Helvetica–whether to do it and for how long–remains a flash point in the world of design.
Attachment to Helvetica is not a bad thing. Some studies may even show that using Helvetica for an extended amount of time will make you a better human being. Yet Helvetica lovers continue to be mocked and ridiculed by all different types.
How passionate are you toward Helvetica? How well do you know Helvetica’s curves and intricacies? Well there’s finally an app to measure your devotion. It’s appropriately called Helvetica vs. Arial by Dalston Labs., London. It’s a game and it brilliantly tests your knowledge of the typeface by flashing words in both Arial and Helvetica and you have to pick the correct one to earn points. You can only guess incorrectly twice before the game is over. In addition, you are being timed and are awarded points based on how fast you can determine if the word is set in Helvetica or Arial. It’s safe to say this is the best gaming app out there. Angry Birds Space has nothing over this epic battle of rival typefaces. This game truly separates the hardcore Helveticans from the bandwagon hipsters. Best of all, it’s FREE.
Just to be clear, I don’t know the creators of this app, but I’m sure I’d like them if I ever met them. You don’t need to know English to play either. The key to success in this game is knowing letter forms. For example, Helvetica’s lower case “a” is distinctly different than Arial’s lower case “a”. The terminal on Helvetica’s “a” has some flair to it, while Arial’s is straight. Although this tip should help you while playing, the developers know this trick as well which is why you’ll notice that as you continue onto advanced levels, words with the lower case “a” are far and between.
Overall, it’s a very simple, yet fun game for type nerds. So if you have a smart phone (and statistically speaking, you probably do) download the free app and truly find out if you are Helvetica enough!
Put On Your Typeface 