Typography Task 2 : Typographic Exploration & Communication

28/10/2024 - 11/11/2024 (Week 6 - Week 8)
Felice Jolin / 0373636
Typography / Creative Media / School of Design
Task 2 / Typographic Exploration and Communication

---

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Lectures

• Instructions

• Task 2

• Feedback

• Reflections

• Further Reading

---

> LECTURES

Week 6 Typo_5_Understanding

Letters / Understanding letterforms
Uppercase letterform looks symmetrical but actually not after clear inspection. This typpeface (univers) letter A seems symetrycal but turns out not. The width of the left slope is thinner than the right stroke. This is to create harmony and expression.

Fig 1.5.1 Uppercase

Comparison of two similar sans-serif ; Helvetica and Univers.

Fig 1.5.2 Lowercase

Letters / Maintaining x-height
Letter that have curved strokes need to rise above the median and sink below the baseline in order to be the same size as the vertical and horizontal strokes they are joined. 

Fig 1.5.3 x-height

Letters / Form / Counterform
Counterform is the spaces between letters that are joined together. Better counterform ease readability. Form and counterform should be balance for letter-making.

Fig 1.5.4 Counterform

Letters / Contrast
When dealing with diffferent information, contrast is required to differentiate it.

Fig 1.5.5 Contrast

 

Week 7
Mr. Max showed us tutorial of making composition layout in Indesign also chose our sketches for headlines. 

 

Fig 1.5.6 Illustrator and Indesign Artboard

Week 8 

This week is Independent learning week, however Mr.Max open an online class for consultation.  Mr.Max's choice was either this two and told me to choose one for final outcome. 

   

Fig 1.5.7 Indesign Layout

---

>INSTRUCTION

 

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEZqAWHcsPzN3_6lobCOlY4nVPiY45Om/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

---

> TASK 2

For task2, we needed to create a two-page editorial spread (200x200mm). We were provided with 3 different texts and I decided to choose the text with the headline "A code to build on and live by". We were told to design the headline's type expression in Adobe Illustrator, and then arrange the text formatting and layout in Adobe InDesign.

References
For the headline I chose, I decided to explore the word 'build' and 'code' where I find some inspirations from pinterest and google.

Fig 2.1 References (Week 6, 28/10/24)

 

Sketches
For design 1, to highlight 'code' I use elements barcode to appeal the headline. As for design 2 and 3 I explore with long barcode to enhance the expression of the headline. I also explore with the word 'build' where in design 4 and 5 I tried to make it look 3D to make it look like a building with difference sizes. While for design 6 it is more to a slanted building. 

Fig 2.2 Sketches (Week 6, 28/10/24)

 

Digitization
In AI I explore more in 'build' I tried different styles and also typefaces to get the best one.

Fig 2.3 Digital Explorations (Week 7, 04/11/24)

After showing Mr. Max the progress he chose this 4 designs. For my headline I mostly use Futura typeface.

Fig 2.4 Finalize Headline (Week 7, 04/11/24)

Layout sketch
After finilazing the design for headline I proceed to try different layouts. For layout 3 and 4 I want to project the shape of building itsleft.

Fig 2.5 Layout (Week 7, 04/11/24)

Indesign Layout
From the sketches I develop the layout into many forms, I trial and error to see which one fits the most. At first, I stuggled organizing the paragraph, however, I search more inspirations from pinterest and came up with these designs :

Fig 2.6 Layout #1 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

Fig 2.7 Layout #2 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

Fig 2.8 Layout #3 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

Fig 2.9 Layout #4 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

Fig 2.9 Layout #5 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

Fig 2.10 Layout #6 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

 

Fig 2.11 Layout #7 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

Fig 2.12 Layout #8 (Week 7, 04/11/24)

 

 

After showing Mr. Max, he like design #2 and #3 and told me to tidy up the parraph and let me to chose myself either that two for the final one. Mr.Max suggested me to not cut the paragraph in the middle, put it as a whole.

