HISTORY
In this section, we will unravel the different history. One is
the history of IBM and second is the company freeing themselves
from the usage of Helvetica font with their own original typeface.
HISTORY OF IBM
IBM, or it's full name International Business Machines, is a company that heavily focuses on
modern technologies such as a computer. It was founded in 1911 by Charles Ranlett Flint as
the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R), which focuses, on calculating and
accounting during that time. It stayed as C-T-R until Thomas J. Watson, another founder
changed it's name to International Business Machines in 1924. During that time, IBM focuses
on inventing calculators and computing machines. Until the 1980s, IBM made modern
technology such as personal computer or PC for short and fonts as well. Overall, IBM made a
great contributions on making modern technology from the 1980s through the modern day.
Charles Ranlett Flint & C-T-R
Charles Ranlett Flint (left) would become the founder of
Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R) on June 6, 1911.
100 Years Ago, Enter IBM
Source: I-Programmer
Thomas Watson Sr. and IBM
Thomas Watson, Sr. (right) would change the company's name
to its now know as International Business Machines (IBM.)
Him and his son Thomas Watson, Jr. (left) would continue to
strive the legacy of IBM.
Thomas Watson Sr.
Thomas Watson Jr.
Source: IBM
HISTORY OF PLEX
As IBM was making computers throughout the modern day, they were stuck on using a
well-known font, Helvetica. So the company decided on how they can free themselves by
making their original font. Eventually, IBM made their own font which was called the IBM Plex.
The IBM Plex consider itself to be a first ever "bespoke" font that came in sans, serif, condensed,
and mono type variations altogether. The font was created in 2015 by Mike Abbink, a typeface designer
that join IBM in that same year. Abbink made sample font such as Franklin Gothic to create an original
font for IBM. After a while, Abbink had made the IBM Plex, an original font for the company.
