I spent an interesting day on the streets of London last week, watching a crew from the BBC film a one-minute introduction to Helvetica, which will be broadcast (in a shortened 48-minute version) on BBC1 in November as part of their Imagine strand. Series host (and BBC Creative Director) Allan Yentob introduces the film while walking the streets and talking about type in our daily lives. I was a casual observer, but I did do a little font spotting for them. I found some huge Helvetica on a yellow wall on Oxford Street, which ended up being the climax of the intro. I also make a brief Hitchcock-ian cameo in the intro, look for it. Exact broadcast date TBA.

Allan Yentob and BBC film crew hit the streets

Yentob showing off Helvetica on smoking warning labels

The “money shot”… you gotta love big Helvetica

Due to some unavoidable manufacturing delays, the release date of the retail DVD of Helvetica has been pushed back two weeks to November 20th. The DVD will not be available in stores worldwide until that date. If you’ve pre-ordered the DVD from our site (or the limited-edition box set) your copy will be shipped one week prior to the new date. Institutional orders are still shipping and are not affected. Our apologies on this, sorry for any inconvenience.

I also got a chance last week to visit the MIT Media Lab and participate in their “Mapping the (big idea)” conference.

A snapshot of “the Cube”, their busy lab space, during the event. Thanks to John Maeda for the invite.

Went to two big design conferences last week: the AIGA Conference in Denver, and Design Thinkers in Toronto. Denver was a homecoming of sorts, all the people I’ve met at all the AIGA screenings we’ve done across the country were there. The screening was packed and fun, and it felt like a nice way to start wrapping up this tour. Had a nice public event at the Mayan Theatre in Denver too (shout out to the Sutter sisters!).

After the AIGA screening, Veer gave away some of the love/hate notebooks and Helvetica film coffee mugs to the crowd. The rules to the giveaway were simple: the first 15 people who could show they had something with Helvetica on it on their person (like printed on their shirt, or something in their pockets, etc.) got the goodies. Michael Bierut, who had done the post-screening Q&A with me, reached into his pocket and pulled out a five dollar bill. Then it dawned on me… Helvetica is on the US currency! I never realized that our $5, $10, $20, and $50 notes have those numbers in Helvetica at the bottom right corner of their backsides. I could have used that in the film! Argh…

Thanks to Michelle Stanek and everyone at AIGA, and Angela Spiteri and everyone at RGD in Toronto. And to Stefan Sagmeister, who joined me for a hilarious Q&A in Toronto.

This week: Stockholm, Tallinn (that’s in Estonia, FYI), then back to New York. Wait, New York City… isn’t that where Helvetica has been extended for a 7th week at the IFC Center? Why yes, it is. Excellent.

Attention Bay-area dwellers: there will be an exclusive advance showing of several of the bonus interview clips from the forthcoming DVD, at the 4th Annual Typophile Film Festival in San Francisco, Thursday October 25th. This “three-hour party centered around a rare and unequaled selection of short typographic films” is a must-see for anyone interested in design. Get more info.

It’s like deja vu all over again. Due to continued strong turnout, our cinema run at the IFC Center has been extended an additional week. New Yorkers, this really may be your last week to see it on the big screen, in all it’s high-definition glory. Get your tickets here.

Tickets are now on sale for two screenings on October 15th at the Mayan Theatre in Denver, Colorado. 7pm & 9pm, I’ll be there to host both shows. Sponsored by AIGA Colorado and Veer. Get your tickets now!

Torontonians (is that what you’re called?) get ready for another dose of Helvetica… 7pm, October 16th at the Regent Theatre, as part of the DesignThinkers conference. I’ll be there to host the event and do a Q&A afterwards. $15 general public, $10 for RGD members. Email events(at)rgdontario.com to reserve your tickets, or call 1-888-274-3668 x24.

After our sold-out Hot Docs Toronto screenings, these should go quickly…