 

 

Fig 2.13 Improvised Layout #2 (Week 8, 11/11/24)

Fig 2.14 Improvised Layout #3 (Week 8, 11/11/24)

 

Blocking 

 

Fig 2.15 Blocking  (Week 8, 11/11/24)

 

Final Outcome

Fig 2.16 Final Layout (JPG), (Week 8, 11/11/24)

 

 

 Fig 2.17 Final Layout (PDF), (Week 8, 11/11/24)

Fig 2.18 Final Layout with Grid (JPG), (Week 8, 11/11/24)

Fig 2.19 Final Layout with Grid (PDF), (Week 8, 11/11/24)

HEAD specification in Adobe Illustrator

Typeface : Futura STD bold condensed

Type Size/s : CODE (220PT), a and to build on & live by (35pt)
Leading : -
Paragraph spacing : -

BODY TEXT 

Typeface: Bembo Std

Font/s: Bembo Std Regular & Bembo Std Bold

Type Size/s: 10 pt

Leading: 12 pt

Paragraph spacing: 11 pt

Characters per-line: 55-65

Alignment: Left justified & Justify with last line alligned left

PAGE FORMAT

Margins: 10mm top + bottom + right + left

Columns: 2

Gutter: 5 mm

 

---

> FEEDBACK

WEEK 6

General Feedback : Good Sketches

Specific Feedback : Mostly are similar, because I use 'code' as keyword, Mr.Max said try to use 'build' as keyword. Mr.Max said my sketch was too complex and the headline looks very long horizontally and told me to make it simpler and compact.

 

WEEK 7

General Feedback : Good, I like it.

Specific feedback : Mr.Max like my design with barcode, he said to higlight the 'CODE' i should make the other words into lowercase letter. For second design of barcode, Mr.Max told me to make it more ragged to look natural, not just a horizontal barcode . I ask Mr. Max about the layout in Indesign I made about balancing the paragraph and he approved. 

 

WEEK 8 

General Feedback :  I like all the four headlines and the layout.

Specific feedback : I like design #1 and #2 the most, however you should revise the paragraph so it is not cut in the middle of the paragraph. Makesure it stays as a whole. You should makesure the paragraph is alligned so it looks tidy. For instance, the top of paragraph 1 should be the same height as paragraph 2.

---

REFLECTION

Experience : Along with the task about kerning, leading, letterspacing and formatting text, I have gained  many new inputs and new skills. I have come to realize that how many type expression I can make with just one typface. I was struggling at first, conffused but I have come to do a better job throught out multiple task for kerning, text formatting and text explorations. 

 

Observation : Every week, there will be feedbacks given and through that I have developed much, seeing things different ways, from broad view. As I could see my peers have different sense of insight through the keyword they use. This shows me taht although we should follow rules, there are always room for creativity. After trying several layouts in Indesign, I realize tidy, all line justified paragraph does not always looks good. Sometimes we need the spices of randomness to add in creative work. 

Findings : I first struggled to make the layout and only come up with 4 as required. After looking at my design for some times, I think it's too simple. I try to look up for more inspiration, I notice that the more we see, the more we are able to project it into what we are doing. Making more choices could give more possibilities for good work and to chose which that satisfy you the most. 

---

> FURTHER READING

A Type Primer, by John Kane. I read about formatting text, texture, typfaces, composition and proportions from this book which helps me with doing Task 2.

Fig 3.1 A Type Primer, John Kane

Formatting Text
Keep clear and appropriate presentation of author's message is important, if you see type before the word, change the type. Different typeface suit different message.

Fig 3.2 Text Formatting

Texture, Leading and Line Length
Bigger x-height and heavy stroke width portray darker mass on page and is fundamental for layouts. Text should occupy page as much as a photograph, middle gray value (above, left). Remember to enlarge type on screen to check relation between descender and ascender below. Printed out will be better to closely check. Mr.Max also remind us about this, on screen and printed out can look very different.

Fig 3.3 Leading and Line Lenght

Proportion
Golden section existed since classical time, used by architects and visual artist for composition at all cost, from page, shape to building. a : b = b : (a+b)

Fig 3.4 Golden Section

Fibonnaci sequence, useful model of proportion closely related to golden section, also can be seen in many example such as musical octaves. 

Fig 3.5 Fibonnaci Sequence