Monotype and KnownUnknown launch “Helvetica The NFT”, a digital art collection that throws the iconic font into Web3 Frontier
“Typography drives culture and commerce, and in today’s world, artists’ ability to create new forms of expression and share them with their communities has never been more accessible,” he said. Alice Palmer, SVP for marketing at Monotype. “This collaboration has produced an art collection never seen before that celebrates the role of Helvetica in a new marketplace. Token holders will have access to both the creators they admire and a growing community of design enthusiasts who are part of the Known Unknown Ecosystem.”
The collaboration demonstrates the role of typography in a digital-first-world at the same time as it creates new forms of expression, trade and accessibility. Artists working in media such as graphic design, branding, footwear design and photography created original art using Helvetica Now Variable, the most digitally optimized version of the font ever created. Monotype and KnownUnknown teamed up with the Avalanche blockchain to enable the collection, based in part on its low environmental impact.
With Helvetica as the common thread, creators of all ages, and with varying backgrounds and experiences, joined forces on this project. For example, Margaret Calvertbest known for his work designing many road signs scattered throughout the country Great Britain and the eponymous Calvert Fountain, participating with its very first NFT. Paula Scherone of the most renowned designers in the world and a partner in New York office of the renowned consulting company Pentagram, also contributed three distinct designs. Electron microscopist became a sneaker artist, Vicky Vuong, layered distorted Helvetica font on a physical sneaker, creating a dynamic pattern that can be translated into three unique designs of varying rarity. Kunel Gaur, Jasmina Zornic, Julian Montague, Wayne Lawrenceand many others make up the designers of this first collection.
NFT, type and art enthusiasts can buy from the creators from today on three levels of rarity, priced at the equivalent $ 100, $ 250and $ 500 USD resp.
“KnownUnknown strives to inspire and elevate a diverse creative community through collaboration, human relations and innovation,” commented James Sommerville, founder of KnownUnknown. “The opportunity to work with Monotype and its Helvetica font created a tremendous opportunity for our design community to experiment and connect the traditional models we know and adapt them with new, creative ways of working in Web3.”
NFTs, which are considered to be equivalent to a unique trading card, have exploded in popularity, and interest in the technology through which digital art can be created, sold and collected continues to grow. The exploration of NFT’s potential in typography is in its infancy, exploited by both well-known brands and celebrities as a digital medium to engage audiences. Digital posters, abstract artwork containing text, behind-the-scenes drawings, early access to gallery shows or font downloads and more can be shared with fans via NFTs.
“As creators explore font designs for virtual reality environments and Metaverse, they refine how they can add the third dimension, from flat space to evoke depth. They weigh available font designs and letter shapes when viewed at different angles and levels. Automation – all without it’s at the expense of authentic brand experiences, “Palmer added. “This collaboration represents the enthusiasm and imagination of those who create at the intersection of art, culture and technology.”
“Helvetica The NFT” was pre-released at an exhibition on June 23rd at iR Gallery Soho with several of the creators. Scheduled with NFT NYC, June 20-23visitors to New York City Times Square also got a glimpse of the collaboration and artwork on the many digital screens in the area, in collaboration with Avalanche and KnownUnknown.
For more information on how to buy the artwork, please visit
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