Advanced Typography Task1
Advanced Typography Task1-EXERCISES
24/4/2024- /4/2024
Yang Jiayi/0369288
Advanced Typography Task1/Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Task 1: Exercise 1 & Exercise 2 - Typographic Systems & Type & Play
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Instructions
2.Lectures
3.Task 1
4.Feedback
5.Reflections
6.Further Reading
Instructions
Module Information Booklet
Lectures
- Typographic Systems ( Week 1 )
According to the lecture in the first class, I learned typographic systems,and all design is based on a structural system", according to Elam.These eight maior variations are as follows:
1.Axial system
- All elements areorganised to the left or right of asingle axis.
- The information is divided into groups and placed at different angles on different sides of the axis. The actual axis system requires a line.
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| fig1.1 Axial system |
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| fig1.2 Sample from student |
2.Radial System
- All elements areextended from a point of focus
- All sentences point to this focus and thus constitute a radial
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| fig1.3 Radial System |
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| fig 1.4 Sample from student |
3.Dilatational System
- All elementsexpand from a central point in acircular fashion
- We can get rings with multiple messages
- Important information is given priority, possibly inside or outside the circle, and unimportant information is placed outside.
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| fig1.5 Dilatational System |
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| fig1.6 Sample from student |
4.Random System
- Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship.
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| fig 1.7 Sample from student |
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| fig1.8 Random System |
5.Grid System
- A system ofvertical and horizontal divisions.
- Information is structured according to different grids within the page, with different sizes and different weights, all to create focus and hierarchy.
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| fig1.9 Grid System |
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| fig2.1 Sample from student |
6.Transitional System
- An informalsystem of layered banding.
- layered in ribbons，represents separation of information
- If there is a header, the header will be kept in a larger band
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| fig2.2 Transitional System |
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| fig2.3 Sample from student |
7.Modular System
- A series ofnon-objective elements that areconstructed in as a standardisedunits.
- Text gridding to move different elements in different spaces
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| fig2.4 Modular System |
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| fig2.5Sample from student |
8.Bilateral System
- All text isarranged symmetrically on asingle axis
- Basically two axes, and a horizontal axis
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| fig2.6Bilateral System |
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| fig2.7 Sample from student |
Typographic Composition( week2 )
1.Principles of Design Composition
- emphasis
- isolation
- repetition
- symmetry and asymmetry
- alignment
- perspective
These concepts apply more to visual images than to textual information or varying amounts of information within a given space.
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| fig2.8 Principles of Design Composition |
These concepts are less advantageous in terms of typographic composition, and they are not always applicable in any given situation.
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| fig2.9 Emphasis on typography and composition |
2.The Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is a photographic quide to composition，it basicallysuggest that a frame (space) can be divided into 3 columns and 3rows. Anyone of he intersecting points become the focal point of the layout.
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| fig3.1 The Rule of Thirds |
In typography, no one uses the rule of thirds because there are so many other powerful options.
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| fig3.2 Example |
3.Typographic Systems
From the 8 systems the most pragmatic and the most used system is the Grid System (or Raster Systeme)，Theory and practice are most practical for eight systems，It was further enhanced by what is now come to be termed as the Swiss (Modernist) style of Typography.
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| fig3.3 Typographic Systems |
While the Grid System may seem to be old or rigid, the versatility of the systemand its (to some degree) modular nature tends to allow an infinite number ofadaptations.This is why it continues to remain popular.
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| fig3.4 Grid System |
In the modernist era, young designers began to question the concept of order, so asymmetry, randomness, repetition were gradually formed.
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| fig3.5 Typographic Systems |
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| fig3.6 work |
4.Other models /Systems
Environmental Grid
This system is based on the exploration of an existing structure ornumerous structures combined.It includes non-objective elements to create a unique and exciting mixture of texture and visual stimuli.
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| fig3.7 Brenda McMannus' Environment Grid Example, Excerpted from the book Print Form and Communication |
Designers extract key lines of curves and straight lines from the structure, organize information around the superstructure, include non-objective elements, and create additional visual stimulation.
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| fig3.8 Environmental Grid |
Form and movement: based on an exploration of existing grid systems. Placing the form on one page (across multiple pages) creates a sense of movement.
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| fig3.9 Form and movement |
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| fig4.1 Form and movement |
We study handwriting because the first mechanically produced letter forms were designed to directly imitate handwriting. Handwriting would become the basis or standard for form, spacing and conventions mechanical type would try and mimic.
The shape and line of hand drawn letter forms are influenced by the tools and materials used to make them. Sharpened bones, charcoal sticks, plant stems, brushes, feather and steel pens all contributed to the unique characteristics of the letter form.
