Typography - Task 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression)

In this task you will be asked to express typographically the content in this link in a 2-page editorial spread (200mm x 200mm per page). Choose 1 from the 3 text options provided. No images are allowed. However, some very minor graphical elements, i.e. line, shade, etc. might be allowed.

Utilising the knowledge gained in the exercises and from other modules in the same semester, you will use Adobe InDesign to typographically compose and express the text within the given size. Here is a video to watch before you begin.

You may use Adobe Illustrator to create the headline expression should you feel the need to do so. However, the final layout (text Page | 9 formatting and layout) is to be completed in Adobe InDesign. 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.

Ensure you are only using the prescribed 10 typefaces. Choose your editorial text from the Facebook file section (look for Task 2: Editorial Text Options).

Note* No colour may be used in this task.

Submission:

1. Eportfolio: All gathered information (failures, successes, epiphanies, sketches, visual research, printouts, websites, images, charts, etc.) must be documented logically and chronologically in the eportfolio for the duration of the task in one post.

2. Eportfolio: All images/sketches/diagrams/scans must be captured/photographed/scanned well, with good even natural light, without shadows — use of tube/bulb/flash light is not allowed. All images/sketches/diagrams/scans must be labelled (fig 1, 2, etc.), described and dated. Final submission must be indicated clearly (distinguishable from process work) and uploaded as PDF and JPEG &/ GIF (not PNG) or as instructed in class.

3. (Only if instructed) Tasks to be documented in a printed A4 enclosed in a Clear Sheet, logically and chronologically. The works must be labelled and dated – use pencil and write neatly.

Learning Goals:

1. To demonstrate the use of Grids, layouts and page flow.

2. To apply the necessary skills and sensibilities for effective typographic communication and achieve good reading rhythm with memorability.

Doc. 2.1 Module Information Booklet of Typography.

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3. TASK 2: TYPOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION & COMMUNICATION (TEXT FORMATTING & EXPRESSION)

3.1 RESEARCH

Fig. 3.1.1 Typographic Follies Posters Thumbnails page 4 and 5. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/25248627/Typographic-Follies-Posters

Fig. 3.1.2 Premium Vector: Cover collection in Bauhaus style. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Source: https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/cover-collection-bauhaus-style_7749283.htm

Fig. 3.1.3 Website: Graphic Design: The Bauhaus Style In 2019. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Source: https://medium.com/pixlr/graphic-design-the-bauhaus-style-in-2019-9e58d6064889

What Are the Hallmarks of Bauhaus Style in Graphic Design?

- German architect Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus school in 1919.

- The goal of embracing change in Europe by instilling in its students a love of contemporary technology.

- In graphic design, typography, and architecture, they highlighted the idea that "form follows function" and concentrated on the fundamentals of colour, type, and arrangement.

- Important visual characteristics of the school are collage graphics, experimental layouts, 'broken' grids, and a unique colour scheme.

-These defining characteristics of graphic design are still in use today, despite the fact that their contribution was primarily theoretical.

How Are Designers Interpreting Bauhaus Style Now?

- Bauhaus's experimental design approach and embrace of new technology make it relevant for contemporary designers.

- Examples from typographers, illustrators, and graphic designers showcase how to give the Bauhaus style a contemporary twist, from animation to digital interpretation.

In Grid Layouts: Experiment with bold, rebellious placement of graphics and type-in designs, embracing Bauhaus style.

3.2 IDEA & SKETCHES

Fig. 3.2.1 Sketches. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

It's so different when trying out the layouts in InDesign, so I only sketched out three rough layouts. I think it's more time-saving to see if the compositions work or not in InDesign. There are so many factors that may affect the design flow, such as line length, point size, leading and paragraph spacing, etc. For the type expression, I only wanted to focus on making some design elements on "Bauhaus" because it is the keyword of the heading.

3.3 LAYOUTS

Fig. 3.3.1 Rough Layouts. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.3.2 Chosen Layout. Week 5 (23/10/2023).

I chose Layout #3 because it has a good design flow, and the flow can lead the audience to read the text easily. Layout #1, Layout #2, and Layout #5 are too boring in composition; Layout #4 and Layout #5 are too chaotic in composition and may not lead the audience to read the text with good flow.

