Unconventional Typography
For this project I had to create four compositions that each experimented with composition in a different way. Again we had to use the dummy text ‘Lorem Ipsum’.
I chose to experiment with a fixed-width typeface in this composition (above). I chose Futurist Fixed-Width and I found it to be the most suitible and visually pleasing in my Font Book. To complete this version I had to use two styles of the one typeface. I chose regular and italic and the difference between them can often be really interesting when used together. I wanted to really spread out this design so I tracked all my letters very loosely. This enabled me to create a type of subdued energy as the eye can weave through the space left black. I wanted my viewer to see the two tones expressed by the two styles and hence I drew them close together so the difference between the two letterforms can be easily noticed. I also chose to vary my scale so that I could play with the voice that is expressed when words are set as small and large. I made the smallest text that size so that it could act as a small whispher at the end of the design.
I chose to experiment with Helvetica Neue in Condensed Black (above) as I have seen many interesting compositions in this typeface and I wanted to try it myself. I really like the Swiss style of design but I had never attempted it until now. I chose to start with big building block letters to begin my composition. The bold shape of the black letters allowed me to create a strong framework to work with later. The brief said that I could work with only black on white & white on black. With this condition, I decided that I would work with this rule to the best of my ability. By cutting into the black letters with white letters, I was able create “Lorem” with what I think is a good sense of movement. I added apostrophes as well as I think they give a sense of balance to the design that was lacking without them. I chose to place the subheading ‘ipsum’ and the body text into the shape of the “L” to echo the movement that flows in “Lorem”. From this, I created a sort of full circle of typography as the first apostrophe directs the viewer into the composition and down from there to the ‘m”. The second apostrophe directs the eye again to turn inwards into the composition to the ‘ipsum’. This leaves the viewer to read the body text which is left last in the hierachy of the type.
In this composition (above) I was interested in exploring paths. I wanted to do something really different to what I had done in my other designs. I played with the repetition of sentences and their expressive nature. Although this seems really busy, I also think there is some sort of harmony though the use of two typefaces. Avant Garde (oblique) and Code Bold have been used in conjuction as contemporary and clear typefaces. Them having these qualities allowed me to really experiment with their nature and how they can be used to create lines. The different line weights helped me explore depth along with reducing the scale of my paths. It interests me to think about at what point a sentence stops being a sentence and more a line. This explores that. Although it borders on figurative, I believe this design is an abstract experiment with the posibility of paths.
I chose to experiment with Baskerville for this design compositon. I played with both the roman and italic styles of the font to allow me to properly explore the colour of type. The manipulation of the two voices or tones that are expressed in these styles create a formality and warm nature to the typography. As I am trying to build on my compositions within space, I wanted to direct all my type to the bottom right corner as I haven’t often see this done. I linked the beautiful serifs on this typeface together to create a fluidity and movement to the typography. This allowed me to communicate them as linked worked rather than a jumbled mess. I again created a three-tier hierachy with a heading, subheading and body text. I again played with positive and negative space when the subheading crossed over the heading. I changed the type colour to white to cut through the form below it. By trapping the body text into the space I did, I was able to concentrate the content into one space. Although for editorials this wouldn’t work as the legibility is compromised, I think it works in this context. It’s as though the heading wraps around the body text as it really embodies the essence of what lies within it.
Here are my designs mounted on posterboard up on the studio wall along with other classmates.
