Advance Typography Task 1: Exercise

April 04, 2023

Advance Typography Task 1: Exercise

Week 1- Week 5

05/04/2023 – 03/05/2023

Name: Joan Chiam Zi Woei

Student ID: 0350211

Advanced Typography

Task 1 / Exercises : Typographic Systems & Type and Play

Instructions:

Module Information Booklet

Lectures

Week 1 — Advanced Typographic Systems

Typographic systems provide sense of purpose and directs decision making with additional criteria such as hierarchy, order of healing, legibility, and contrast.

8 Major Variations

1. Axial

All the elements are organized to the left or right of a single axis.

Fig 1.1 Example of Axial System

2. Radial

All elements are extended from a point of focus and it is spread out according to that particular point of focus.

Fig 1.2 Example of Radial System

3. Dilatational

All clumps of information expand from a central point in a circular fashion.

Fig 1.3 Example of Dilatational System

4. Random

Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship.


Fig 1.4 Example of Random System

5. Grid

System of vertical and horizontal divisions.

Fig 1.5 Example of Grid System

6. Transitional

Informal system of layered banding.

Fig 1.6 Example of Transitional System

7. Modular

Series of non-objective elements that are constructed in as standardised units.

Fig 1.7 Example of Modular System

8. Bilateral

All text is arranged symmetrically on a single axis.

Fig 1.8 Example of Bilateral System

Week 2 — Typographic Composition

Principles of Design Composition

Dominant principles underpinning design composition : emphasis, isolation, repetition, symmetry, and asymmetry, alignment, perspective, etc.
More relevant to imagery than complex units of information that consists different elements.

Rule Of Third

Composition which is a space that can be divided into three columns and three rows.
The intersecting lines are used as a guide to place the points of interest. It is generally not used in typography, but it is still a compositional element that is used for making decisions on placement.

Other models/Systems

Environmental Grid

The environmental grid is a system based on the exploration of an existing structure or multiple combined structures. Both straight and curved lines are extracted from it.
Designer organizes the information around the super-structure, including non-objective elements that create a unique and exciting mix of texture and visual stimuli.
The system/structures were developed around key features of an environment associated to the communicators of the message.

Form and Movement

It is based on the exploration of existing grid systems.
This system helps to explore the multitude of options that the grid offers, dispel the seriousness surrounding it, and see the turning of pages in a book as a slow-motion animation in the form that constitutes the placement of image, text and colour.

Week 3 — Context and Creativity

Handwriting

Handwriting is important in the study of typography because it is the first mechanically produced letterforms were designed to directly imitate handwriting, which later leads to the basis or standard for form, spacing and conventions that mechanical type would try and mimic.
The shape and line of hand-drawn letterforms are influenced by the tools such as sharpened bones, charcoal sticks, plant stems, brushes, feather and steel pens.
Additional factors included the material upon which the forms were written: clay, papyrus, palm leaf, animal skins (vellum and parchment) and paper

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphs have the potential to be used as

Ideograms (i.e. representing the things that they depict).
Determinatives (i.e. showing that the signs preceding are meant as phonograms as well as to indicate the general idea of the word).
Phonograms (i.e. representing sounds that spell out individual words).

Cuneiform

Earliest system of actual writing, it was used in a number of languages between 3400B.C.E through the first century C.E.
Pressing the blunt end of a reed stylus into wet clay tablets resulted in its form. They evolved from pictograms to letterforms, and cuneiform was written from left to right.

Early Greek

The early Greek writing system was built on the Egyptian logo-consonantal system.
The Phoenicians developed a phonetic alphabet of 22 letters, which was then adopted by the Greeks who added the necessary vowels.
Early Greek letters were initially drawn freehand without the use of compasses and rules and they did not have any serifs.
Over time, the strokes of the letter grew thicker, the aperture lessened, and serifs were formed. The new forms were used for inscriptions and served as models for formal lettering in imperial Rome.
These new forms were used as models for inscriptions across the Greek empire and eventually served as formal lettering in imperial Rome.
New forms used for inscriptions throughout the Greek empire, eventually it served as formal lettering in imperial Rome.

Roman Uncials

In the 4th century, Roman letters becoming more rounded, curved form allowed for less strokes, could be written faster

English Half Uncials, 8th C.

The writing style evolved into a more tilted and condensed form.
Writing on the European continent devolved considerably and needed a reformer.
Came in Carolingian Handwriting Reform.

Emperor Charlemagne 8th C. CE

The collapse of the Roman Empire led to a lack of a centralized and advanced culture, which resulted in a widespread inability to read and write, and caused handwriting to splinter into various regional styles.

Carolingian Miniscule

The practice of using capitals at start of sentence, adding spaces between words and punctuation.
Used for all legal and literary works to unify communication between various regions in expanding European empire.
Important as a development from standard Roman capital.
Style that became the pattern for the Humanistic writing of the 15th century.
Formed the basis of lower case roman type.

