with F or C (though some words do, obviously).
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 27 June 2007 at 04:20 PM
Avenir
What do I win?
I'm a big fan of the man even though Univers isn't my favourite font. Frutiger on the other hand is, in my humble opinion, the most usable Sans Serif. It's clean, stylish and yet has a human quality that Univers lacks. If I was one of those designers that chooses 6 fonts and only ever uses those 6 fonts, Frutiger would be at the top of my list.
I was lucky enough to hear him speak at Type90 in Oxford. He was brilliant.
Posted by: Richard | 27 June 2007 at 04:59 PM
OK, so Richard gets it right. So, how about something set in Univers as a prize?
And Univers is my favourite font, simply because it makes you work so hard to achieve elegance.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 27 June 2007 at 05:06 PM
Isn't it avenir black?
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | 27 June 2007 at 05:22 PM
White out of blue, I think you'll find.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 27 June 2007 at 05:24 PM
Obviously something wrong with my monitor. Name the other 5, richard.
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | 27 June 2007 at 05:31 PM
Actually David, I'd say that's Univers on the award.
Posted by: Richard | 27 June 2007 at 05:54 PM
Richard - the dot on the 'i' is round and the shape of the descender on the 'g' isn't right for Univers. So, I still say it's Avenir.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 27 June 2007 at 06:34 PM
In my defense, the photo is a bit blurry! : )
Posted by: kevin | 27 June 2007 at 07:16 PM
I'm not so sure that's a round "i".
Here's a question for you: what's the correct jargon for the dot?
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | 28 June 2007 at 01:22 PM
Still not convinced David. Do you have a higher res image? The general proportion of the letters look for like Univers to me; slightly more compact. Go ask Bruno. If I'm right, you owe me something nice, if I'm wrong I'll send you a lovely thing.
Actually, I've got a better idea. Leave it with me...
Posted by: Richard | 28 June 2007 at 01:26 PM
I've asked the experts:
http://typophile.com/node/34814
Posted by: Richard | 28 June 2007 at 01:33 PM