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| fig4.2 Evolution of the Latin Alphabet |
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| fig4.3 Cuneiform |
Printing (wood block) had already been practiced in China, Korea and Japan (Dharani Sutra, AD 750).Earliest known printed book (AD868)is the Diamond Sutra: 16'scroll with the world's first printed illustration
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| fig4.4 Movable type |
Evolution of Middle Eastern Alphabets: It is also important to note that while the Phoenician letter marks a turning point in written language-use of sound represented in letters the script itself has been possibly influenced by the Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Hieratic Scripts
The Evolution of the Chinese script: From the Oracle bone to Seal Script to Clerical Script, Traditional and Simplified scripts
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| fig4.5 The evolution of the Middle Eastern alphabet |
The Brahmi script (450-350 BCE) is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script. lt is one of the most influential writing systems; all modern Indian scripts and several hundred scripts found in Southeast and East Asia are derived from Brahmi.
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| fig4.6 The Brahmi script |
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| fig4.7 Handwriting |
Ancient Hindu societies in both South and Southeast Asia were classist and often caste-based. The lower classes were generally illiterate.Obviously lslam didn't change this completely, but it did encourage teaching for the sake of proselytization
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| fig4.8 Handwriting |
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| fig4.9 Handwriting |
More vernacular scripts are being produced by software giants(Google): in their employment a great many Asian programmers and designers. More and more vernacular and “multi-script" typefaces -a term coined by Muthu Nedumaran are being produced to cater to situations where the written matter is communicated in the vernaculal script or vernacular and Latin scripts
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| fig5.0 Programmers and Type Design |
Designing Type（week4）
Xavier Dupré(2007)in the introduction of his typeface Malaga suggested two reasons for designing a typeface:
- type design carries a social responsibility so one must continue toimprove its legibility.
- type design is a form of artistic expression.
Frutiger is a sans serif typeface designed by the Swiss type designer Adrian Frutiger in 1968 specifically for the newly built Charles de Gaulle International Airport in France.
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| fig5.1 Frutiger type |
Many of Carter's fonts were created to address specific technical challenges，Purpose: the font was tuned to be extremely legible even at very small sizes on the screen due in part to the popularity of the internet and electronic devices.
The Verdana fonts exhibit characteristics derived from the pixel rather than the pen, the brush or the chisel.
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| fig5.2 Verdana |
Bell Centennial is AT&T commissioned the desiqn of a new typeface whose sole purpose would be for use in their telephone directories. The design had to solve multiple technical and visual problems related with the existing phonebook typeface, Bell Gothic.
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| fig5.3 Bell Centennial |
General Process of Type Design:
1.Research
When creating type, we should understand type history, type anatomyand type conventions.We should also know terminologies, side-bearing,metrics, hinting.
It is then important to determine the type's purpose or what it would be used for, what different applications it will be used in such as whether the typeface is for school busses or airport siqnages, etc
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| fig5.4 Research |
2.Sketching
Some desiqners sketch their typeface using the traditional tool set(brushes/ pens, ink and paper) then scan them for the purpose of digitization.They are more confident with their hands and have better control using it
Some designers sketch their typeface using digital tool sets, such as Wacom directly into a font design software (much quicker, persistent and consistent) but this can sometimes impede the natural movement of hand strokes
3.Digitization
There are professional software that are used in the digitization of typefaces, amongst the leading software are: FontLab and GlyphsApp.Attention should not only be given to the whole form at this stage but also to the counter form. The readability of the typeface is heavily dependent on it.
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| fig5.5 Digitization |
4.Testing
Testing is an important component in the design thinking process The results of the testing is part of the process of refining and correcting aspects of the typeface. Prototyping is also part of the testing process and leads to important feedback.
Depending on the typeface category(display type/text typ) the readability and legibility of the the typeface becomes an important consideration.However it is not as crucial if the typeface is a display type, where expression of the form takes a little more precedence.
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| fig5.6 Testing |
5.Deploy
Even after deploying a completed typeface there are always teethingproblems that did not come to the fore during the prototyping andtesting phases.Thus, the task of revision doesn't end upondeployment.
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| fig5.7 Deploy |
Typeface Construction:
Roman Capital: The qrid consists of a square, and inside it a circle that just touches the lines of the square in four places. Within the square, there is also a rectangle. This rectangle is three quarters the size of the square and is positioned in the centre of the square. More here and here.
Thus, using grids (with circular forms) can facilitate the construction of a letter forms and is a possible method to build/create/design your letter form.
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| fig5.8 Construction grid for the RomanCapital using 8 x 8 cells. |
Construction and considerations
Depending on their form and construction, the 26 characters of the alphabet can be arranged into groups, whereby a distinction is made between a qroup for the capitals and a qroup for lowercase letters.
