Helvetica Condensed maintains the iconic neutrality and systematic construction of its parent typeface while offering dramatically improved spatial efficiency through its narrowed letterforms. The condensed proportions preserve Helvetica's characteristic features: the horizontal stroke terminals, uniform stroke weight, large x-height, and open apertures in characters like 'a' and 'e'. What distinguishes it from other condensed sans-serifs is its mathematical precision in narrowing—each character maintains optical balance despite the compressed width, avoiding the pinched or cramped appearance common in poorly executed condensed variants. The typeface retains Helvetica's legendary versatility while providing essential functionality for space-constrained layouts.
