Advanced Typography: Task 1 (Exercise 1&2)

28.03.2022 - 18.04.2022 (Week 1 - Week 4)
Metta Angelica (0349095)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Advanced Typography
Task 1

LIST

Lecture
Instruction

Exercise 1: Typography System
Exercise 2 (A): Type & Play
Exercise 2 (B): Type & Image

Feedback
Reflection
Further Reading

LECTURE

Week 1

In the first week, we are briefed about our MIB and its content. Inside the MIB it contains the information about the task we will do in the future.

For the first task, we have 2 exercise, which is:

Exercise 1: Typography Systems
Exercise 2: Type & Play

There are 8 major variations of Typographic Systems:

Axial
Radial
Dilational
Random
Grid
Modular
Transitional
Bilateral

According to Ellam, (2007) "Typographical organization is complex because the elements are dependent on communication in order to function. Additional criteria such as hierarchy, order of reading, legibility, and contrast also come into play.

The typographic systems are akin to what architects term shape grammars. The typographic systems are similar that the systems has a set of rules that is unique and provides a sense of purpose that focuses and directs the decision making." (Elam, 2007)

8 Typographic Systems

Axial System: all elements are organized to the left or right of a single axis.

fig. 1.1 (Axel, lecture)

fig. 1.2 (Axel by Julius Teoh Hoong Boon)
Radial System: All elements are extended from a point of focus.

fig. 2.1 (Radial, lecture)

fig. 2.2 (Radial by Tamara Audrey)
Dilational Systems: All elements expand from a central point in a circular fashion.

fig. 3.1 (Dilatational, lecture)

fig. 3.2 (Dilatational by Julius Teoh Hoong Boon)
Random Systems: Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship.

fig. 4 (Random, lecture)

fig. 4.2 (Random by Tamara Audrey)
Grid System: A system of Vertical and Horizontal divisions.

fig. 5.1 (Grid, lecture)

fig. 5.2 (Grid by Tamara Audrey)
Modular Systems: An informal system of layered banding.
fig. 6.1 (Modular, lecture)

fig. 6.2 (Modular designed by others)
Transitional System: A series of non-objective elements that are constructed in as standardized units.

fig. 7.1 (Transitional, lecture)

fig. 7.2 (Transitional designed by others)
Bilateral System: All text is arranged symmetrically on a single axis.
fig. 8.1 (Bilateral, lecture)

fig. 8.2 (Bilateral designed by others)

Week 2

This week we discuss about "what is Graphic Design?" and talk about design. Then the teacher do some feedback on the draft designs for the first exercise. Afterward, we discuss about our next exercise "Type & Play".

Lecture2: Typographic Composition

Principles of Design Composition

When we think about composition, we think about the dominant principles underpinning design composition, which are emphasis, isolation, repetition, symmetry and asymmetry, alignment, perspective to name a few.

However, these abstract notions see ambiguous when it comes to translating it into typographic layouts or composition. They see more relevant to imagery than complex units of information that consist different elements.

The ideas mentioned above and the application of these ideas into real-life content (images, textual information and color) on a page or screen can sometimes feel disparate. That said, some of these principles are a little more easily translatable than the others.

fig. 9 (lecture)

The Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is a photographic guide to composition, it basically suggest that a frame (space) can be divided into 3 columns and 3 rows. The intersecting lines are used as guides to place the points of interest, within the given space.

fig. 10.1 (lecture)

Realistically no one would ever use the rule of thirds when there are other more favorable options.

fig. 10.2 (lecture)

Typographic Systems

These 8 systems we have covered in-depth in theory and practical. From the 8 systems, the most pragmatic and the most used system is the Grid System (or Raster Systeme), which is derived from the grided compositional structure of Letter Press printing.

It was further enhanced by what is now come to be termed as the Swiss (Modernist) style of Typography, with its foremost proponents being Josef Muller Brockmann, Jan Tschichold, Max Bill and such.

fig. 11 (example, lecture)

In reaction to this very ordered approach to Typography of the modernist era, a group of younger designers began to question and challenge this notion of order. Thus was born the post-medernist era in Typographical systems where chaos, randomeness, and asymmetry were explored. Legibility and readabilty were relegated to the back seat however the bests examples seem to combine the two seamlessly. Its proponents include: David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Barnbrook, to name a few.

There was a method to their madness. Ordesr was replaced with apparent chaos but this chaos was exciting and 'new' for a generation that was being exposed to Punk anti-establishment thought and music. As such the asymmetry, random, repetition, dilatational and radial systems began to take root in the lexicon of designers.

fig. 12 (example, lecture)

Other models/Systems

Environmental Grid

This system is based on the exploration of an existing structure or numerous structures combined. An extraction of crucial lines both curved and straight are formed. The designers then organize his information around this super-structure, which includes non-objective elements to create a unique and exciting mixture of texture and visual stimuli.

