Typography - Task 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication

2.5.2023 - 16.5.2023 / Week 5 - Week 7
Chan Wan Qing / 0350928 / BA of Design (HONS) in Creative Media
Typography
Task 2 

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INDEX:

1. Class Summary
2. Task 2
    Typographic Exploration & Communication
3. Feedbacks
4. Reflection
5. Further Readings

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LECTURES

Completed in Typography - Task 1: Exercises

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CLASS SUMMARY

Week 5 / Task 2 

Mr Vinod then briefed us about our new task (Task 2), typographic exploration and communication. This is a new task combining the knowledge we learned and obtained in task 1. First, we had to download the editorial text option for our second task. Mr Vinod also gives us advices on things we should consider when doing task 2. We were required to watch the video posted by Mr Vinod regarding to this task and do some researches about the layout. We had to have a few sketches of the layout after that. He showed us some examples and explained to us about how we can express the title and the steps to complete this task. 

Week 6 / Task 2

In week 6, we mainly focused on task 2. Similarly, we posted our work on Facebook and received feedback from Mr Vinod. Mr Vinod gave us a lot of teachings and advices throughout the whole session for every layouts that we showed to him. I recorded down what he advised to me and other peers, in case I might need them in the future. In the class, Mr Vinod gave us some time to amend/redo our work. At last, he also showed us some examples of the headline expressions. Mr Vinod also showed us what we need to include in our blog. He advised us that, the best idea is simple idea. We don't use a lot of elements to express the title. "Simple but effective design!"

Week 7 / Task 2 

In week 7, Mr Vinod looked through what had we done for task 2 throughout the week but will not give feedbacks for this week. We also decided our submission date for this task in the class. 

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INSTRUCTIONS

TASK 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication

This is a task that combined what we had learned through exercise 1 and exercise 2. For the second task, we were required to express typographically the content given in a 2-page editorial spread (200mm x 200mm per page). There are 3 text options provided and we only need to choose 1 out of the 3 for this task. No images are allowed in this task. However, some very minor graphical elements, i.e. line, shade, etc. are allowed.

1. Reference 

First of all, I decided to do some researches for layout design ideas from Pinterest. I also search for some ideas for all 3 headlines as I have not decided to use which headline for this task. 

Fig.2.1 Layout References (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

I also identified the keywords of the 3 headlines so that I can express the headline based on the keyword. 

A. The Role of Bauhaus Thought on Modern Culture

Fig.2.2 Title references

B. A Code to Build On and Live By
C. Unite to Visualise A Better World

2. Sketches 

Layouts

After doing researches, I drafted out the layouts as sketches with the headline expression I sketched out in my mind. I tried to put them in different angles and arrangements and tried different arrangements of the lead text, body text for both of the titles. 

Fig.2.3 Layout sketches - title 1 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.4 Layout sketches - title 3 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

3. Headline Expression Explorations 1

After that, I also started to sketch out a few ideas for the titles. I tried to find ideas from the keywords so that I am able to express them. After sketching out, I used Adobe Illustrator to digitise them. I had made a few ideas for 2 of the titles, which are "The Role of Bauhaus Thought on Modern World" and "Unite to Visualise A Better World". [Fig.2.5] The first expression is expressed based on the meaning of Bauhaus, buildings. The other ideas is that I wanted to use the 'b' of the word Bauhaus to express the title. [Fig.2.6] For title 3, I wanted to express the word 'visualise' by arranging the phrase 'unite to visualise' to the shape of an eye.

Fig.2.5 Title 1 ideas (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.6 Title 3 ideas (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

4. Layout Explorations 1

Initially, I tried to follow my sketches to arrange my layouts. However, as I didn't come up with that many rough sketches, I tried different arrangements of the layouts right away in InDesign to see how the text actually looks as it will be more simpler for me to do adjustments. After I arranged out the layouts with InDesign, I decided to continue this task with title 1 as I like it more compared to title 3.

