Helvetica is popular because of a variety of moments in history. It was right for the way in which visual culture was changing. It could be adapted for logos and publications. Helvetica was an evolution of a much older typeface style, but it was right for the moment. It could be very heavily promoted and advertised because there weren’t hundreds of foundries releasing and promoting typefaces. Where it sat in terms of technology shifts was also important. Yes, it was licensed for everyday things like Letraset and sign-making shops, but when software manufacturers needed some typefaces for their computers, they just asked for the most popular typefaces that everyone knew. Then, all of a sudden, Helvetica and Times New Roman became ubiquitous and maybe Helvetica was a bit more contemporary. Dan Rhatigan.