Advanced Typography - Exercises
Jenani Raja Saker 0334331
Advanced Typography
Exercises
LECTURE
WEEK 1
Mr. Vinod decided to open classes a week earlier to those who wanted to avoid being bombarded with assignments all at once, and get a heard start in this semester (yayyy), I decided to go for it so I could hopefully be able to manage my time better and easier.
He began the first lecture by instructing us to skim through a pdf of Kimberly Elam's Typographic System.
We then proceeded to continue the lecture on ZOOM. Mr. Vinod explained the basics of the Typographic Systems.
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| Figure 1.01 : Example of Axial System |
Axial
Layouts are anchored to a central line or a central axis. It is to be aligning information to one axis, which information in the content needs to be highlighted to provide hierarchy.
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| Figure 1.02: Example of Radial System; Originating from a point |
There is a point of origin. It is pointed at one point. It is somewhat similar to dilational but the difference is that …
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| Figure 1.03: Example of Dilational System; Revolving around the circle. |
Dilation goes around the circumference, where as, Radial points to and originated from the circle.
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| Figure 1.04: Example Random System, Order within the Chaos |
It is placed seeeeemingly in a random order, but despite the randomness there is an order in the chaos. There is a thinking in the madness. Identify the hierarchy place in random, the reading system is curated, then follow the flow correctly. There is subtle hierarchy and eye reading flow.
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| Figure 1.05: Grid System |
Basically uses columns and rows to create spaces to place information within.
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| Figure 1.06: Modular System; Fixed in a certain size of the square |
Modular is a grid system with equal space. Place the title in one square. If you want to move one piece of information is fixed within the particular square, use two squares to place the title.
The units are similar, where there are two cells, you can even rotate it, as long as we're using the same units. Move it accordingly to the squares, hence why it's called modular.
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| Figure 1.07: Transitional; Follows the movement of the Eye |
Transitional has a flow, the information flows one after the other, to the eye seemingly there is no break. The break has to be a logical break.
"HIERARCHY! HIERARCHY! HIERARCHY!"
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| Figure 1.08: Bilateral; Aligned to the central axis |
Bilateral is basically just central alignment. Information is placed on a central axis.
WEEK 2
Principles of design composition, when dealing with content, tends to have slightly more complex approach. Some of these principles are a little more easily translated than others.
Principle of Emphasis.
The four squares joined together, dominant principle, can be easily translated into textual information. This is not the case for repetition. Those kinds of pricinples may not be applicable.
The Rue of Thirds is a photographic guide to composition. The intercepting lines that are used as guides within the given space. These lines intersect at 3 points. If you place your content at these four points, there is a better balance in the given space.
You should never use this rule of thirds, is simply because you know it exists, and no one ever uses it in layouts. When it comes to placement information. It is generally never used,
Example : Content Overlapping on Text.
The most used system within the 8 is the Grid system, the most pragmatic of the 8.
When it comes to Axial, it creates a little bit of tension in the layout. Older theory called constructivism, omveement and design. Based on Marxist principle. 1912’s which then influences the German (Bauhaus), the Russians were far ahead in in several aspects. We dont really notice their vast contributions. Axial system reveals the constructivism , russioan thinking to design thinking and at philosophy.
It was further enhanced by the Swiss modernist style of typography.
In reaction to the gridded system, this ordered approach of layout arrangement and typographical system.
A group of younger people decided to question these principles. It was a point of time where people were questioning authority. The best included the Random and Chaos. There was a method to their madness. (examples can be viewed in the slides)
INSTRUCTION
EXERCISE 1 : TYPOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS
For this exercise, we are required to :
1) Read up and understand about the 8 typographic systems.
2) Create a 2 page spread in Adobe Indesign with 200mm x 200mm dimensions per page.
3) We are to use ONLY ONE COLOUR in all the designs.
4) We can use one type family in a page.
5) Begin exploring & designing the information below according to the respective typographic systems. There should be 2 designs of each typographic system.
