Advanced Typography / Task 1 Exercise

28.8.2023 - 22.9.2023 (Week 1 - Week 4)

Johnny Lam Wee Zhe / 0363436 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

Advanced Typography

Task 1 Exercise

LECTURE

Lecture 1 - Typographic System

The first lecture of advanced typography teaches us about the eight major system variant with an endless numbers of rearrangements. There are;

Axial - Contents are arranges on either the left or right side of a single line.

Fig 1.1 Axial System

Radial - Contents are place around a single point of focus and all elements are pointing towards a single point.

Fig 1.2 Radial System

Dilational - Contents are place within or along layers of circles. Crucial information can be place either the outermost layer or the inner most layer but cannot be both.

Fig 1.3 Dilational System

Random - Contents are place in a way that doesn't seem to create any patterns or relationships with one another. However, it is not truly random as there are proper methods being use within the system.

Fig 1.4 Random System

Grid - A grid system is the most widely used system. It is the system that consist of horizontal and vertical division and the elements are place along the grid.

Fig 1.5 Grid System

Transitional - A transitional system is when a content is arrange along or on a layer of curvy layers of lines.

Fig 1.6 Transitional System

Modular - A modular system is a system where contents are place with in on along the small rectangles arranged in a grid like pattern. There are two versions of modular system; one of which is where rectangles can be place anywhere, including the middle while another version only allows the placement of the rectangle on either the left or right side.

Fig 1.7 Modular Systems

Bilateral - Contents are arranged symmetrically along a single line. There will usually be a line in the center and the contents on both side of the line mirrors each in position.

Fig 1.8 Bilateral System

Lecture 2 - Typographic Composition

In the second lecture of advanced typography, we taught about typographic composition. The principle of typographic composition is has just about the same basic design principles. A few examples that come to mind are; emphasis, isolation, repetition, symmetry, asymmetry, alignment, perspective etc.

Some of the principle of basic design can be translated easily into typography such as emphasis where a block of text can be bigger than all the other block text or the font of the text is much larger in size than the rest of the text.

Fig 1.9 Emphasis being apply in typography

The rule of third is a photographic composition method where image can be split into nine parts by four lines. The point where two lines intersect one another is used place object of interest. However, this composition is not used or is rarely used in a typographic context.

Fig 1.10 Rules of third application

Of all the typographic system, the grid system is the most widely use as it is the most versatile and that ways most people read tends to prefer the more ordered nature of this system.

Eventually, people begin to challenge the orderly systems and came up with a much more chaotic and dynamic systems during the post modernism era.

Other typographic systems:

Environmental Grid

The environmental grid system is based on the exploration of existing pictures of structure or structures combined, creating various lines and curves according to the structure. Then, the designer put relevant information onto the empty space around the structure. The structure used in this grid can be used to convey the message of the written text.

Fig 1.11 Environmental Grid application

Form and Movements

This system is based on the exploration of an existing grid. The reason for it's uses is to remove the serious nature of the grid system while keeping the system orderly. The content would be place in a way that would convey a slowed down animation, creating a sense of movements. The contents/body text of each pages creates a movement as a reader flips through pages.

The more elements there are in this system, the more complex the system gets.

Fig 1.12 Movements and Forms application

Fig 1.13 Further demonstration of movement and form

EXTRA NOTE

- Even though majority of people prefers a more ordered system, a more chaotic system can be combine with the ordered system to create a balance.

- In advanced typography, it is crucial to push what is currently existing and make something new.

INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK 1A TYPOGRAPHIC EXERCISE

For the first task of this semester, we are tasked with creating the six type of typographic system using the content provided by Mr. Vinod and choose on of the three titles for out exercise. I choose the 'Russian Constructivism and Graphic Design.

First Digitization

I start off with creating the basic structure of each system and put content in place. I also attempt to put some graphics for some of the basic system to see if it works.

Fig 1.1 First Grid System

Fig 1.2 First Axial and Modular System

Fig 1.3 First Dilational and Transitional System

Fig 1.4 First Radial and Bilateral System

Fig 1.5 First Random System

Development

I went on to do some research on the subject of the title which is Russian Constructivism and look through various posters that was done in that style in order to further develop or change the bare basic systems. I scroll through Russian constructivism poster on Pinterest.