Black letter 12-15 C. CE

Gothic style was the artistic expression of the middle ages.
The term originated from the Italians who used it to refer to rude or barbaric cultures north of the Italian Alps.
In the Gothic system, the vertical supplanted horizontals as the dominant line in architecture, the pointed arch replaced the round arch of the Romans, and the almond mandorla shape was preferred. Gothic writing forms reflected this aesthetic.
Blackletter is characterized by tight spacing and condensed lettering.
Evenly-spaced verticals dominated the letterform.
Condensing line and letter spacing reduced the cost of book production.

Italian Renaissance

Embrace of ancient Greek and Roman culture spurred a creative wave through Italian art, architecture, literature and letterform design.
The Humanists admired the Carolingian script, which had clear and open handwriting.

Movable Type 11 C.—14 C

Printing using wooden blocks had already been practiced in China, Korea and Japan.
The earliest known printed book is the Diamond Sutra, a sixteen-inch scroll with the world's first printed illustration.
China had attempted using movable type for printing, but this was unsuccessful due to the number of characters and the use of brittle clay.

Week 4 — Designing Type

Type design carries a social responsibility, so one most continue to improve its legibility.
Type design is a form of artistic expression.

General Process of Type Design

1. Research

When creating type, we should understand type history, anatomy and conventions, and its terminology.
Identify type's purpose, the different applications it will be used in, etc.
Examine existing fonts that are presently being used for inspiration, ideas, reference, context, etc.

2. Sketching

Some designers sketch their typeface using traditional toolsets and then scan them for the purpose of digitization.
While some designers sketch their typefaces using digital toolsets. However, this can impede the natural movement of hand strokes. Both methods have pros and cons.

3. Digitisation

There are professional software such as FontLab and Glyphs App.
Some designers also use Adobe Illustrator then only the specialised font apps.
Attention should be given to the counter form, readability of the typeface is heavily dependent on it.

4. Testing

Important component in design thinking process.
Results of testing is part of the process of refining and correcting aspects of the typeface.
Prototyping : part of the testing process and leads to important feedback.
Readability and legibility of the typeface becomes an important consideration.

5. Deploy

Even after deploying a completed typeface there are teething problems that did not come to fore during prototyping and testing phases thus task of revision doesn't end upon deployment.
Rigour of testing is important so teething issue remain minor.

Typeface Construction

In typeface construction, the Roman capital has a grid that consists of a square.
Inside it is a circle that just touches the lines of the square in four places.
Within the square, there is also a rectangle which is three quarters the size of the square and positioned in the centre.
By using grids with circular forms, designers can facilitate the construction of a letterform and it is possible method to design a letterform.

Week 5 — Perception and Organisation

Perception is known as the way that something is perceived or interpreted.
In typography, perception involves how readers would visually navigate and understand the content, which is influenced by factors such as contrast, form and organization. The content can be textual, visual, graphical or in the form of colour.

Contrast

There are various ways to create contrast in typography. Some of these methods include using contrasting weights like light and bold, condensed and extended, organic and machined, roman and italic, small and large, negative and positive, serif and sans serif, ornate and simple, or two different colours.

Form

Contrast in form is the distinction between a capital letter and its lowercase equivalent, or a roman letter and its italic variant, condensed and expanded versions of typeface are also included under the contrast of form.

Organisation/Gestalt

The organisation of information and how it is perceived should be considered by designers as a social responsibility. It is crucial for effective communication, transfer of knowledge, and for understanding to occur.

Exercise 1: Typographic Systems

After understanding all different typographic systems, we were required to apply the text provided onto a 200 x 200 mm poster in Adobe InDesign. I started working on the initial drafts for each of the eight systems.

Progression

I started by arranging the words and make sure that the kerning and spaces between the texts are in place so that I won't have to do too much changes when I start arranging it into different system.

Fig 1.1 Progression, Week 2 (5/04/2023)

Fig 1.2 Progression, Week 2 (5/04/2023)

Drafts

Fig 2.1 Drafts of the axial system (6/04/2023)

Fig 2.2 Drafts of Radial system (6/04/2023)

Fig 2.3 Drafts of Dilational system (7/04/2023)

Fig 2.4 Drafts of Random system (7/04/2023)

Fig 2.5 Drafts of Grid system (8/04/2023)

Fig 2.6 Drafts of Modular system (9/04/2023)

Fig 2.7 Transitional system (10/04/2023)

Fig 2.8 Bilateral system (10/04/2023)

After creating two drafts for each system, I looked at my drafts and chose the best composition out of each systems. I asked for feedbacks from my friends and classmate afterwards to check if it was done correctly. I also did some more refinement after listening to Mr Vinod's feedbacks and applied it to my work to improve it further more.