3.4 WORK PROGRESS

First Attempt: Work Progress in Adobe Illustration

Fig. 3.4.1 Work in Illustrator (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.2 Experiments of Type Expression (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.3 Chosen Type Expression (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.4 Final Type Expression of Heading (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Font/s: Futura Std (Light)
Type Size/s: 48 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 125 pt ("BAUHAUS")
Leading: 51 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 128 pt ("BAUHAUS")

First Attempt: Work Progress in Adobe InDesign

Fig. 3.4.5 Work in InDesign (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.6 Without Kerning & Tracking (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.7 With Kerning & Tracking (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.8 Final Outcome (First Attempt). Week 5 (23/10/2023).

HEADING
Font/s: Futura Std (Light)
Type Size/s: 48 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 125 pt ("BAUHAUS")
Leading: 51 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 128 pt ("BAUHAUS")

BODY
Font/s: Futura Std (Book)
Type Size/s: 11 pt
Leading: 13 pt
Paragraph spacing: 13 pt
Characters per-line: 55–65 characters
Alignment: left alignment

CAPTIONS
Font/s: Futura Std (Medium)
Type Size/s: 14 pt
Leading: 16 pt
Paragraph spacing: 16 pt

Margins: 10 mm top, 10 mm left, 10 mm right, 10 mm bottom
Columns: 4
Gutter: 5 mm

Second Attempt: Work Progress in Adobe Illustration (After Getting Feedback)

Fig. 3.4.9 Work in Illustrator (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.10 Experiments of Type Expression (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.11 Final Type Expression of Heading (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Second Attempt: Work Progress in Adobe InDesign (After Getting Feedback)

Fig. 3.4.12 Work in InDesign (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.13 Without Kerning & Tracking (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.14 With Kerning & Tracking (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.15 Close-up after kerning & tracking (Second Attempt). Week 6 (30/10/2023).

Fig. 3.4.16 Hiden Characters. Week 6 (30/10/2023).

3.5 FINAL OUTCOME

HEADING
Font/s: Futura Std (Light)
Type Size/s: 48 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 125 pt ("BAUHAUS")
Leading: 51 pt ("The impact of", "thought on culture modern"), 128 pt ("BAUHAUS")

BODY
Font/s: Futura Std (Book)
Type Size/s: 11.5 pt
Leading: 13.5 pt
Paragraph spacing: 13.5 pt
Characters per-line: 55–65 characters
Alignment: left alignment

CAPTIONS
Font/s: Futura Std (Bold)
Type Size/s: 12 pt
Leading: 14 pt
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt

Margins: 10 mm top, 10 mm left, 10 mm right, 10 mm bottom
Columns: 4
Gutter: 5 mm

Fig. 3.5.1 Final Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression) with Grid (JPEG).
Week 7 (6/11/2023).

Doc. 3.5.1 Final Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression) with Grid (PDF).

Week 7 (6/11/2023).

Fig. 3.5.2 Final Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression) (JPEG).
Week 7 (6/11/2023).

Doc. 3.5.2 Final Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression) (PDF).

Week 7 (6/11/2023).

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4. FEEDBACK

WEEK 6 (30/10/2023)

General feedback: The speaker commented on task 2. Moreover, he said we need to set the headline's position first before arranging other paragraphs.

Specific feedback: The lecturer liked the overall design. He liked the idea of composition. However, he thought the word 'Bauhaus' was too graphical. I needed to make changes to the original typeface by adding some minor design elements.

WEEK 7 (6/11/2023)

General feedback: The lecturer said that the body text has to be consistent. Moreover, to be a good designer, we have to avoid miscommunication. The first important thing is to make a grid or guidelines first to get a good design with a good design flow.

Specific feedback: The lecturer said the overall design is fine. He likes the composition. However, I need to pay attention to the details of the letter spacing and kerning between the letters (I can only make adjustments from 15 to -15).

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5. REFLECTIONS

EXPERIENCE

I got the chance to explore the Bauhaus style with the experimental grid layouts. It's important to express the meaning well in type communication. Moreover, I did some research and got motivated to delve into typographic exploration. The challenge I faced was it was hard to arrange the vector elements with the content. I need to make sure overall is in good design.

OBSERVATION

I observed the role of typography in various forms of communication, such as print media, digital platforms, or branding. The observation helps me with the task of getting more engaging designs. Besides that, I observed that the design elements such as fonts, spacing, and layout will influence the typographic choices. After exploring a few layouts, I realised how typography affects readability and the overall user experience.

FINDINGS

I found out Bauhaus style is also popular in contemporary typography. I learned that typography plays in effective communication and design. Furthermore, I found out it is easier to make a good layout by comparing different experimental layouts. I also discovered typography can impact a brand's identity and recognition. Thus, as a good typographer, we need to do enough research and explore different typographic designs to get good design.

