This inspired me to generate some automatic font comparisons using Mathematica: <a href="http://cronus.ws/~mta/fonts/" rel="nofollow">http://cronus.ws/~mta/fonts/</a><p>Any feedback is appreciated.
<a href="http://www.helveticafilm.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.helveticafilm.com/</a><p>About the film:
Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.
Does anyone know of reputable research and blind tests that back up the common designer sentiment against Arial?<p>The reaction of many designers seems to smell of elitism and subjectivism more than anything to me, but I'll be happily proven wrong.<p>Are designers commonly aware of <i>why Arial exists</i>. I presume many designers must understand the very strong business & licensing reasons for Microsoft to have developed this typeface.<p>Do many designers also understand the distinctly different approach to pixel alignment in display faces, which some people prefer while others prefer Apple's approach (I subjectively prefer Microsoft's approach).<p>It's easy to pile onto the <i>I hate Microsoft and everything they touch</i> bandwagon, but how much unbiased and objective research has been applied to the question of qualitative value to the target audience? Is an old typeface only good if it's designed by the Swiss?<p>Something is stinky here. There are so many subjective factors at play while the language surrounding debate rarely recognizes those factors.<p>[Update: As noted by DrJokepu below, Microsoft didn't develop the font originally. I think the underlying licensing and business considerations remain a similar discussion.]
This is blogspam, <a href="http://ragbag.tumblr.com/post/187708731/arial-helvetica-on-friday-i-hosted-a-screening" rel="nofollow">http://ragbag.tumblr.com/post/187708731/arial-helvetica-on-f...</a> is the actual source.
Strange timing. Yesterday I watched the documentary "Helvetica" (2007) which is all about typefaces:<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/" rel="nofollow">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/</a>
For people more typographically inclined, there is a much analysis and history of Arial at: <a href="http://www.ms-studio.com/articles.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.ms-studio.com/articles.html</a>