Fig.2.7 Layout explorations - title 1b (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.8 Layout explorations (blocked out) - title 1b (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.9 Layout explorations - title 1c (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.10 Layout explorations (blocked out) - title 1c (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fig.2.11 Layout explorations - title 3b title 1c (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Shortlisted Layouts

Fig.2.12 Layout #1 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold condense oblique, medium oblique); Gill Sans Std (light italic); Univers Lt Std (Roman)
Point size: 10 pt (body text); 11 pt (subtext); 23 pt (lead-in text)
Leading: 14 pt (body text); 28 pt (lead text)
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt 
Line length: 35

Fig.2.13 Layout #2 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold condense oblique, heavy oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)
Point size: 12 pt (body text & subtext); 23 pt (lead-in text)
Leading: 14 pt
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt
Line length: 53

Fig.2.14 Layout #3 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold oblique, medium oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)
Point size: 12 pt (body text); 10 pt (subtext); 23 pt (lead-in text)
Leading: 14 pt
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt
Line length: 35

Fig.2.15 Layout #4 (2.5.2023 - Week 5)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold oblique, medium oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)
Point size: 12 pt (body text); 10 pt (subtext); 23 pt (lead-in text)
Leading: 14 pt
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt
Line length: 35

5. Headline Expression Explorations 2

Based on the feedbacks I received from Mr Vinod on week 6, I have to rework on the title expressions. And I realised that there is a mistake on the title, which is the word 'world' should be 'culture'. So I redo the title based on what I did. The ideas of headline expression explorations 1 is to express 'Bauhaus' by the 'b', basically the shape in the title is 'b' in Bauhaus typeface, and the problem of the headlines are the shape does not look like 'b'.

Fig.2.16 Headline expression (A) (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Fig.2.17 Headline expression (B) (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

As I am not really sure about these expressions, whether they expressed the title effectively, which focusing on the keyword 'Bauhaus', I tried another way and make one more attempt on the title. [Fig2.18] I focused on the word 'thought' of the title more in this expression, the idea is the word 'thought' thinking, expressed by the circles. I was inspired by what Mr Vinod said, simple but effective design. As I feel like the word 'Bauhaus' is also one of the keyword, so I added the shapes like rectangle and triangle into the letters 'A' and 'H', which also represented the primary shapes at the Bauhaus. 

Fig.2.18 Headline expression (C) (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

6. Layout Explorations 2

I rearranged the layouts using the new headline expressions. I keep the same line length, font size, leading, etc for my body text. 

Fig.2.19 Layout exploration (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Fig.2.20 Layout exploration (blocked out) (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Shortlisted Layouts

Fig.2.21 Layout #1 (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold, extra bold oblique, heavy oblique, medium oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)

Point size: 11 pt (body text); 10 pt (sub text); 23 pt (lead-in text)

Leading: 14 pt (body text, sub text); 28 pt (lead-in text)

Paragraph spacing: 14 pt

Line length: 39

Fig.2.22 Layout #2 (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Fonts: Futura Std (extra bold oblique, heavy, medium oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)

Point size: 12 pt (body text); 10 pt (sub text); 23 pt (lead-in text)

Leading: 14 pt (body text, sub text); 28 pt (lead-in text)

Paragraph spacing: 14 pt

Line length: 37

Fig.2.23 Layout #3 (9.5.2023 - Week 6)

Fonts: Futura Std (book, heavy, heavy oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)

Point size: 12 pt (body text); 10 pt (sub text); 23 pt (lead-in text)

Leading: 14 pt (body text, sub text); 28 pt (lead-in text)

Paragraph spacing: 14 pt

Line length: 37

Final Typographic Exploration & Communication

Fig.2.24 Final layout without grids - JPEG (16.5.2023 - Week 7)

Fig.2.25 Final layout with grids - JPEG (16.5.2023 - Week 7)

Fig.2.26 Final layout without grids - PDF (16.5.2023 - Week 7)

Fig.2.27 Final layout with grids - PDF (16.5.2023 - Week 7)

Fonts: Futura Std (book, heavy, heavy oblique); Gill Sans Std (regular, light italic)

Point size: 12 pt (body text); 10 pt (sub text); 23 pt (lead-in text)

Leading: 14 pt (body text, sub text); 28 pt (lead-in text)

Paragraph spacing: 14 pt
Line length: 37

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FEEDBACKS

Week 6 

General Feedback:

We should pay attention to small details such as alignments. We must also maintain same line length in for every paragraph in 1 page. Mr Vinod also advised us to avoid contrasting the layout by placing a black 'box' on top of the page. We should always focus on maintaining cross alignment.