The Design School,
Taylor’s University
All Ripped Up: Punk Influences on Design
or
The ABCs of Bauhaus Design Theory
or
Russian Constructivism and Graphic Design
Open Public Lectures:
November 24, 2020
Lew Pik Svonn, 9AM-10AM
Ezrena Mohd., 10AM-11AM
Suzy Sulaiman, 11AM-12PM
November 25, 2020
Muthu Neduraman, 9AM-10AM
Fahmi Reza, 10AM-11AM
Fahmi Fadzil, 11AM-12PM
Lecture Theatre 12
Exploring & Designing
Right after the first online lecture, we were tasked to try out on the Axial Typographic System. I didn't really have much time for sketching so I just began designing based on the top of my head as well as the ebook given.
Below are my explorations :
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| Figure 2.01: Axial Systems; 1st Spread |
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| Figure 2.02: Axial Systems ; 2nd Spread |
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| Figure 2.03: Axial System; 5th Exploration |
Heeding the feedbacks provided by Mr. Vinod I proceeded to design the other 8 typographic systems. I wanted it to be very experimental and sort of push the boundaries of the my design capabilities as well as the typography systems themselves.
Below are my designs of the spread :
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| Figure 2.04: Axial System |
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| Figure 2.05: Grid System |
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| Figure 2.06: Radial System |
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| Figure 2.07: Random System |
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| Figure 2.08: Bilateral System |
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| Figure 2.09: Transitional System |
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| Figure 2.10 Dilational System |
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| Figure 2.11 Modular System |
Below is the 1st revised version of the ones that needed correction:
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| Figure 2.12 Axial System; 1st Revision |
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| Figure 2.13 Transitional System; (Left) Replace with white background. (Right) Made non-objective elements less strong |
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| Figure 2.14 Dilational System |
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| Figure 2.15 Random System |
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| Figure 2.16 Radial System |
And there wasn't much difference in my Random which needed to be reworked once again.
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| Figure 2.17 Axial System; 2nd Revision |
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| Figure 2.18 Random System; 2nd Revision |
Though, once I found out that it was mostly on the way I thought, I decided to "trick my mind" if you will, in which if I found it to be too simple, or organised, I realised that actually that was the right amount of chaotic structure.
Hence I proceeded with my third revision that way (for Random System)
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| Figure 2.19 Axial System; 3rd Revision (Paragraph Spacing fixed) |
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| Figure 2.20 Random System; 3rd Revision (Finding Order in the Chaos) |
IT WAS ACCEPTEDDDD!!!!!
Below is the compilation of all my final Typographical Systems in JPEG and PDF formats:
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| Figure 2.21 Axial System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.21 Radial System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.22 Dilational System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.23 Grid System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.24 Transitional System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.25 Random System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.26 Bilateral System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.27 Modular System (Final) |
EXERCISE 2 : FINDING TYPE
For this exercise, we are required to :
1) Search up, any image.
2) Try and find 5 letters within the images.
3) From these crude outline of letterform, continue to tweak and refine until the letterforms have reached a certain stage.
Thus, I began with finding a photo, which I found surprisingly tough as most even though had letterforms in them, it was sort of boring and super straight forward without much character to them. Or perhaps, I still had not developed the eye to notice the character that could be formed within the picture.
Below are some of the attempts that I had begun trying but soon abandoned.
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| Figure 2.28 Attempt 1; Constructing the letter 'V' in the image of the tile. |
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| Figure 2.29 Attempt 2; Constructing letters 'C' and 'V' |
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| Figure 2.30 Attempt 3, Outlining the image to form letters |
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| Figure 2.31 Chosen Image |
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| Figure 2.32 Forming Outlines |
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| Figure 2.33 Process of Extracting the Letters |
I must say I did struggle. The lack of education in Adobe Illustrator from the past is constantly haunting me, but it is completely up to me to either whine or suck it up and learn and get better.
Below are the outlines letters.
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| Figure 2.34 Outline of letters 'O', 'X', 'Y', 'C', 'M' |
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| Figure 2.35 Filled In Letters 'O', 'X', 'Y', 'C', 'M' |
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| Figure 2.36 Extracted Letterforms |
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| Figure 2.37 1st Refinement |
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| Figure 2.38 2nd Refinement |
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| Figure 2.39 3rd Refinement |
Even as I am looking at the letters I can see that the contrast is slightly too much which was exactly what Mr. Vinod advised. He also asked to increase the overall weight of the stroke.
