Type Experiments

Thinking about the cover of the book and how type could be utilised to physically represent the content of the book. These were some of the experiments I was worked on, however I feel that they are all a bit abstract so will keep the text in the same format as the posters - Avenir 85 Heavy with 2 stroke expanded to be rescaled. I kept the colours consistent to give myself a better idea of how they will look when screen printed in a similar colour scheme.

Posters for Print

These are the final outcomes for the type as image brief now ready for print, I just need to make final decisions on the choice of stock and print process. I have decided to keep all 3 in black and white as screen printing may be my final print method, also the choice of stock will emphasize the black and white compositions.

Really enjoyed this brief when I started to make real progress and start visualising my ideas. I have however spent far to long on it and need to start being more effective with my design process, making sure that I have my concept ready before I start producing designs.

"All I know is that its a very long way"
                             

This poster was based on the idea of mapping journeys and how they have been simplified over time making navigating routes as easy as possible.

"Have a life that doesnt involve gluing your head to a computer screen"
                             

This poster was based on circuit boards using the typeface that I created for the brief. Ironic because of how long I was looking into the abyss that is a computer screen while designing the typeface, initially based on OCRB.

"In the future"
                             

The concept behind this poster is the idea of a scanner being a 4 dimensional approach of recording images. The way it can change and read a document as it scans across the page, how the future of the image can be distorted and altered for better or for worse.

In the Future

Decided I wanted to move away from the more digital formats and explore something with more of a hand made aesthetic. The concept was scanning the text and distorting the future with the movements on the scanner connoting the progression into the future.

I did around 50-100 different scans to get the ideal layout and movement on the scanner. I also experimented with scrunching up the paper to distort and add texture to the final image. I feel although this technique is somewhat over used at the moment that my outcome is relevant and fits with the content of the brief. Also although the text repeats the quote has only been used once on the page and the progression of the process.

Type Experiments

The type was initially based on OCR d std, developed the brief a bit furthur and explore a few other relevant quotes using the typeface. Compositionally the 'That doesn't work' posters are far more appealing but concept / content wise the 'Have a life that doesn't involve gluing your head to a computer screen'

Typeternoon

Putting text into a 3 column A4 page

First Column - Arial 9 / 11.35 

Second Column - Arial - 9.8 / 11 (no paragraph breaks)

>/>/>/>/>/>/>/>/Tab key Moves the type 10mm

Paragraph indent - usually around 3mm to avoid having widows on the last line

Never do an indent and a paragraph space together

Fit the new text to the page and make it as legible as possible

Futura 12 / 14.4

>/>/>/>/>/>/Leading should always be 2 points about the point size of the type - 14 / 16, 15 / 27 etc

Georgia 9.5 / 12

Second task was to try different layouts on a landscape A4 and get the image as large as possible

Myriad Pro 8 /10.5

Type as small as possible but make it readable, 

Type morning

Using type in a paragraph - 
Things to consider when fitting text into a column, first task was to get the text on this A4 page to fit perfectly in the first column.

Changing the point size & leading
Changing the point size by 1 each column then changing the leading to fill the page.
- 11 on 14 referring to point size then leading. Increasing the leading improves legibility, should never use auto leading.

Column 1 - 10.68 / 12.816

Column 2 - 9.68 / 14.64

Column 3 - 8.68 / 16.1

Column 4 - 7.68 / 18.4

>/>/>/>/>/>Using the width of the columns to improve legibility 

The third column is the most effective because the first is too short and makes it confusing about what sentence you are on etc. The second can work but is not ideal and still causes problems when reading the sentences in the paragraph. The last column is to wide and you lose track of what line you are on when reading through. The third is a much more effective width. The second column is good for newspaper articles because of the amount of text is usually lower than that in a magazine article.

- Never go between 5 or 6 words on a line.

- Maximum 11 or 12 words on a line.

Experimenting with different typefaces / alignment / weight

Choosing a typeface - all effect how much type you can fit on a page even in the same point sizes

Alignment - never centre text 

Weight - bold obviously takes up more space 

Left alignment also known as ragged right 

 

Typography

Type session
Kerning - The spacing between individual letters, to make sure a single word fits properly on a page
Letter spacing
Point size - 72th of an inch
Leading -
Counter-space

RAILWAY
The space between each letter needs to be the same, the space between the I & L is to small compared to that of the A & I. A few photos showing the difference between the letters. Also some other words exploring what I think makes them read neutrally. Recognise the biggest space between the letters and kern the rest of the type to that.

Matthew - The spacing between the two Ts is horrible

>>>ONE-TWO-THREE<<< - Trying to get people to read from the bottom of the page to the top and what effect that has on the page. Initially was reading the two first because it has the most white space around it. Second one reads as one two three

BREAKING-UP-SENTENCES

Using the pause in the sentence to add to the readability of the text.