Advanced Typography Task 1 - Exercises 1 & 2
01.04.2022 - 29.04.2022 (Week 1 - Week 5)
Chung Jia Xuan / 0346630
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Task 1: Exercises 1 & 2
LECTURES
Week 1: Typographic Systems
The typographic systems are the systems that has a set of rules which is unique and provide a sense of purpose that focuses and directs the decision making. There are 8 major variations of typographic systems:
1. Axial system
All elements are organised to the left or right of a single axis.
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| Fig 1.1 Examples of Axial System, source: type 365 |
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| Fig 1.2 Examples of Axial System, source: type 365 |
2. Radial System
All elements are extended from a point of focus.
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| Fig 1.3 Examples of Radial System, source: type 365 |
3. Dilatational System
All elements expand from a central point in a circular fashion.
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| Fig 1.4 Examples of Dilatational System, source: type 365 |
4. Random System
Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship.
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5. Grid System
A system of vertical and horizontal divisions.
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| Fig 1.6 Examples of Grid System, source: student designer Tamara Audrey |
6. Transitional System
An informal system of layered banding.
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7. Modular System
A series of non-objective elements that are constructed in as a standardised units.
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| Fig 1.8 Examples of Modular System, source: student designer Tamara Audrey |
8. Bilateral System
All text is arranged symmetrically on a single axis.
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| Fig 1.9 Examples of Modular System, source: student designer Tamara Audrey |
Week 2: Typographic Composition
Principles of Design Composition: Emphasis, Isolation, Repetition, Balance(Symmetry/Asymmetry), Alignment, Perspective, Rhythm, Contrast.
The Rule of Thirds is a photographic guide to composition, suggesting that a frame can be divided into three columns and rows. The intersecting lines are used as a guide to place the points of interest.
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| Figure 2.0 Rule of Thirds |
The most used system is the Grid System from the 8 systems, it is used based on the exploration of the existing structure or numerous structures combined.
Form and Movement is based on the exploration of an existing Grid System. The placement of a form on page over many pages creates movement.
Week 3: Context and Creativity
Handwriting is important in the study of typography as it is the first mechanically produced letterforms are designed to directly imitate handwriting. It is the basis or standard for form. spacing and conventions mechanical type would try and mimic.
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| Figure 2.1Letterforms through the ages |
The earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus Script. It is one of the most influential writing systems. All modern Indian scrips and several hundred scripts found in the South Asia are derived from Brahmi. With the digital evolution, many begin to digitise letterform of its historical creations and type founders would create, market and sell them.
Week 4: Designing Type
Type Design Process
1. Research
Understanding the type history, type anomy and type conventions. Examine existing fonts and explore more from them.
2. Sketching
Using Traditional/Digital tools
3. Digitise
Using professional softwares like Fontlab ad Glyphs App
4. Testing
Considering the readability and legibility of the typefaces
5. Deploy
The rigour of testing is important to minimise the teething issues.
Week 5: Perception and Organisation
Perception is typography deals with the visual navigation and interpretation of the reader via Contrast, Form and Organization of the Content.
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| Figure 3.0 Contrast by Size |
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| Figure 3.1 Contrast by Colour |
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| Figure 3.2 Contrast by Weight |
Form is the overall look and feel of the elements that make up the typographic elements. When a typeface is perceived as a form, it no longer reads as a letter because it has been manipulated by Enlargement, Texture, Distortion and has been Extruded into a space.
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1 / Exercise 1 - Typographic Systems
For this exercise, we have to explore the eight systems we learned during our lecture class. We need to use the content given in the MIB and redesign them using Adobe InDesign. Mr Vinod told us to watch the InDesign formatting video he provided in the lecture playlist before we started doing the task.
Week 1
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| Figure 4.0 InDesign Formatting video provided by Mr.Vinod |
During our practical class, Mr Vinod demonstrated on how to get started on doing this task. I tried a few attempts and felt exciting to explore more ideas on this task. We were required to only use the 10 typefaces that we learned last Semester.
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| Figure 4.1 10 typefaces available |
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| Figure 4.2 Axial typographic system attempts |
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| Figure 4.3 Transitional typographic system attempts |
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| Figure 4.2 Task 1Progress (1) |
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| Figure 4.3 Task 1Progress (2) |
Final Outcome - Task 1 Exercise 1: Typographic System
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| Figure 5.0 Final Modular System - JPG, Week 2 |
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Final Outcome in PDF - Task 1 Exercise 1: Typographic Systems
Final Outcome in PDF With Grid & Guides - Task 1 Exercise 1: Typographic Systems
Task 1 / Exercise 2 - Type and Play
Part 1: Finding Type
For this exercise, we were required to analyse, dissect and identify potential four letterforms within a chosen image of a subject. The image could be anything - manmade or organic.
Chosen Image:
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| Figure 6.0 Bridge, Week 3 |
This image is one of my previous phone wallpaper. I chose this as my subject after exploring above 10 images and think this one could make an interesting explore. The letter I found were V, A, K, Y, N.
