OUGD603 - The Batsford Prize - Initial Typographic Composition Experiments (2)

Based on initial ideas, further typographic compositions were produced, this time exploring more experimental formats and methods of composing type. One of these variations was based on the idea of intertwining type with imagery, in this instance, utilising the shape of a DNA double-helix structure to lay out letterforms, splitting the quote into two which could be made to look as if wrapped around each other. It was considered in these first experiments, that because of the use of one colour and one typeface, this meant that it was harder to distinguish between different words where they would overlap and therefore also harder to accurately figure out the flow of words in the way the quote should be read.

For this reason, it was decided to, again, take reference from visual research and utilise two different contrasting typefaces to distinguish between words and make the flow clearer to read.

Since the DNA double-helix structure is typically visualised as standing upright, it was decided to rotate these from landscape to portrait to more accurately convey the shape of the DNA structure. However, it was found through this rotation that the type being one colour meant the it became slightly illegible, despite the use of two different typefaces, possibly due to that fact this structure does not go with the normal way we would usually read.

For this reason, it was decided to experiment with manipulating colour, using a different colour for each line to make these more distinguishable from each other. It was found that this worked much more effectively in creating better legibility, particularly with the use of two different typefaces. It was also found that legibility was further increased when the start of the quote was at the bottom of the page since this invites you to read the quote the correct way, with the bold section first.

However, one problem with these typographic compositions may be that the way in which the quotes have been split into sections, this may be confusing for readers to figure out which end to start reading from again once they have finished the first section. Therefore, perhaps this would work better if the quote continued round in a loop and went back on itself, finishing in the same point the quote starts. However, this would then distort the DNA structure's shape and may not be as representative of this structure, and, although an interesting concept, it was decided these typographic compositions would be harder to work effectively with my main ideas.