Specific Feedback:

The layout of the body text is good; the line length is quite short but the ragging is well-managed. Need to rework (go back to drawing board) on the title as my first headline expression didn't work. 

Week 7

General Feedback:

Bodoni is not suitable to use for body text (because of the constrast of the strokes).

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REFLECTION

Experiences

I combined the skills and knowledge that I had obtained and understood in the previous exercises in this task. I felt that it is difficult to express the title as there are several words with different length that we had placed them together with the expressed keyword. In my case, it was the letter 'b', I faced some difficulties when placing the other words of the title around it. Therefore, what Mr Vinod advised us, go back to drawing board, make a simple but effective design, is effective to me as I felt  that I need some reorganisation for the continuing stages. 

Observations

I observed that doing researches, finding references at the beginning of this task is important as it gives me a rough idea and inspiration for this task. As I proceeded from stage by stage, I realized that sketches is really important. In sketches, although there will be some differences when I proceeded to digitisation, it gave me the basic ideas of the layout and how can I develop it. I also realised that I should check the details every time I proceeded to the next stage as I made some mistake in my first layout exploration. Also when arranging the layouts, the details of the text such as ragging, cross alignments are really important as they can cause the whole layout looks different. 

Findings

From this project, I found that the way we place the text is important as it leads the viewers' eyes to read the words about what are we going to deliver, especially for the title. Usually, title is what the viewers will see and read first, therefore, the way we express them and place them is extremely important as it may affect the interactions between the viewers and the context. 

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FURTHER READINGS

Fig.5.1 Typography, Referenced (2012)

Typography, Referenced is the ultimate source of typographic information and inspiration, documenting and chronicling the full scope of essential typographic knowledge and design from the beginnings of moveable type to the present "golden age" of typography. 

The contents of this book are divided into 12 chapters, including type history and timeline, type design and development, type classification and identification, type designers, type foundries and more. I think this book is very related to what we are learning in this module and it can provide us more extra information about typography. 

Chapter 2: Type Design and Development

In this chapter, the book explains how type design and development involve the creation of letterforms and the design of complete typefaces. It is said that the type market has never been so healthy in many ways as new rendering technologies and new scenarios for using texts increase the demand for new typefaces. 

The Past as Inspiration 

As written in the book, typeface design is something personal and social at the same time. The past can serve as a rich source of inspiration for typography design. Designers can also draw inspiration from the unique qualities of historical typefaces, such as the intricate details of calligraphy or the bold simplicity of sans-serif fonts. In some cases, they may also choose to reinterpret historical typefaces for contemporary use. This involves taking a historical font and updating it with new features, such as additional characters or improved legibility, while still retaining the essential qualities that make the font distinctive and memorable. By looking to the past for inspiration, typography designers can create typefaces that are both timeless and contemporary, blending traditional elements with modern sensibilities.

Fig.5.2 A page from a 1958 Fonderie Olive specimen showing Francois Ganeau’s Vendome Romain, an inspired interpretation of the Garamond style.

Rendering Environment

The rendering environment refers to the context in which a typeface is displayed, including the medium, device and software used to view it. The rendering environment has a significant impact on how a typeface appears to the viewer, and designers must consider this when creating and choosing typefaces for different applications. For example, a typeface that looks great on a computer screen may not be as legible when printed on paper, or vice versa. Similarly, a typeface that looks great at a large size may not be as readable when displayed at a smaller size, such as on a mobile device.

Fig.5.3 Testing design