It is an interesting manner of exploration and provides context to the forms developed in the designs-context why? Due to the fact that the system/structures were developed around key features of an environment associated to the communicators of the message.

fig. 13 (example, lecture)

Form and Movement

This system is based on the exploration of an existing Grid Systems. This system was developed to get students to explore; the multitude of options the grid offer; to dispel the seriousness surrounding the application of the grid system; and to see the turning of pages in a book as slowed-down animation in the form that constitutes the placement of image, text, and color.

The placement of a form (irrespective of what it is) on a page, over many pages creates movement. Whether the page is paper or screen is irrelevant.

fig. 14.1 (lecture)

fig. 14.2 (lecture)

fig. 15 (lecture)

The level of complexity increases as newer elements are introduced in an incremental fashion: addition of one color, then an image, then dummy text, and so on.

Week 3

Lecture 3: Context & creativity

Week 4

Lecture 4

INSTRUCTION

Exercise 1: Typography System

In this task, we have to create a design for each 8 typography systems. First, I look at some references in Pinterest of each system.

Sketches

Below are some ideas I made.

fig. 1.1 (Axial)

fig. 1.2 (Bilateral)

fig. 1.3 (Dilatational)

There are also other sketches in my Google Drive.

Digitization Progress

fig. 2.1

fig. 2.2

fig. 2.3

fig. 2.4

Some Type Systems were hard for me to make, and sometime I would need to fix the type font because I got it mixed up. Out of all the random was the hardest. Below is a picture of my Random System.

fig. 2.5 (random-WIP)

1st attempt

Axel

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 3 (Axial, JPEG)

Bilateral

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 4 (Bilateral, JPEG)

Dilatational

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 5 (Dilatational, JPEG)

Grid

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 6 (Grid, JPEG)

Modular

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 7 (Modular, JPEG)

Radial

Typefaces: Bodoni Std

fig. 8 (Radial, JPEG)

Random

Typeface: ITC New Baskerville Std

fig. 9 (Random, JPEG)

Transitional

Typeface: Bodoni Std

fig. 10 (Transitional, JPEG)

PDF

2nd attempt-Final

fig. 11 (Axial, JPEG)

fig. 12 (Bilateral, JPEG)

fig. 13 (Dilatational, JPEG)

fig. 14 (Grid, JPEG)

fig. 15 (Modular, JPEG)

fig. 16 (Radial, JPEG)

fig. 17 (Random, JPEG)

fig. 18 (Transitional, JPEG)

PDF

Exercise 2 (A): Type & Play

1st attempt

In this exercise, we first need to find some pictures and dissect some words that can be found in them.

fig. 19

fig. 20

fig. 21

fig. 22

The design above didn't do very well, so look for another picture and dissect it. I think this one is quite good.

fig. 23

fig. 24

fig. 25 (1st-attempt)

The fist attempt didn't do well because it lost it's originality.

2nd Attempt

I still use the same references but this time I try to make it more similar to the picture and try to form it a bit similar with the Berlin Sans type font.

fig. 26

fig. 27

Final Design

fig. 28 (2nd-attempt-final, JPEG)

PDF

Exercise 2 (B): Type & Image

For this exercise, we are to find images and combine the visuals with a letter/word/sentence. The objective is to enhance/support the interplay between the letter/word/sentence and the selected visual.

These is some of my attempts.

fig. 29 (attempt-1)

My first attempt was a simple shadow word of a glass.

fig. 30 (attempt-2)

This picture I can't think of any idea.

fig. 31 (attempt-3)

Somehow I can't upload the original picture but I was able to upload the edits I have made. I feel the picture above has possibilities but I still explore some before deciding.

fig. 32 (attempt-4)

I really like this one, but then after seeing the picture again I found I could use the cassette for the o's.

fig. 33 (attempt-5)

I use invert for the words to create a strong contrast and it looks really good to look for me.

fig. 34.1 (Pinterest)

fig. 34.2 (attempt-6)

For this one, I add a layer of white over the picture and create words, after I create the word I use a magic tool to select the words and then I erase the selected area, above is the result. I also like this one, but still unsure to use this one.

fig. 35.1 (Pinterest)

fig. 35.2 (Pinterest)

fig. 35.3 (attempt-7)

Using similar method I made this, but I found it hard to make the word to be more visible.

fig. 36 (attempt-8)

I also did a bit of adjustment from the previous attempt. This time besides making the word more visible and enhancing the picture a bit to match the words. I bend the word following the flow and recolor some parts to make it still readable.

fig. 37 (attempt-9)

I did this one for fun because I really lie doing the shadows a lot and It looks pretty good to me. But out of all I decide this as the final design.

Final Design

fig. 38 (Final Design, JPEG)