Since our
research trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Gallery, I have
learnt a great amount about typography, how it can be developed and used. This
trip was a starting point for my learning into typography, allowing me to
realise the possibilities of type in that it doesn’t only have to be
two-dimensional. It opened my eyes to the ways in which type can be used within
three-dimensional sculptures and now can easily spot letterforms within such pieces
of work. This will also better inform my work in future projects, whereby my
methods of experimentation will vary between 2D and 3D, such as creating paper
structures, which could provide some interesting ideas.
Another thing
I have gained from this module is a better understanding of typographic
terminology. This has allowed me to engage with my learning and work more,
particularly in studio brief two where an understanding of typographic terms
was essential in helping to create our own bespoke typeface. It also allows me to
explain my ideas clearly in a more professional and informed way, and to pick
out distinctive elements of letterforms if ever working with typography again
in the future. For instance, how these elements made a typeface more
characterful and fit for specific purposes. Kerning is one of these elements
used in typography which I had not learnt about until starting this module. The
kerndown task allowed me to see how altering the spacing between letterforms
can better represent a particular brand or company.
Throughout
this module I believe that my digital skills have also improved, through
workshops and my own guided learning within a brief. Illustrator was a piece of
software I had never worked with before until starting this course. I now have
a basic understanding of how to create vector images, and in particular, using
the pen tool, which was very beneficial in producing both my logotypes and my
own typeface.
Research and
further reading is another thing that has informed a lot of my work throughout
this module. Research into Josef Muller-Brockmann’s and Massimo Vignelli’s
classic typefaces has shown me what they believe classifies as a strong
typeface and I have used some of these ideas within my work. For example, my
bespoke typeface aimed to go against Muller-Brockmann’s belief that “what is
feeble is never good” in terms of typography. I have also realised that general
research for a project does not always have to be obvious, sometimes the less
obvious routes are the best and looking at something which contrasts with your
initial ideas makes for more interesting and developed final outcomes. For
example, in the ligatures task, it was too easy to take an obvious approach to
the task in keeping with original letterforms, but research into the ampersand
showed that the ligature no longer looks like an e and t (‘et’ was the Latin
word for ‘and’), and yet we still know what this symbol communicates.
Overall,
this module has been both challenging and engaging. I have learnt many new
skills which will help with my progression through the course and the
development of my work, and I hope that these will continue to develop. All
these skills will not only help in the progression of my course, but will also help
me after my degree in the hope of becoming a professional designer. And in
conclusion, the module has taught me that if you’re not challenged, you won’t
get any better as a designer.
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