Typography Project 1

Typography - Project 1

18.09.2019 - 02.10.2019 (Week 4 - Week 6)
Wong Kai Yi (0340236)
Typography
Project 1

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1. LECTURE

Lecture 4: Basic Typography Part 2
18.09.2019 (Week 4)

Indicating Paragraphs:

1. Pilcrow (¶)
2. Line spacing
3. Standard indentation
4. Extended Paragraphs

Line space: space between two base lines
Leading: space between two lines of text
*in Adobe Illustrator, leading = line space

Gaffes:

• Widow: short line of type left alone at the end of a column of text
• Orphan: short line of type left alone at the start of a new column

Highlighting text:

• indent
• italics
• change typeface
• change color
• bullet points
• quotation marks
• field of color (highlight)

Hierarchy by subdivision.

Cross aligning headlines and captions with text type reinforces the architectural sense of the page - the structure - while articulating the complimentary vertical rhythms.

Below are the notes taken:

Fig 4.1 Notes taken in class 1

Fig 4.2 Notes taken in class 2

Fig 4.3 Notes taken from Skillshare

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2. INSTRUCTIONS

18.09.2019 (Week 4)

Project 1:

1. Choose 1 out of 3 editorial text options.
2. Choose appropriate typeface, size, line length.
3. Make a few layouts to be given feedback in week 5.

Among the 9 type families given:

• Adobe Caslon Pro
• Bembo Std
• Futura Std
• Gill Sans Std
• ITC Garamond Std
• ITC New Baskerville Std
• Janson Text LT Std
• Serifa Std
• Univers LT Std

Before starting project 1, I did some research on print material layouts (especially magazine). I looked up images online and also used an issue of National Geographic magazine and printed books as reference. Besides, I also watched several videos on Skillshare regarding typography which gave me a better understanding of typography.
Below are the examples:

Fig 5.1 BBC magazine

Fig 5.2 BBC magazine 2

Fig 5.3 BBC magazine 3

Fig 5.4 BBC magazine 4

Fig 5.5 BBC magazine 5

Fig 5.6 BBC magazine 6

Fig 5.7 The City Dog by Sarah Whitehead

Fig 5.8 My Puppy by Hegewald-Kawich

Fig 5.9 Grids and alignments (Skillshare by Ellen Lupton)

After reading the material, I chose to use "The Impact of Bauhaus on Modern Culture". The body text was about the history and development of Bauhaus.

I did some sketches before starting out with my ideas in mind.

Fig 5.10 Sketches and ideas on the layout

I chose 2 sketches to be completed in Adobe InDesign.

Layout 1:
I used 4 columns per page. I chose a Sans Serif typeface (Futura Std) for the heading and the subheading. For the body text, I used a Serif typeface (ITC Garamond Std). I decided to make the heading across both pages so that the reader will know that the content is in two pages.

Fig 5.11 Layout 1 1.0

Layout 2:
I used 3 columns per page. I also used Sans Serif typeface (Univers LT Std) for the heading. I made a "bracket (])" shaped headline on the right of the second page. For the subheading, I used a Sans Serif typeface (Futura Std).

I tried various Serif and Sans Serif typefaces to see which went better with the body text. I chose Bembo Std for it. I wanted to make gradually increasing size of text box from left to right across 4 columns. The problem was that the number of characters each line was not between 55-65 characters. I tried adjusting the point size but at 8pt, the characters were only around 40. I plan to ask Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul on how to solve this problem in the next class.

Fig 5.12 Testing different typefaces

After getting the general feedback, it was told that the number of characters for small columns can be 35-55 characters. Hence I changed the point size to make it in that range.

Fig 5.13 Layout 2 1.0

After feedback session, I continued to change the layout of the article.

Layout 1:
I aligned the subheading with the letter "B" from "BAUHAUS" and changed the underline from dots to a thick and thin line. I also moved the other paragraphs (excluding the first paragraph) to the second page as it fills the second page better. The two columns of text are aligned well with the text box starting from the same line.

Fig 5.14 Layout 1 2.0

Layout 2:
I aligned the right of the subheading with the grid if not it would look like a mistake (Mr Vinod stated). I also did tracking with the body text to minimize ragging. I also changed the position of the text boxes so they look aligned (center). I did tracking with "MODERN" and "CULTURE" so the width of "MODERN" is shorter than "CULTURE".

Fig 5.15 Layout 2 2.0

I got some feedback before leaving class and altered the layouts. 

Layout 1:
I realized that the leading was 2 pt so I changed it to 3 pt for the two text boxes on the second page. It will be easier for the reader to read the article.

Fig 5.16 Layout 1 3.0

Layout 2:
I adjusted the size of the text box on the bottom left to fit into the column as Mr Vinod suggested.

Fig 5.17 Layout 2 3.0

I chose Fig 5.16 to be my final work because it is simple and easy to read.
After getting feedback on week 6 (02.10.2019), I changed layout 1 and layout 2. Borders (0.5 pt) were also added for the each of the spreads.