Fig 3.1 Final axial system in JPEG format. (11/04/23)

Fig 3.2 Final radial system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.3 Final dilatational system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.4 Final random system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.5 Final grid system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.6 Final modular system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.7 Final transitional system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.8 Final bilateral system in JPEG format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.9 All typographic systems in PDF format. (12/04/23)

Fig 3.10 All typographic systems with the grids visible. (12/04/23)

Process of Exercise 2: Type and Play

The second exercise that we are tasked to do is to find type by dissecting an image and extracting letterforms from it. The photo I used was a photo taken while I was on the plane. I thought the clouds are pretty interesting with all the lumpy shapes.

Progression

Fig 4.1 The image that I have selected for my extraction.

I started with transforming the colour of the image into black and white so that it will be easier for me to see everything more clearly and the outline of the clouds will be less confusing for me. I searched for all the letterforms that I could find within the traced outlines and ended up with C, L, O, U, and D. Which is perfect since the letterforms did came from the clouds.

Fig 4.2 Traced outlines of letterforms (17/04/23)

After outlining the letterforms, I filled it out so that I can start to refine it.

Fig 4.3 The letterforms found within the traced outlines (17/04/23)

I used Futura Std Extra Bold Oblique as my reference typeface use during my refinement. I wanted to keep the cloudy/ lumpy shapes from the original image while refining the letters to make it look thick but not just straight and boring like the letter font that I'm referencing from.

Fig 4.4 initial refinement process of the crude letterforms. (19/04/23)

With the feedback received in Week 3, which is to make the letterforms into the same family following the letter 'C' to maintain consistency of the letters. So I went back and change and improved my refinement process slightly. I started by focusing on making each of the letters have the same characteristics as the letter C so I started working from there.

Fig 4.5 Refinement process of the letterforms. (23/04/23)

I used the features of the letter 'C' and added into the letter 'U' so that it will look more similar.

Fig 4.6 Refinement process of the letter 'U'. (19/04/23)

Fig 5.1 Original image of scenery by Hayao Miyazaki on Art Of The Wind Rises.

I wanted to have a soft background that also shows scenery of sky along with mountains so that it will not be too boring while not stealing too much attention away from the letterforms. I made my word stay in the middle of the poster so that it will be the first thing viewers will see. I also made it white with a bit of light blue highlights on the back of each letters so that it will show a bit of contrast from the green mountains while not looking too bland at the same time.

Fig 5.2 design on the image (24/04/23)

Fig 5.3 Final integrated poster in JPEG format. (24/04/23)

Fig 5.3 Final integrated poster in PDF format. (24/04/23)

Feedback

Week 1

General Feedback:

The draft is good and the axis is clearly present.
The design looks interesting.
Fix the alignment of the text.

Specific Feedback:

The layout works as it fill out the space by leaning the words towards right side but would look even better if arrange the alignment of the top and bottom words together.

Week 2

General Feedback:

There are both major and minor mistakes in most of the draft.
Further improvement is needed.

Specific Feedback:

Axial system, I need to arrange the alignment better.
Radial system, it will look more balance and visually satisfying if I extend the line all the way till the end.
Dilatational system looks great, just need to balance it out sincee the bottom have more space than the top.
Random system can be more messy rather than neat.
Grid system arrange it so it actually all fit in the grid boxes.
Make some changes towards the title because it is not the same size as the other one.
Transitional looks good but need proof-read as some words are missing.
Bilateral system is good but need make some changes on the spacing to make it look balanced.

Week 3

General Feedback:

By listening to the feedbacks given to the others. I need to figure out how my font won't lose its characteristics so that it is not completely different from the original pic reference.

Specific Feedback:

No specific was given as my work did not get reviewed.

Week 4

General Feedback:

Consistency is needed to be seen in the letterforms.
The background of the poster looks good.

Specific Feedback:

The letter 'C' looks good, I can use it as a reference for the other letters.
Work the letterforms into the same family as the letter 'C' to maintain consistency.

Reflections

Experience

Throughout doing these two exercises, I find learning about typographic systems very fascinating. Understanding how grids, hierarchy, and proportion can be used to create effective layouts has opened my eyes to the complexities of typography. I have come to appreciate how a well-designed typographic system along with type and play can not only enhance the visual appeal of a design but also convey meaning and facilitate communication towards the viewers.

Observation

I have noticed that typographic systems are important for creating visual communication that is both effective and clear. These systems are all set and used to organize information in a logical and orderly way to guide the viewer's eye and convey meaning more efficiently.

Finding

By doing the exercise, I learnt a lot about compositions, designing letterforms, and creating impactful posters. Additionally, I came to learnt that paying attention to details can help a lot in improving my analytical skills which are crucial for producing high-quality work.

Search This Blog

Joan Chiam Zi Woei (0350211)