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| Figure 2.40 4th Refinement |
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| Figure 2.41 Feedback from Mr. Vinod on the areas to relax the curve. |
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| Figure 2.42 5th Refinement ; Increased weight of stroke, Reduced Contrast, Relaxed Curve |
Mr. Vinod then suggested a couple of things :
1. I really need to fix the curvy-ness of the X.
2. The counter & inner curve of the C doesnt seem very appropriate especially when it comes towards the end. 3. The converging points of the 'M' needs to be a little thinner. 4. The serifs need to be a bit more squarish.
Heres what Mr. Vinod meant for the feedback:
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| Figure 2.43 Amendments for the letters 'X', 'M', and 'C' |
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| Figure 2.44 Amendments for the serif to be more squarish |
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| Figure 2.45 Evolution of letters thus far |
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| Figure 2.46 6th Refinement |
HOooowweevverrrrrrrrr, I had to double check the widths of the arms Y and X and the C is still not working somehow still yet. Therefore, this is what I attempted.
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| Figure 2.47 7th Refinement |
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| Figure 2.48 Final Type |
For this exercise, we are required to :
1) Search up, any image.
2) Integrate a sentence into the image
3) Any one word can stand out or be emphasised, but it has to integrate together with the image.
Here are some screenshots and breakdown of my process :
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| Figure 2.49 ; Creating a Gradient Background |
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| Figure 2.5 ; Creating a Gradient Background |
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| Figure 2.51 ; Placing the letters on my background (to be scratched out later) |
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| Figure 2.52 ; Switching over to Photoshop and using Clone Stamp to copy the background |
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| Figure 2.53 ; Looping the text behind the finger to make it seem like she's holding the letter. |
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| Figure 2.54 ; Reducing opacity of certain parts to make it hide behind the dress |
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| Figure 2.55 ; Deciding the placement of my letters |
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| Figure 2.56 ; Creating a second option |
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| Figure 2.57 ; Overview of 2nd Option |
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| Figure 2.58 ; An idea that is going to be scratched off soon enough. |
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| Figure 2.59 ; Trying to make use of the previous idea, and make the colors more simple. |
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| Figure 2.60 ; Finding a suitable harmony between image and background. |
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| Figure 2.61 ; Finding a suitable harmony between image and background. |
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| Figure 2.62 ; Selecting the finger to hide the 'E' |
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| Figure 2.63 ; Process of hiding the "E' |
Below are my attempts :
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| Figure 2.49 1st Image |
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| Figure 2.50; 2nd Image |
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| Figure 2.51; 3rd Image (1st Trial) |
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| Figure 2.52 ; 3rd Image (2nd Try) |
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| Figure 2.53; 3rd Image (3rd try) |
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| Figure 2.54; 2nd Image (2nd Try) |
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| Figure 2.55; 3nd Image (4th Try) |
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| Figure 2.55; 3nd Image (5th Try) |
Below is the corrected one, to which Mr. Vinod liked it very much hence making it the final artwork.
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| Figure 2.56; Final Artwork |
Final Artwork (Exercise 1, 2.1, 2.2 - Respectively)
Exercise 1
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| Figure 2.57 Axial System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.58 Radial System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.59 Dilational System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.60 Grid System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.61 Transitional System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.62 Random System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.63 Bilateral System (Final) |
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| Figure 2.64 Modular System (Final) |
Exercise 2.1
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| Figure 2.65 Final Type (Exercise 2.1) Exercise 2.2
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FEEDBACK
Week 0
(06.04.2020)
Specific Feedback :
1. Good that have many variations in short amount of time.
2. Leading is too tight. Make the point size same since its sans serif. There is huge difference between bold and regular fonts even without the changes in pt. size.