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| fig5.9 form and construction |
The consideration when creating a typeface cannot be covered in its entirety in a single lecture or in a couple of slides. As such l would urge you to read more about it, when time permits or when the need arises here.
However take note that there are many approaches and considerations other than what has been provided in the link.
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| fig6.0 |
Task 1 TYPOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS
We were asked to do eight system layouts. According to the content in the MIB, we had to do axial, radial, extended, random, grid, modular, transitional and bilateral systems, which were completed through Indesign.
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| fig1.1 Axial system |
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| fig1.2 Radial System |
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| fig1.3 Dilatational System |
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| fig1.4 Transitional System |
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| fig1.5 Random System |
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| fig1.6 Grid System |
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| fig1.7 Modular System |
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| fig1.8 Bilateral System |
This week, after I showed my work to the teacher, Mr. Vinod said that my Axial system, Radial System, and Dilational System were okay, but the random system was too structured, and the overall grid system looked too straight. The modular system is not done right, the bilateral system is acceptable, but because the text lengths are different, it doesn’t look very coordinated.
I made the following changes
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| fig1.9 Collection of works |
Finnal submission
fig2.1 finnal Axial system
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| fig2.2 finnal Radial System |
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| fig2.3 finnal Dilatational System |
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| fig2.4 finnal Grid System |
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| fig2.5 finnal Random System |
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| fig2.6 finnal |
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| fig2.7 finnal Modular System |
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| fig2.8 finnal Bilateral System |
fig2.1 PDF without guides
fig2.2 PDF with guides
Task 2: Exercise 2 - Type & Play
Chosen Object & Letterform Extraction
- Finding an image.
- Deconstructing an image.
- Identifying letter forms.
- Extracting letter forms.
- Identify a reference.
- Refining letter forms.
- Introduce consistency in height, width and contrast.
- Deliberate on retaining or removing characteristics.
- Decide what areas require simplification.
- Finding an image.
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| fig2.9 Font source |
2.Identifying letter forms
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| fig3.1 Identifying letter forms |
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| fig3.2 Extracting letter forms |
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| fig3.3 Identify a reference |
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| fig3.4 initial font design |
I received feedback from the teacher that my font had deviated from the original look from the photo, so I revised it again.
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| fig3.5 Revised font design |
Part 2: Types and images
I want to make a movie poster with a horror atmosphere. I use the mask tool to add a yellow texture to my font. The main atmospheric color of the poster I choose is red, which will render a scary feeling. The font I designed should be Choosing yellow will highlight the theme I want to express against the red background.
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| fig3.6 original poster design |
The feedback the teacher gave me this week was that the choice of my poster was not very appropriate. My font is about branches, so my poster selected the left half of the previous poster. It would be better to have more branches.
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| fig3.7 Change poster |
The teacher said this would be better than the first version, but there were too many words to make people pay attention to the designed font, the vision was transferred, and my word spacing was not suitable enough, so I modified the word spacing to make them change. It has to be compact. I listened to the teacher’s advice and kept part of the text, and deleted the rest, leaving only the important ones.
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| fig3.8 Discovery type poster final version |
PDF version of final poster
Feedback
week2
This week, after I showed my work to the teacher, Mr. Vinod said that my Axial system, Radial System, and Dilational System were okay, but the random system was too structured, and the overall grid system looked too straight. The modular system is not done right, the bilateral system is acceptable, but because the text lengths are different, it doesn’t look very coordinated.
week3
The teacher said that my letters do not have the characteristics of branches. There are too many jumping parts in the middle and I need to slow down, so I will add the characteristics of branches on this basis.
week4
The teacher said that my poster needs further modification. The poster should be more related to the font I designed. My word spacing needs to be tighter so that it will look better.
Reflections
Experience
At the beginning of this semester, I was ready to bear the pressure. In the first project, we needed to do eight system layouts. I looked for information on the Internet to understand what the eight layout systems were. I found that I did Sometimes there will be some difficulties, and sometimes the understanding is not very accurate, so it will be slower, but I have mastered the basic operations of the Indesign software and can do the homework without encountering many technical problems. I learned the importance of typography, which is about whether a poster looks comfortable and whether the most important information is expressed most clearly and attracts the most attention. Although the process is difficult, you can learn new knowledge and make people interested. Interested learning
Observation
When designing fonts myself, I will refer to those designed by some designers, and I will find that there are many details. Designers will notice that the corners of the letters will be uniform, whether they are sharp or round. When designing posters, you should pay attention to the most important things. Headlines, text and pictures should be relevant.
