Advanced Typography - Task 1 Exercises
Lim Pei Jiun (0372548) / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Advanced Typography
Task 1：Exercises
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lectures
2. Instruction
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
LECTURES
Week 1: Typographic Systems
There are eight major variations with an infinite number of permutations.
Fig1.1 eight major variations
Axial system: all elements are organised to the left or right of a single axis
Fig1.2 Axial system
Radial System: All elements are extended from a point of focus
Fig1.3 Radial system
Dilatational System: All elements expend from a central point in a circular fashion
Fig1.4 Dilatational system
Random System: Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship
Fig1.5 Random system
Grid System: A system of vertical and horizontal divisions
Fig1.6 Grid system
Transitional System: An informal system of layered banding
Fig1.7 Transitional system
Modular System: A series of non-objective elements that are constructed in as a standardised units
Fig1.8 Modular system
Bilateral System: All text in arranged symmetrically on a single axis
Fig1.9 Bilateral system
Week 2: Typographic Composition
Principles of Design Composition: emphasis, isolation, repetition, symmetry and asymmetry, alignment, perspective
Fig2.1 emphasis
The rule of Thirds is a photographic guide to composition, it basically suggests that a frame (space) can be divided into 3 columns and 3 rows. The intersecting lines are used as guide ti place the points of interest, within the given space.
Fig2.2 The rule of Thirds
From the 8 systems the most pragmatic and the most used system is the Grid System (or Raster Systeme)
Fig2.3 The versatility of the Grid System
Environmental Grid is based on the exploration of an existing structure or numerous structures combined
Fig2.4 Example of Environmental Grid
Form and Movement is based on the exploration of an existing Grid Systems. The placement of a form (irrespective of what it is) on a page, over many pages creates movement. Whether the page is paper or screen is irrelevant. The form could represent images, text or colour..
Fig2.5 Form and Movement
Week 3: Context and Creativity
Cuneiform is the earliest system of actual writing. Its distinctive wedge form was the result of pressing the blunt end of a reed stylus into wet clay tablets.
Fig3.2 Cuneiform
1. As ideograms, to represent the things they actually depict.
2. As determinatives to show that the signs preceding are meant as phonograms and to indicate the general idea of the word.
3. As phonograms to represent sounds that 'spell out' individual words.
Fig3.3 Hieroglyphics Chart
Early Greek: Built on the Egyptian logo-consonantal system, the Phoenicians developed a phonetic alphabet consisting of 22 letters. One row would read left to right and then switch from right to left.
In time the strokes of these letter grew thicker, the aperture lessened, and serifs appeared. The new form, served as models for formal lettering in imperial Rome.
Fig3.4 Early Greek
Roman Uncials: By the 4th century Roman letters were becoming more rounded, the curved form allowed for less strokes and could be written faster.
Fig3.5 Roman Uncials
English Half Uncials: In England the uncial evolved into a more slanted and condensed form.
Fig3.6 English Half Uncials
Fig3.7 Carolingian Minuscule
Black Letter: Characterized by tight spacing and condensed lettering. Evenly spaced verticals dominated the letterform. Condensing line spacing and letter spacing reduced the amount of costly materials in book production.
Fig3.8 Black Letter
The Italian Renaissance: Humanist named the newly rediscovered letterforms Antica. The renaissance analysis of form that was being applied to art and architecture was directed toward letterform.
Fig3.9 Antica
Movable Type: This innovation was pioneered in China but achieved in Korea
Fig3.10 Movable Type
Evolution of Middle Eastern Alphabets: While the Phoenician letter marks a turning point in written language--use of sound represented in letters---the script itself has been possibly influence by the Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Hieratic Scripts
Fig3.11 Evolution of Middle Eastern Alphabets
The Evolution of the Chinese script: From the Oracle bone to Seal Script to Clerical Script, Traditional and Simplified scripts
Fig3.12 The Evolution of the Chinese script
Fig3.12 Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) script
The Brahmi script: It is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script. It is one of the most influential writing systems; all modern Indian scripts and several hundred scripts found in Southeast and East Asia are derived from Brahmi.
Fig3.13 The Brahmi script
Pra-nagari, an early form of the Negari script, used in India for writing Sanskrit
INSTRUCTION
Fig3.14 Kedukan Bukit inscription
Fig3.15 Pra-nagari
Kawi: Based on Nagari, but indigenous to Java. Because it was so widespread, Kawi became the basis of other scripts in both Indonesia and the Philippines
Fig3.16 Laguna Copperplate Inscription written in Kawi
Fig3.17 Incung
Jawi: the Arabic-based alphabet
Fig3.18 Jawi
Fig3.19 Baloo
Week 4: Designing Type
Frutiger: a sans serif typeface. Letterforms need to be recognized even in poor light conditions or when the reader was moving quickly past the sign.
Fig4.1 Airport Signage using Frutiger
Verdana: It exhibit characteristics derived from the pixel rather than the pen, the brush or the chisel.
Fig4.2 The Verdana Fonts
Underground: Combined classical Roman proportions with humanist warmth.
Fig4.3 Underground
General Process of Type Design:
1. Research
We should understand type history, type anatomy and type conventions. It is ten important to determine the type's purpose or what it would be used for, what different applications it will be used in. We should also examine existing fonts that are presently being used for reference
2. Sketching
Designers sketch their typeface using the traditional/ digital tool sets
3. Digitization
Leading professional software are FontLab and Glyphs. Some designers use Adobe Illustrator but is frowned upon by the purist. Attention should not only be given to the whole form at this stage but also to the counter form.