3. Good to have the open Public Lecture and Lecture Thetre 12 at the same line.
4. Try to shift third design to bottom right to balance out the empty space.
5. Fix the arrangement of ABCs. Grammatically it is slightly construed.
General Feedback :
1. Complete the rest of the exercises.
2. Whenever stuck just Google your way around InDesign
3. Modular System, just need to remember that it is confined to the number of boxes as shown previously. Shift within the same number of boxes.
4. Keep an eye on the leading constantly.
5. Make the layouts interesting.
(10.04.2020)
Specific Feedback :
1. Axial
“The left information which basically has the red text which is clearly an axial layout its clearer more legible a lot more practical in nature. The one on the right which seems to be abit more experimental with non objective element in the middle seems to be not very practical and not very well composed. So I think, when I said not very well composed I just mean, it doesn’t seem to have the same fluidity in movement . Also the black in the background causing a lot of.. it seems too overwhelming, the black. “
2. Transitional
“Your non-objective elements the lines on the right with the white background are too strong. The cannot be that strong. It needs to be less stronger. But you have managed to create the transitional effect. The one on the left is awesome except for the black background. But beyond that, it’s brilliant, it’s good work there. I would prefer instead of having a black background like that, you could just have a white background instead.”
3. Dilational
“So dilation seems to be good with the exception on the left you have the non objective elements which are playing a role there. I don’t think it needs to be striped in that manner. It makes no sense for it to be striped. If let’s say you used circles, triangles or square, which is like the geometrical basics of the Bauhaus it would have made a little bit more sense. Other than that, seems generally okay. The one on the right looks like a record player I am not sure why. It’s circular in nature you have created some level of colour coding in terms of differentiation. Others, doesn’t seem to do all that much. You need to be careful how much tonalities you create in the circular elements. It looks like a record player, maybe that’s what you’re trying to do. But there’s not reason for it to be a record player because, the title for this is ABCs of a Bauhaus why does it have to be a record player.”
4. Random
“Your random is quite random. I think there’s too many non objective elements in some cases. Again the black is overwhelming. You need to try and avoid using black. I think you just need to ban yourself from using black for now. Util you’re able to manage textural elements. Remember what I said in the first class, online, the use of black in typography has to be very limited. It is a very overwhelming shade. And as much as possible you should try to avoid using it. The chaos is quite chaotic, there has to be some sort of order in the way you construct chaos that is seemingly random but is actually organised.”
5. Radial
“This is a really interesting one you have on the right. It looks like a barrel. But I am wondering how does it conform to the radial because radial all the text points to a particular point. Whereas the one on the right, seems to be more of dialtional because it seems to. Be attached to more of circumference of a circle as opposed to radial because radial basically points to the centre point of the circle and radiates around it.”
6. Grid
“Then, you have your gridded system which is very good. Great, good job with the grid, no problem there. You could use the black in this particular case ya. ”
7. Bilateral
“Next we have the bilateral system, good job on the bilateral system. No problems, very excellent work so far. The non objective elements, seems to work well with the one on the left, the squares.”
8. Modular
“The modular system, yeah... yeah.... The one one the left, again I would like to just caution you… not caution but I think advise you to not use black as much as you can especially the one on the left where you have outline of the text , no one is going to be able to read that, the contrast is just not readable. The one on the right is a lot more beautiful with the construction. Good job there.”
Week 1
(18.04.2020)
Specific Feedback :
1. Random
“Im looking at your Random and you seem to be having great difficulty trying to.. the one on the right on the other hand seems to be doing better than the one on the left. And I can see that you're struggling with this somehow maybe your.. it sometimes happens because people have different dispositions innately in them. For some people, they are very chaotic in their mind and so the randomness kinda works for them, yeah. The other people, if your mind, you're a very structured person, yeah -and I think you are- hence you find a little bit more difficulty trying to express yourself in a random way.
