I had the privilege of watching Helvetica several years ago while I was completing my undergraduate degree at Appalachian State. Like most of the people who just watched this move for the first time, it definitely has a way of making someone hyper-aware of all the fonts around them.
I take a look around the room I’m sitting in now, and there are more examples of Helvetica in use than I can count on one hand. I guess some people end up uncomfortable when they realize just how big a role that font plays in our culture, but it really is a wonderful looking font. I tend to prefer Helvetica Neue just a little more because its more well-rounded and balanced, but Helvetica can be used for pretty much everything. It’s the every-font. And I love it.
The biggest challenge I have as a designer is how to actually incorporate the use of it without making it seem bland. It’s such a wonderful font, but it’s so overused that it has the same negative connotation using Times New Roman does in design work. It’s nice, but if you can’t think of a great use for it that will wow someone, you risk being labeled as someone who just isn’t creative. I love helvetica, but the design community basically forbids me from using it for anything that’s supposed to have an edge. And that’s a bit of a downer for someone who loves a minimalist approach to design. Maybe I’ll give Comic Sans or Papyrus a try.