Typography / Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication

24.9.2021- 8.10.2021 (Week 5 - Week 7)
Britney Chow Pei Jun / 0350043 / BDCM
Typography
Task 2 : Typographic Exploration and Communication

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LECTURES

All lectures are completed in Task 1 - Exercise 1 & 2

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INSTRUCTIONS 

In this task, we are to express the content typographically in the link provided in a 2-page editorial spread. No images are allowed. However, some very minor graphical elements, such as line, shade, etc. might be allowed. We should utilize the knowledge gained in the exercises and other modules from the same semester, and we will use Adobe InDesign to typographically compose and express the text within a given size (200 x 200 per page). We may use Adobe Illustrator to create headline expression should we feel the need to do so. However the final layout is to be completed in Adobe InDesign. We Explore several options in expression and layout (sketches). Execute a good layout, with an expressive and appropriate headline in line with the spirit/message of the text.

(Taken from the MIB)

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TASK 2 PROGRESSION

Sketches 

fig 1.1; Sketches for the layouts; (1/10/21)

This is the sketches that I made when I was doing the task, however it could not fully expressed what I want to do as it is not the same thing when making a sketch and actually doing it in both Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. Even so, I still sketch it out so that I have the idea there and won't forget what to do when I actually do it the mentioned apps. 

I then tried out one layout using Indesign:

fig 1.2; Britney's first attempt; (1/10/21)

Next, I sketch out the headline I thought looks fine: 

fig 1.3; Idea sketch for the headline; (2/10/21)

fig x.x; A picture of Binary code; sauce: (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Digitized-binary-matrix-of-the-sample-character-2-and-Z-respectively_fig1_262715706)

fig x.x; Barcode reference; sauce: (https://www.keyence.com/ss/products/auto_id/barcode_lecture/basic/mechanism/)

fig x.x; Illustrating with barcode; sauce: (https://www.pinterest.com/musgravekaren/barcode-art/)

Whenever we mention about the word code, the word coding, barcode and QR code would pop into my mind, as they are quite common. And thus I tried to combine them a bit. 

Layout Progression

fig 1.4; Hidden characters and alignment 1; (6/10/21)

fig 1.5; Hidden characters and alignment 2; (6/10/21)

fig 1.6; Hidden characters and alignment 2.1; (6/10/21)

fig 1.7; Hidden characters and alignment 3; (6/10/21)

fig 1.8; Hidden characters and alignment 3.1; (6/10/21)

fig 1.9; Hidden characters and alignment 4; (6/10/21)

fig 2..1; Hidden characters and alignment 4.1; (6/10/21)

fig 2.2; Layouts; (6/10/21)

fig 2.3; Layouts blocked out; (6/10/21)

Shortlisted layout

fig 2.4; Layout 1; (7/10/21)

Fonts: ITC Garamond Std Book (body), Univers LT Std (Headline)

Point size: 8 pt (text)

Leading: 10 pt

Paragraph spacing: 10 pt

Line length: 57 (body text)

fig 2.5; Layout 2; (7/10/21)

Fonts: Janson Text LT Std(body), Futura (Headline)

Point size: 10 pt (text)

Leading: 12 pt

Paragraph spacing: 12 pt

Line length: 55 (body text)

fig 2.6; Layout 3; (7/10/21)

Fonts: Adobe Caslon Pro (body), Univers LT Std (Headline)

Point size: 9 pt (text)

Leading: 11 pt

Paragraph spacing: 11 pt

Line length: 65 (body text)

fig 2.7; Layout 4; (7/10/21)

Fonts: Adobe Caslon Pro (body), Futura (Headline)

Point size: 9 pt (text)

Leading: 11 pt

Paragraph spacing: 11 pt

Line length: 65 (body text)

Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication

fig 2.8; Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication - JPEG; (7/10/21)

fig 2.9; Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication - PDF; (7/10/21)

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FEEDBACK

General feedback: Watch out for the ragging, rivers and the gutters.

Specific feedback: The composition for the headline is not good, brought down the whole aesthetics of it, can try and change the typeface or change the arrangement. The body text arrangements, cross alignment is fine, however the point size is a bit big, could lower it so it won't look so tight. 

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REFLECTIONS

Experience: I find this exercise quite challenging because I'm not exactly very good at coming up with great ideas for the layout and headline ideas. Furthermore, I am also very poor at doing compositions. However, I learned a lot from this exercise and I'm pretty grateful for it.

Observations: I think that research are very important as it not only inspires you and motivates you to do something but it also increase my visual library. 

Findings: I'm actually very poor at this exercise at first, I could not come up much with the headline ideas and tend to always get limited by some things, I get very stressed, scared and anxious when I see other people's work because they are all so great and full of creativity. Thus, I found out that I myself need to be more confident in my work and should not always degrade it. I also found out that I learned a lot from my friends as well as try to give more useful feedbacks. 

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FURTHER READINGS

fig 3.1; Typography Referenced

Author: Tyler Alterman, Jason Tselentis, Kathryn Henderson, Ina Saltz, Richard Poulin, Allan Haley, Gerry Leonidas, Tony Seddon

fig 3.2; Typography Referenced: Typographic Principles;

This page talks about designing something will not only requires a fair amount of restraint but also respect for the divine principles. As quoted from the page "Designing a book requires a fair amount of restraint as well as respect for the divine principles that book designers have used for centuries. And readability should take precedence. Creating gigantic billboard, for example, calls for larger typography than a book designer employs. And then of course, there are the delicate niceties, much like stylistic guidelines that writers follow."

fig 3.3; Typographic Principles: Format;

fig 3.4; Typographic Principles: Typography Selection;

fig 3.5; Typographic Principles: Reading Direction and Scanning;