Fig 2.1 Screenshots of Russian Constructivism poster

The overall color theme of Russian Constructivism poster typically include the colors red and black so I decide to include them in my work as well.

I revisit my typographic system and start developing the base design.

Fig 3.1 Developed Modular and Axial System

Fig 3.2 Developed Dilational and Transitional System

Fig 3.3 Radial and Bilateral System

Fig 3.4 Developed Random and Grid System

Then I show my work to Mr. Vinod and he provide some feedback for my work. So I make changes to the systems according to the feedback.

Final Result

Fig 4.1 Final Grid System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.2 Final Axial System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.3 Final Modular System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.3 Final Dilational System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.5 Final Transitional System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.6 Final Radial System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.7 Final Bilateral System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.8 Final Random System (Week 2 6/9/2023)

Fig 4.9 Final Typographic System PDF (Week 2 6/9/2023)

TASK 1B - TYPE AND PLAY

For the second part of task one, we are tasked with extracting the letter forms from out selected images. We are first ask to look for pictures to extract, specifically a single man-made object that has elements of repetition that creates a pattern. We then have to show Mr. Vinod the image we are gonna use in order to ensure the image is suitable. This is the image I used:

Fig 5.1 Woven Basket (6/9/2023 Week 2)

Fig 5.2 Area of Extraction (10/9/2023 Week 2)

From then, I start to extract letter forms from the image. I decide to extract more than one of the same letters to see which one works and which doesn't.

Fig 5.3.1 Extractions of H, W and A (10/9/2023 Week 2)

Fig 5.3.2 Extractions of N, K and Y (10/9/2023 Week 2)

Then, I pick one from each letter extraction and here are my selections:

Fig 6.1 Pure extractions (10/9/2023 Week 2)

Fig 6.2 Adjust according to baseline (10/9/2023 Week 2)

As a reference for my letter form development, I decide to choose Gill Sans Std Extra Bold for my reference as both the extraction and this font are thick.

Fig 6.3 Gill Sans Std Extra Bold (11/9/2023 Week 3)

Then form there, I start to develop my letter fonts. Here are the process of my development:

Fig 6.4 Letter form development (11/9/2023 Week 3)

First Draft

Fig 6.5 First Draft (11/9/2023 Week 3)

Once I have receive feedback from Mr. Vinod, I start to readjust and refine my letter forms according to the feed back. Then I used the final letter forms (shown in the final results section below) to create the first draft of the final poster. Here is the first draft:

Fig 6.6 First Poster Draft (13/9/2023 Week 3)

As the draft poster is in the wrong size, I readjust the size to the required size, displayed in the final result.

FINAL RESULT

Fig 7.1 Final Letter forms (13/9/2023 Week 3)

Fig 7.2 Final Letter forms Poster (13/9/2023 Week 3)

FEEDBACK

Week 2

General Feedback

Make sure your Random system is readable, You have to make sure your content isn't overwhelming the others. In grid systems, the content should not be placed in the gutter. If there are lines in your dilational system, make sure the text does not touch the line.

Specific Feedback

The red and black color scheme is too distracting. Remove the shapes for the Bilateral system. Random is not that chaotic but works.

Week 3

General Feedback

Letter forms should be consistent. The more time you give to reflect on you work, the better your work
Extraction isn't fixed, it can still be changed during refinement and development

Specific Feedback

The letter form doesn't match the initial imagery. Consider adding crease into the bent area. The width of the font does not match the weaved material. The bents shouldn't be sharp nor blunt

REFLECTION

Experience

The beginning of advanced typography is starting off with a rather big task (at least to me) but we are fortunate enough to have the supposedly planned assignment reduced compared to the seniors who has taken this module. Especially when deadlines are shortened to make room for the final tasks which require an extended amount of time.

Observation

I have observed that the color selection is very important, even when used in a much smaller amount. Especially picking something that is of certain degree of saturation which would distract the viewer even in smaller amounts.

Findings

I find that if you were ever in doubt with your creativity, it is best to create/extract more than one variation of something to see what works and what does not works.

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Johnny Lam Wee Zhe (0363436)