4. Testing
The result of the testing is part of the process of refining and correcting aspects of the typeface. Depending on the typeface category the readability and legibility of the typeface becomes an important consideration. However it is not as crucial if the typeface is a display type, where expression of the form takes a little more precedence.
5. Deploy
Even after deploying a completed typeface there are always teething problems that did not come to the fore during the prototyping and testing phases. Thus, the task of revision doesn’t end upon deployment. The rigour of the testing is important so that the teething issues remain minor.
Typeface Construction:
Using grids (with circular forms) can facilitate the construction of a letterforms and is a possible method to build/ create/ design your letterform
Fig4.4 Construction grid for the Roman
Construction and considerations:
Fig4.5 Classification according to form and construstion
INSTRUCTION
TASK 1: EXERCISES
Exercise 1: Typographic System
For this exercise, we need to create 8 posters by using all the typographic systems. We must design all the systems in InDesign and the document size must be 200mm * 200mm. Besides, we can use black and one other color.
content:
The Design School,
Taylor’s University
All Ripped Up: Punk Influences on Design
or
The ABCs of Bauhaus Design Theory
or
Russian Constructivism and Graphic Design
Open Public Lectures:
June 24, 2021
Lew Pik Svonn, 9AM-10AM
Ezrena Mohd., 10AM-11AM
Suzy Sulaiman, 11AM-12PM
June 25, 2021
Lim Whay Yin, 9AM-10AM
Fahmi Reza, 10AM-11AM
Manish Acharia, 11AM-12PM
Lecture Theatre 12
1. Axial System
Font Used: ITC New Baskerville Std (Bold, Roman)
First, I do research on Pinterest and reference to the Fig5.1 to complete my axial design
Fig5.1 Axial's research in Pinterest, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
2. Radial System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold, Book)
Fig5.4 First process of Radial system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.5 Finally process of Radial system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.6 Final Radial system (JPEG), Week 1 (24/9/2024)
3. Dilatational System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold, Book)
After completing Fig 5.7, I think it looks a bit weird, so I change the direction of the font bend to make them consistent.
Fig5.7 First process of Dilatational system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.8 Final process of Dilatational system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.9 Final Dilatational system (JPEG), Week 1 (24/9/2024)
4. Random System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold Condensed, Book)
Fig5.10 Process of Random system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
5. Grid System
Font Used: ITC New Baskerville Std (Bold, Roman)
Fig5.12 First Process of Grid system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.14 Final Grid system (JPEG), Week 1 (24/9/2024)
6. Transitional System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold Condensed, Book)
7. Modular System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold Condensed, Book)
8. Bilateral System
Font Used: Futura Std (Bold Condensed, Book)
Fig5.19 Process of Bilateral system, Week 1 (24/9/2024)
Fig5.21 Final process of Typographic system (JPEG), Week 2 (1/10/2024)
Fig5.22 Typographic system (PDF), Week 2 (1/10/2024)
Fig5.23 Typographic system with grid (PDF), Week 2 (1/10/2024)
Exercise 2: Finding Type
For exercise 2, I first found some picture on Pinterest and I decided to use a picture of the tree at the end
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Letterform extraction
Fig6.2 Trace Letters- E, K, Y, V, A, Week 2 (1/10/2024)
Fig6.3 Initial Extracted Letterforms, Week 2 (1/10/2024)
Fig6.7 Final Details, Week 3 (8/10/2024)
Fig6.8 Type Showcase, Week 4 (15/10/2024)
Fig6.9 Final Finding Type, Week 4 (15/10/2024)
FEEDBACK
Week 1
General Feedback
Mr. Vinod remind us to join Facebook group and we need to create 8 poster by using 8 typographic system
Specific Feedback
The right background colour of e-portfolio can better display the font
Week 2
General Feedback
We must have 5 (minimum) letterform extracted
Specific Feedback
The numbers of Grid system no need to be too large and the left side of Transitional System must be more connected with the right side
Week 3
General Feedback
We need to rework, refine, review, re-do, re-look whatever is needed in the two exercise
Specific Feedback
The edge of the font too sharp, not look like a natural biology. Can add some branches to the font
Week 4
General Feedback
We required to complete our Task 1 Exercise, and start doing Task 2 exercise
Specific Feedback
The size of the poster are wrong. It must be 1024px x 1024px
REFELCTION
Experience:
This assignment has taught me more about typography. My experience of typography is only the last semester. But this semester is in-depth than last sem. So of course I encountered many difficulties, but fortunately I had the help of the lecturer and classmates. Besides, I got hands-on experience with several software, such as AI and InDesign. These software will be very helpful for my future.
Observation:
I observed that there is not just one system for typographic, there got eight different system. Each system has a different layout method. These system let typography look less rigid and different styles use different systems to make the typography look more vivid. Besides, a good typographic system establishes a clear hierarchy to guide the viewer's eye. Larger, bolder fonts are typically used for headings, while smaller, regular-weight fonts are used for body text.
Findings:
Through this assignment, I have fully improved myself and can get started with those software more quickly. I also understand the importance of feedback. The lecturer's feedback can help us complete the assignment better. Do more research will let us understanding what should we do better. Besides, I also learned that the final letterform that we extraction must be related that what we extract, like can be more natural.
FURTHER READING
Typographic Systems by Kimberly Elam explores different methods of organizing type and visual content in design. Elam presents eight major typographic systems, offering insights into how each system can be used to create dynamic, harmonious, and functional compositions. Elam explains these systems through theoretical discussions, practical examples, and visual representations.
Besides, the book emphasizes the importance of understanding and applying different typographic systems to create effective, harmonious designs. This book will give designers a better understanding of how to create attractive typography and avoid stereotyped typography.
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