That being said, the one on the right is much better, its heading in the right direction. There are still areas within that particular layout that needs work for example, the lecture needs to be curvy as opposed to being straight, compared to the rest, which are all pretty much straight, so the "lecture" word probably could be tweaked a little bit, and some of the other things like 'Open Public Lectures' which you're playing with it in between the Bauhaus, I think you dont need to over lap it there. Perhaps place it in a slightly different spot, below Bauhaus maybe? I think below it perhaps that might work better. ”
2. Axial
“The axial on the left is working fine. The leading is slightly better, but I think you need to have paragraph spacing between... a little bit more paragraph spacing...between the two pieces of information yeah, November 24th and November 25th. Some the space between the two lumps of text needs to be extended there. That means, the paragraph spacing in the middle, yeah...So thats for the one on the left. The one on the right, seems to be good. I think you could increase or reduce the leading space. Either you reduce the paragraph spacing between the open Public Lecture and nov 24th....I think you have two nov. 24th... so anyways you can either reduce the paragraph spacing in between all the text or increase the leading between all or increase the leading between each paragraph of text.
Otherwise, everything seems to be okay. The ABC word is exciting, however you seem to be missing the small 's'. Um, I think for the 'ABC', instead of aligning it to the right, what you can do is, shift it to the centre a little bit that means the B is in the centre of the A, the C is in the centre of the A, yeah. It will still be aligned to the axis, but just centralised a little bit. Don't forget the 'S', maybe you can put the 'S' in the C. The counter-space of the 'C'. Just update your feedback in the feedback sheet.”
Good. Move on to the next brief.
Week 2 (Exercise 2 Part 1)
Specific Feedback 1. Increase the weight and contrast a tad bit. 2. Letter C might need to depart from stirct adherence to the actual base structure. 3. I think you may have overdone the contrast a tad bit, and mauybe try increasing the stroke weight overall. 4. Keep increasing the weight and reducing the contrast. Also, relax the curve.
5. I think the thickness or the weight is almost there, but there are issues with some parts of the counter. Like, I am not very happy with the ‘X’ and the ‘C.’ I think the counter for the ‘C’. The inner curve doesn’t seem ver appropriate especially when it comes towards the end., where the serif is. Yeah so I think that needs a little bit of work. Then the, M the pointy inner part, Ill mark it out, its a little bit too thick. It needs to go a little in. The converging parts of the diagonal strokes that is attached to the stem. That point, that converging point is a little too thick so that needs to go thinner, yeah. And the reason Im a little, not too happy with the X is because its a bit too curvy there. So maybe that requires a little bit more refining. Those are the individual things to the letters. Other than that, once you have done that, the next thing to do that is the serifs that you have created right. Right now, they are rounded serifs, perhaps you might wanna make it a little more squarish ya as opposed to roundish. Because the strokes on the typeface is already roundish in nature. So you might wanna consider a more squarer serif as opposed to a rounder serif ya.
General Feedback 1. Refinement process for the Type and Play relies mostly on the fact that youve got to have similar size and width of strokes in the letters. 2. Always Always Always update your eportfolio, cause theyre gonna start marking from week 2 onwards, and also to have a duplicate copy of your work at all times. 3. Pay attention to the general feedback during which everyone is present, because they are not gonna be repeating the same thing for everyone. We have to learn and apply from everyone.
Week 3 (Exercise 2 Part 1) Specific Feedback 1. I can take the serif in between the slab and transitional serif. 2. Check the thickness of the two strokes XY - one looks thicker than the other. C doesnt seem to be working, keep at it. 3. (Exercise 2 Part 2) All good. Wild and Time are better, THe colour for Time though and the itlaicised text not really happening. Good job. Week 4 (Exercise 2 Part 2) Specific Feedback 1. The first image is good. 2. The second image (WILD) is even better, but it would be even more better if there nature of the image, the lines, were there on the words. So maybe can like reduce opacity or something. 3. The third image, the drip from the TIME, especially the M and E is drawn in and the manipulation could be better suited to the image. 4. The 'You're Losing' does not necessarily need to be italicised. General Feedback 1. The type needs to mimic the surrounding.
REFLECTION
Experience
It was a good decision to get to the head start. I lack in time management, and starting ahead, gave me bit of time to get ahead of myself. The exercises are super fun, by the way, and I can find my self getting into it completely. ALSO, so much of appreciation for Mr. Vinod and Mr. Shamsul for having to sit and give us constant feedback and care so much about their students. Seriously props to them.