Layout 1:
I changed the typeface and removed the lines from the subheading and last paragraph of text. I also removed the drop cap as it was not suitable for a modern work.

Fig 5.18 Layout 1 4.0

After getting feedback, I did some changes in alignment for "ON MODERN CULTURE", the subheading and first paragraph. I also added the three shapes (triangle, circle, square) which was suggested by Mr Vinod at the bottom left corner of the spread to balance out the white space. Below is my final work for Project 1.

Fig 5.18 Layout 5.0 (final)

Layout 2:
I aligned the subheading to the middle of the first column and moved the reference text to the second column on the left page. The body text size was 8 pt.

Fig 5.19 Layout 2 4.0

I changed the body text size to 8.5 pt so that it would be easier to read.

Fig 5.20 Layout 2 5.0 

FINAL:

JPEG:

Fig 5.21 Final Layout (JPEG): The layout is simple, with only text and shapes. The three shapes: triangle, circle and square represent Bauhaus. The typeface used is a Sans Serif type face because it is a modern article.

PDF:

 
Fig 5.22 Final Layout (PDF): The layout is simple, with only text and shapes. The three shapes: triangle, circle and square represent Bauhaus. The typeface used is a Sans Serif type face because it is a modern article.

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3. FEEDBACK

18.09.2019 (Week 4)

General feedback:
Mr Vinod told us to install all the 9 type families given in Google Drive. He also wanted us to document the process for everything so that we can see the progression.

Specific feedback:
Mr Vinod said that overall the words were good.
He gave some suggestions on the gif for "CLEAN": Make the bubbles fade as they move and make the "CLEAN" word straight.
He gave some suggestions on the gif for "EMERGE": Make the "erge" same size as the first "e" and use the baseline for all the letters as the expression was already shown through the letter "M" emerging from the baseline.

25.09.2019 (Week 5)

General feedback:
Create rows/columns by: create guides (select margins). Subtext: 35-50/55 characters per line (small columns). For the body text, we must use one linked textbox where the text flows to another linked textbox. The chance of you accidentally deleting a word or sentence is high if you use separate textboxes. For different layouts, we just have to increase the number of pages and we do not have to open many different files. 
Do not use indentation with paragraph spacing and flush left alignment. For indentation, use justify left and adjust text if there are rivers.
Mr Vinod suggested that we print out our work on A3 paper to get a better glance at the final outcome.

Specific feedback:
For my first layout, Mr Vinod did some adjustments with the size of the first paragraph and corrected me on how to do the proper drop cap. For my second layout, Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul said that it was good and clean.           

02.10.2019 (Week 6)

General feedback:

Get a mouse. Do not separate text boxes. All designs in one file. Project 2 to be given a briefing and in class exercise next week.

Specific feedback:

For layout 1, Mr Vinod said to remove the lines from the subheading and last paragraph because it is supposed to look modern. The typeface of the body text was also suggested to be changed to Univers LT Std so that it would look modern. I also have to remove the drop cap for the first paragraph. I was suggested to put triangle, circle and square at the bottom left corner of the page and align the paragraphs correctly.

For layout 2, the subheading was suggested to be aligned to the middle of the first column. The text boxes were also not aligned.

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4. REFLECTION

18.09.2019 (Week 4)

I realized that more research and reading was required to get more understanding and ideas in typography. Looking at other examples helped me in my layouts and choosing of typeface.

25.09.2019 (Week 5) - 02.10.2019 (Week 6)

After reading several typography books, I had a clearer idea on layouts and the use of some principles. Besides, I was worried about my project 1 which looked very simple because I saw others doing more complicated designs. After getting Mr Vinod's feedback on whether it is simple or not, he told me that it might be simple but not easy. Hence, I was less worried about it.

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5. FURTHER READING

11.09.2019 (Week 3) - 18.09.2019 (Week 4)

Title: Art Direction and Editorial Design by Yolanda Zappaterra

Fig 2.9 Art Direction and Editorial Design front cover

Fig 2.10 Art Direction and Editorial Design back cover

Various grids are shown so that we know how to use them for alignment. Grid elements such as columns and modules help in guiding text and image placement. This book shows a lot of examples of layouts, so it is very handy when it comes to project 1, which requires us to make an editorial layout.

25.09.2019 (Week 5) - 02.10.2019 (Week 6)

Title: Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works (second edition) by Erik Spiekermann & E.M. Ginger

Fig 5.23 Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works front cover

Fig 5.24 Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works back cover

From this book, I learnt that there are typefaces that are only suitable for the more occasional occasion. This means that they might be too hip to be used for mainstream communication, or be too uncomfortable because they do not fit well.

Besides, I also learnt that different typefaces can bring out different meanings / emotions in their physical characteristics (light or heavy, round or square, slim or squat).

I also read that there is a generic style for advertisements.

1. Headline on top
2. Attention-grabbing picture underneath
3. main copy
4. logo
5. pay-off line
6. address
7. URL / telephone number

(Never more than 8 elements!)