Typography

We have been exploring different ways of creating hand rendered typography. We copied lettering off objects such as bottles and tins using a variety of mediums and methods.

for this design, I created a collage background using envelopes and graph paper, so the background had patterns on but wouldn't distract from the type. I used a graphite stick and one continuous line to make the lettering, so had to look very closely at my object to get the lettering accurate because if one part of my line was not in the right place it would affect the look of the whole of it.

For the next one, I created diagonal stripes using ink to make the background. I then used a stick dipped in ink to draw the lettering. I found this quite difficult because I had to hold the stick by the end so it was hard to control, and it was also hard to know how much ink to use to make a bold outline but not too much so it would drip.

This was the one that challenged me the most, as I did it with my left hand (I'm right handed) and it was Chinese writing so the shapes were unfamiliar and I had to concentrate very hard to get the lines in the right place. I think this was fairly successful, because the blue oil pastel really stands out from the brown ink background.

This one was my favourite method. we used masking tape to make the letters (or numbers, in this case), and then rubbed shoe polish on, to make a sort of haze around the letters, but very sharp lines on the inside because of the straight edge of the tape. I like the outcome of this because you do not create the letter, but rather the space around it, a negative of the letter itself.

Graphic Designers research

A. Stefan Sagmeister

I like this piece by Sagmeister, made from bananas glued to a wall, because of the changing nature of it. It starts out with the motto 'self-confidence produces fine results', but as the bananas ripen, the motto disappears and the bananas all end up the same colour.

B. Wim Crouwel

This piece of typography by Crouwel caught my eye because of its simplicity. I found it very interesting that even though the 'a' doesn't look like a traditional 'a', it is still easy to read the words.

C. Alan Fletcher

This appeals to me because of the bright colours Fletcher has used, and the dripping effect down the page. My favourite part of this work is the yellow letter 'A'. Because of the semitransparent nature of the paint, The green and red shows through and the colours merge together.










D. Kris Sowersby

I like this typeface Sowersby has designed, because it reminds me of a poster, perhaps for a circus. I like the double lines that make the letters, and the simple colour scheme of red, black and white. The shapes of the letters are fairly ordinary, not particularly interesting, but on the ends of each line is a circle, and I think this is what I like about the font.

E. Pep Carrio

This is a page from one of Carrio's notebooks, and it has a silhouetted man in the bottom corner, but the rest of the double page is covered with lines, that could be branches or roots. It is detailed, but also very simple and striking. I think because it is black and white it isn't too busy.

F. Noma Bar

I think Bar is my favourite of all the graphic designers I have researched so far, because of the simple block colours in his pictures, and because of the clever compositions. He merges the negative space of one image with another image, so often you have to look twice to notice the whole picture.

Graphic design.

Today was my first session in graphic design, and it wasn't what I expected it to be. There are many areas of graphic design, such as advertising, music and film, packaging, typography, editorial, signs and corporate identity. I looked at the summer 2012 issue of 'computer arts' magazine, and was very interested in the article 'Transform your fortunes' about marketing your designs and merchandise successfully. It first caught my eye because of the pictures that went with the article, pictures of 'No Guts No glory' and 'Stereohype's merchandise. I liked these because before I hadn't realised that this was graphic design, and after reading the article, it made me think more about graphic designers having their own business, and not just working for a larger company as I had previously thought.

  I also looked at Dalton Maag, the winner of the graphic design section of Designs of the year 2012 awards He designed the font 'Nokia pure' for Nokia's new visual identity and new generation of phones. Although I understand that much of the design is due to ease of use, and the font has to work both very large, on billboards, and very small on the screen on the phone, I didn't feel that the font was particularly exciting or very different to other available fonts, so it isn't the type of typography that interests me. I think it was designed for functionality and recognisability, rather than beauty.