I think I have so much to learn from them in terms of work ethics, and constant hustle.
Observation
I observe that, haha, I am discovering more of myself or trait of myself -in terms of work-. I somehow feel that I put too much pressure unto myself. And I understand that there is a certain standard that I have to meet, but I am probably my own worst critic.
I also observed that sometimes, I am totally on the move, in the groove very much motivated, but then .... I may get demotivated and sort of find not much momentum to keep it going. And I Have to get over this. I feel like I may need to try and push through even when I don't feel like it because I may fall behind on my work.
Findings
I find that, I am improving. haha. I think that I am beginning to analyse my work in a more critical manner, but maybe slightly too much. I feel that at times, I may need to follow my gut-feeling.
Also, very important side note, more like MAIN NOTE actually. I really, really need to work in my efforts of designing type or fonts. I have found this to be a challenge since Semester 1. And it still poses as a challenge to me. However, after my presentation, (research at least), I found to have a deeper understanding on HOW exactly I should approach it in the first place.
FURTHER READING
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| Figure 5.01; Mallor by Tobias Fre-re Jones |
Starts by a thought, an inspiration, a question .
What if?
1. What would a type face look like if ......
2. What did he want out of the type face? The tone of it?
Starts by just simply doodling.
PROCESS :
It doesn't begin with the bow on the lowercase G, or the tail on the Q. Its more about the theme that runs through out, the strategy that helps, more of the abstract level that they begin thinking on.
The alphabet is not a linear sequence that begins with A, and then B or whatever.
A tribe of like-minded things. So there's this square things. The capital E, H, F, T
The round things like the O and the C, Q.
And the diagonal things like the , A, V, X and so on.
Negotiating some kind of cooperation between these three caps.
The first 3 letters H, O, D. Theres all kinds of decision, how heavy, the contrast, how wide, what kind of shape length, serif, how much space is allowed to each size of these shapes.
Drawing and designing the space between and inside these shapes. Takes days in these first three letters.
Lowercase n, o, p
Time to get these caps to work with the lowercase. quite tough. (most critical)
Build out the characters sets on the lines of these tribes.
(square, round and diagonal)- basic shapes very very similar to the Bauhaus Theory of Design. Square, Circle, Triangle. personal note like primary colours.
Theres a 15 or 'hamburgafontsiv' some representative of every shape you're gonna form.
So if you've cracked the puzzle of how to make all of these for together, then you can almost have a smooth sailing.
Another thing to note is that these are the most common letters so that you can get to setting actual text as soon as possible. End
this extremely important because it allows you to evaluate the performance of the typeface. letters in between h and os. and how well this is working or not working. being able to engage experience as readers as a tool on how typefaces are working or not.
Try to get one screen ASAp. so much of the strategy is in how it is digitised and how they can combine with one other. and its easier digitised and changing the size.
Experiments if continuously.
Robo Font and Python. Automate some of the intricate process. In Retina, there are range of blades and there is same width, the lightest to heaviest width is same. It meant making sure that all the widths of light and bold same. So, the code could do easily. So, important tool to create consistency.
Tool, for Type Design.
Having a comment to talk to and have feedback is extremely important. Rather than toiling snd stumbling. And Join forums.
And ask questions.
Challenge :
When you hit the spacebar, you have a dimension that the designer has specify, you have to pick the right space. How much space will be enough to clarify that one word has ended and the other has begun. Two words in lowercase ,uppercase, how much space should be given, it would depend on width, weight, whether for headline, text.
Every decision from the weight of the stem, to the shape of the arc, each one of the decision will exert some influence on every other decision, its like a long chain of cause and effect.
Minuscule, MAX view.
End view: think all of it simultaneously, web use? Print use? how light and how heavy this can go? what kind of range does this design have , like a singer. (he finds it early on)
different proportions and spacing.
microfocus series (MicroPlus), it begins as a version at really really small size. 3, 4 pt.
spread the spacing out, enlarge the x height, details need to be strengthened.
so for web and print almost same.
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