Findings
Further Reading
Axial System
Dietmar Winkler uses a single curved axis to complete the shape of the bell of a horn in his poster for the program Music for Brass.Emil Ruder's single-axis poster 10 zurcher maler (10Zürich Artists) uses the strong vertical stress of the number 1.The emphasis on the vertical movement is increased because the stroke bleeds off of the top the poster and is connected to the "h" The proportions of the poster are divided vertically by the 1 and column of names in a pleasing 1/3:2/3 ratio.
The axial system is easily understood and helps the designer develop a keen awareness of grouping, word space, lette)space, leading,and composition. The elements have a di-rect relationship to each other through alignment along the axis,and the message has an inherent sense of order. lt is relatively easy to create an appealing composition, but more difficult to create a composition that transcends the norm.
Radial System
In the radial system all elements are organized to extend froma central point of focus like rays.Examples include the petals of flowers, fireworks, domes in architecture, rays of the sun, spokes of a wheel, starfish, etc. The compositions are dynamic, as the eye is drawn to the focal point of the radia composition.This point can be implied or depicted.
Depending on the orientation of the lines, readability of them essage may be diminished as the type leaves the traditiona horizontal baseline. Within this system lines of text can bear ranged to read in a number of different ways: top to bottom, bottom to top, right side up, or upside down.In or deto create a functional message, the lines of text should bear ranged in the most comfortable manner possible.
Most examples of radial structure are highly symmetrical such as flowers,architectural domes, and starfish.Because the rays create a circle, the forms are visually very satisfying.When working with text,the resulting compositions often contain portions of a single circle or many circles. There sulting asymmetry is less satisfying and more visually interesting.
In a dilatational system circles dilate or expand from a centrapoint.Examples of this system include the iris of the eye, the waves created when a pebble is dropped into still water, ancsound waves.Similar to the radial system, the composition sare dynamic as the eye moves along the arc of the circle oris drawn to the focal point at the center of the circle.
The simplest forms of the dilatational system are circles that expand in regular or rhythmical increments from the center. Variations of this system can include dilations that are tangent, dilations that are non-concentric, and multiple dilations.
The random system consists of elements that are arrangedwithout definite aim, pattern, direction, rule, method orpurpose, but it is deceptively simple because the viewerimposes organization on compositions even when it is unin-tentional.The human eye and brain are keenly programmed to be pattern-seeking,image-seeking, and order-seekingbecause these abilities insured survival in early man. Focenturies humans have found images in the constellations of stars in the sky or in cloud formations
Work is often be qun by scattering elements in the compositional field with free abandon.Inevitably, some of those ele. ments align and the composition feels intentional. Successis more frequent when legibility diminishes with cropping,overlapping, and placing text at odd angles, which are cues otrandomness.Surprisingly,random placement often yields avery dynamic and spontaneous result that, although difficultto read, is visually satisfying.
Grid System
A grid is a system of vertical and horizontal divisions thatorganize and create relationships between elements. Gridsystem arrangements are usually formal and are intendedto create visual order and economyin production.Examplesof grid systems include windows, maps, and crossworopuzzles. Grids are frequently used in publication designand web design as they guide information hierarchies ancpromote visual rhythm and consistency among multiplepages or screens.
The objective in organizing visual communication with the grid system is to develop strong interrelationships between the typographic elements and recurring rhythmical proportions of text blocks,images, and space. Grid systems differ from the axial system in that the visual relationships are nottied to a single axis and usually employ more than a single column.
Transitional System
The transitional system of visual organization is an informa system of layered and shifted banding. There are not interrelationships along an axis or edge alignments, and elements move freely left and right. This is a far more casual system than the grid system in that strict interrelationship through edge alignment is not desirable. The lines of type are free flowing and the textures they create assist in ordering the message.Examples of natural transitional arrangement sinclude strata of layered rock or casually stacked wood,
Compositions can be airy and widely leaded or tightly compact,which emphasizes the negative space. This system often results in compositions that echo fine art in that many have the visual feel of a landscape, which is admittedly enhanced by the use of the circle element that becomes an abstract sun or moon.
Modular System
The modular system is dependent on standardized nonobiective elements or units that act as a ground to hold anccontain text.Compositions are created by the organizatiorand placement of the modular units.Examples of the modular system include building blocks, storage containers, andcomponent systems.
Typographic lines and words have a distinctlyindividual formthat defy standardization and require a module that acts asa ground.Modules can be as simple as a hairline square orectangle or more complex geometric shapes such as circlesellipses, triangles, etc.
The idea is to standardize the unit on which the typographyrests and then compose the message with the modulesLines of type can be broken or split into multiple lines awill, which, like grouping,assists in communicating themessage.
Bilateral System
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