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| Figure 6.1 Letter 'V' traced |
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| Figure 6.2 Letter 'A' traced |
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| Figure 6.3 Letter 'K' traced |
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| Figure 6.4 Letter 'Y' traced |
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| Figure 6.5 Letter 'N' traced |
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| Figure 6.6 Extracted letterforms |
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| Figure 6.7 Refining letters to have more consistent height and shape |
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| Figure 6.8 Futura typeface as my reference |
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| Figure 6.9 Process of Refining |
Final Outcome - Task 1 Exercise 2 Part 1: Finding Type
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| Figure 7.0 Final attempt on 'V' |
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| Figure 7.1 Final attempt on 'A' |
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| Figure 7.2 Final attempt on 'Y' |
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| Figure 7.3 Final attempt on 'N' |
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| Figure 7.4 Final outcome compilation |
Final Outcome in PDF - Task 1 Exercise 2 Part 1: Finding Type
Part 2: Type and Image
For this task, we were to combine a visual with words or sentence of our choice. The texts must be related and woven into a symbiotic relationship with the image. I've gotten some interesting imaged of my choice from the internet.
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| Figure 8.0 Original picture I chose(1) |
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| Figure 8.1 Original picture I chose(2) |
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| Figure 8.2 Original picture I chose(3) |
After some research on the possible typography designs, I chose the first picture as my final choice to continue progressing the next step.
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| Figure 8.3 Progression(1) |
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| Figure 8.4 Progression(2) |
I had tried out the Liquify effect in Adobe Photoshop and I realise there was a lot more tools for me to explore. I had a few attempts on some of the tools and filters to come out with the final outcome which I'm satisfied with.
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| Figure 8.5 Progression(3) |
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| Figure 8.6 Progression(4) Final design before blur effect, Week 5 |
Final Outcome - Task 1 Exercise 2 Part 2: Type and Image
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| Figure 8.6 Final Type and Image 'Help', Week 5 |
Final Outcome in PDF - Task 1 Exercise 2 Part 2: Type and Image
FEEDBACKS
Week 2
General Feedback
Make sure the work is done majorly in InDesign. Becareful with choosing the font colour.
Specific Feedback
Good work for Random, Grid, Radial, Transitional, Dilational, Bilateral and Modular systems work. Minor adjustment of line spacig need to be done for Axial system.
Week 3
General Feedback
Finding a typeface reference is a good way in order for us to design a better typeface.
Specific Feedback
Did not present my work(not satisfied with the outcome yet).
Week 4
General Feedback
We have to be careful with the consistency of different letters to make the overall look consistent, ie stroke weight of the letters, and not just focus on the creaticity of different patterns.
Specific Feedback
No problem with my final outcome.
Week 5
General Feedback
Specific Feedback
REFLECTIONS
Based on my Experience, Observations and Findings respectively.
I had a lot of struggles during the Typography module on my last semester, yet I first thought 'Oh no there is this advanced version which will be even difficult and required more skills and would eventually drained my energy'. Throughout the classes, I paid extra attention so that I would not miss any important information and I just want to maximise my learnings. For the first exercise, it was mainly more on learning the typography system and the formats, less creativity skills were needed as compared to Exercise two. Eventually, I realise that I can actually manage to cope with the stress as all the works needed are not as stressful as I thought. I've also realise that this have to me all the improvements and skills I've earned throughout the Typography module. It was as tough as I thought after I've learned the basic of typography.
During exercise 1, it's more of revising the basics typography formats such as the leading, point size, alignments and stuffs, combining with the 8 typography systems we learned and we have to design 8 different layouts with different systems. I've learned to observe how different layout brings out different designs and ideas. For exercise 2 part 1 and 2, honestly speaking it was so much fun. Finding Type was an interesting exercise as it let us observe and identify the letters around us in the real world. It boosts up my creativity and makes the module interesting.
I've always found that typography is not a dull subject after I've deepen my learning and understanding on it. I've also come to realise that learning is not as tough if we learn everything step by step without taking any shortcuts.
FURTHER READINGS
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| Figure 9.0 A type Primes by John Kane |
A characteristic of type design is that the letterforms themselves have evolved as a response to handwriting. One of the identifiable features of those marks is that we make them as part of a horizontal flow, from left to right. Yet not all languages are written this way. Hebrew and Arabic, read right to left and books in those languages beginning at what we could consider the nail. English would be illegible if we encountered if set from right to left.
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| Figure 9.1 Inelligeble English right-to-left reading, (pg. 88) |
Written Chinese, unlike English is not based on a alphabet, rather it is written in a series of characters called pictographs, which are the forms that express an entire word or idea without indicating how to pronounce it. The simple fact that all Chinese characters are drawn to the same width makes reading very simple.
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| Figure 9.2 Examples of Chinese characters, (pg. 88) |
English letterforms are not all drawn to the same width. In left-to-right reading the difference in widths presents no problem to the readability, in fact it adds to variety and colour on the page. But when you consider the primary purpose of type is to convey information with as little intrusion as possible, then it should be clear that setting type vertically is inherently anti-typographic.
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| Figure 9.3 Vertical English letterforms, (pg. 88) |
When the composition calls for vertical type, be mindful of the properties of the letterforms themselves and set the type accordingly.
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| Figure 9.3 Example English letterforms, (pg. 86) |
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