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6. FURTHER READING

WEEK 6 (30/10/2023)

Fig. 6.1 Computer Typography Basics - I.d.e.a.s. (2003)

Fig. 6.2 Contents of Computer Typography Basics - I.d.e.a.s. (2003)

Author: David Creamer

Publishing year: 2003

Publisher: I.D.E.A.S.

Fig. 6.3 Computer typography basics and font categories.

Computer typography basics: the basic ideas can make a reader's life easier, and they can make your job as a designer easier too.

Font Categories: Serif; Sans Serif; Mono-Spaced; Display; Script; Text and Dingbats

1. Serif: Most common text on "body" copy font.

2. Sans Serif: Have an overall even stroke weight, which creates little contrast for the letters.

3. Mono-Spaced: Are proportionally spaced. Smaller characters take up less space than larger ones.

4. Display: Decorative fonts are used as attention-getting headline fonts.

5. Script: To mimic handwriting.

6. Text: Have an 'Old World' feel to them.

7, Dingbats: Symbols and small pieces of art to enhance the design of the text or page.

Fig. 6.4 Paragraph rule and tabs.

1. Paragraph rule: In-line rule the move the text when it is edited.

2. Basic tabs: Left Align Tab; Right Align Tab; Center Align Tab; Decimal Align Tab; Common Align Tab and User-Defined Align Tab. 2 simple rules when using tabs: Always keep the paragraphy alignment set to flush left. Use as few tab settings as possible.

WEEK 7 (6/11/2023)

Fig. 6.5 Paragraph Indents.

Paragraph Indents: Common element in paragraphs, used to indicate paragraph stops and new ones. They should be used only if there is no paragraph space, and the standard amount is equal to the type size. Indent settings also include indents for the entire left and right side of Paragraph (s), with single-side indenting mostly for design effect.

Fig. 6.6 Line Breaks, Drop Caps, Raised Caps, Typographer Quotes & Inch Marks.

1. Line Breaks: Most programs are inserted using a shift-return, ensuring readability and maintaining paragraph integrity, as typing a return can alter formatting when paragraph spacing, rules, and indents are used.

2. Drop Caps: These are used to start new chapters in reports, and can be adjusted through Character style settings.

3. Raised Caps: These are used to start new chapters and special sections in a report by enlarging the first character and providing sufficient space above it.

4. Typographer Quotes & Inch Marks: An inexperienced typographer may use "desktop" quotes, straight slashes from typewriter fonts, which often don't match the font. These quotes come in open and closed versions, and double quotes are used for actual quotations, but desktop quotes can be used for inch and foot marks.

Fig. 6.7 Type Specification in Adobe Programs.

Fig. 6.8 Conclusion.

After reading this book, I discovered that this book teaches designers about the fundamentals of computer typography and covers a wide range of ideas and guidelines for the creation, arrangement, and display of text in digital media. When learning the fundamentals of computer typography, you might want to think about the following themes and ideas.

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7. REFERENCE LIST & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Creamer, D. (2003) 'Computer Typography Basics - I.d.e.a.s.'. [Online]. Available at: https://www.yumpu.com/it/document/view/12278913/computer-typography-basics-ideas [Accessed: 23 October, 2023].

Freepik. (n.d.) 'Cover collection in bauhaus style'. [Online]. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/cover-collection-bauhaus-style_7749283.htm [Accessed: 23 October, 2023].

Maida, F. (2015) 'Typographic Follies Posters'. Behance.[Online]. Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/25248627/Typographic-Follies-Posters [Accessed: 23 October, 2023].

Nair, V. (2020) 'Typo_Task 2_Process Demo'. Youtube. [Online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPwYO3ff4e0&list=PLZk01iRkmnlUF8tRLTTAogutYcraV6DFR&index=18&t=372s [Accessed: 23 October, 2023].

Pixlr. (2019) 'Graphic Design: The Bauhaus Style In 2019'. Medium. [Online]. Available at: https://medium.com/pixlr/graphic-design-the-bauhaus-style-in-2019-9e58d6064889 [Accessed: 23 October, 2023].

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EXTERNAL LINKS

Typography - Task 1: Exercises 1 & 2

Typography - Task 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication (Text Formatting & Expression)

Typography - Task 3: Type Design & Communication

Typography - Final Compilation & Reflection