Typography

 

 

 

 

BRIEF:

 

 

In this project, we were asked to produce an alphabet and a sentence by creating our own font made of object, with the help of a camera.

I decided that I would use nature as subject of choice.

 

 

 

RESEARCH:

 

 

Definition and history:

 

Typography is the study of the design of letters and the setting of the print on paper.

Typography has existed for thousands of years in various forms. Prehistoric marks in caves are the first recording of man using signs to communicate.  Pictographs (picture writing) are images describing stories or possibly recording of an event. The Egyptians invent hieroglyphics based on ideographs.  Ideographs (idea writing) appear in many civilisations such as Native America, the Aztecs, and China. 

Hieroglyphics

                 

 

 

duckster.com

 

The Phoenicians invent the first alphabet circa 1200BC

 

 

                                           Mayan ideographs pgapworld.

                 

The Greeks improve the Phoenician alphabet by adding 5 vowels.

During the Roman Empire, the alphabet gets more refined and consists of 23 letters.

 

                  

                                               geocities.ws

 

The letters J and U were added to the Latin alphabet later. It is used in most of the western world today.

 

However, there are many alphabets still in existence today, based on ideographs such as the Chinese alphabet.

InEurope, and for many centuries, typography is developed through religious scripts and manuscripts.

In the 15^th century, Johannes Guttenberg invents the printing press. This is most significant as by the end of the 16^th century, up to 200 millions copies of books and leaflets has been published.

This led to a huge increase in both scientific and cultural development through publication of journals, books and pamphlets are daily distributed enabling people to access information and develop awareness of the world around them. Scientists, philosophers, authors are able to communicate their thoughts and discoveries to the world. Religious movements are able to spread their beliefs.

In the mid 16^th century, the first newsletter is published in Veniceby the government Notizie scritte.  Although not a newspaper, this newsletter imparst with information relating to politics, military and economic news.

Newspapers appear in the 17^th century.  Through the centuries, printing presses become more sophisticated, enabling publications of books, newspaper, journals to be more and more accessible to everyone.

Typography today:

 The more significant development since the printing revolution, is the invention of the computer followed by mobile phones, resulting in typography becoming what it is today, a far reaching communication tool with a very broad range of applications.

Wikipedia list the following:

• typesetting and type design
• handwriting and calligraphy
• graffiti
• inscriptional and architectural lettering
• poster design and other large scale lettering such as signage and billboards
• business communications and promotional collateral
• advertising
• wordmarks and typographic logos (logotypes)
• apparel (clothing)
• labels on maps
• vehicle instrument panels
• kinetic typography in motion picture films and television
• as a component of industrial design—type on household appliances, pens and wristwatches, for example
• as a component in modern poetry (see, for example, the poetry of E. E. Cummings)

There are two factors in typography which need to be understood; legibility and readability.

Legibility is based on typeface desin and how clearly it can be read in relation to other types. Types need to be decipherable and recognizable.

Readability is how easy it is to read a text rather than individual letters.

Example:

This sentence is written in MS Gothic

This sentence is written in Times New Roman

The readability to me as a text is better in Times New Roman.  It is however, a personal opinion and could as easily be the opposite for someone else.

 

As part of this research I looked at some graphic designers.

David Carson: is an american designer who was the art director for Ray Gun a magazine well known for his unusual use of typography. I particularly like the fact that he used a Dinbat font which is a decorative font, to cover an interview with Bryan Ferry which he found dull. I looked at the many examples of ray gun magazine covers. I particularly appreciated his sense of humour and most importantly his use of font to express himself. This helped me to understand the artistic use of typography in the art world.

 

 

                             

                                   David Carson

 

 

William Morris: Was a textile designer, writer and co founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement and also associated with the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. Morris founded the Kemlscott Press in Londonso that he could produce books in a traditional was. William Morris strongly adhered to his beliefs in all of his creations to reject industrialism. His press was based on the technology and typographic style of the 15^th century. I have decided to use his type of lettering as part of my project in metal work as I am a fan.

   

 

 

 William Morris

 

 

 

 

 

  

  William Morris                               

                                

 

Aldus Manutius:

Born in Italy in the mid 15^th century, he founds the Aldine Press at Venice. He had a huge impact on the intellectuals of his days and the Renaissance as he produced smaller sized books, invented italic. Punctuation is invented by his grandson who followed in his steps. A teacher originally and he humanist, Manutius recognizes the need for publishing Greek and Latin classic authors and improves the prints of the ones already in existence. Manutius moves to Rome by invitation of Pope Pius IV who realizes that catholic religious power has been undermined greatly in Germany, Franceand Switzerlandby the protestant due to the readily available literature published by them. These were very exiting time, the Renaissance opening the door to a new world across the oceans and allowing people to learn and discover new civilizations.

net.lib.byu.edu                                                    sparetype.com

                       
Manutius left a beautiful and expansive legacy of very intricatly decorated letters as well as making what is probably the first logo.

 

 

Experimental typography

Graphic design is based on displaying typography with less concern for readability and where the emphasis is for an artistic production, using a combination of script and images to convey an emotional reaction.  Advertising is today present in everyday life and has also become a form of decoration.   From collectors of enamel panels to specific items like bottles, containers, toys etc.                             Other form of display typography includes, posters, kinetic advertising (TV, Cinema, the Internet), packaging and signage.   The purpose of the work is to promote an emotional reaction from the public to either entice them to buy a product of to alert them to something.  It is all based on grabbing the attention of people.  It is a very subjective field.  I read a BBC article entitled ‘Do typefaces really matter?’                                                                                                                  It related that when the film Avatar came out, people complained about the font used in the subtitles.  I saw the film and didn’t pay attention to the subtitles.  I have since looked at images with subtitles as I felt I might have forgotten and maybe I did notice the subtitles.  I didn’t.  The font and types used in the subtitles are absolutely fine.  So I realize that a graphic artist must have quite a challenge in order to reach a large proportion of public audience.  I have, however. To admit that I specifically chose the font I am using for this research, so I recognize that I might be much more sensitive that I outwardly believe.

Marketing:

Subliminal messages are used all the time through choice of fonts, types and colours.  For example even a small part of a brand’s name will be instantly recognizable.  There is a vast amount of advertising by graphic designers promoting their use of script and images to have a subliminal effect.

 

 

COMPLETION:

 

 I compiled an alphabet out of photos I took in the countryside.  I decided that I would use this alphabet to write the sentence: nature is my world.
I mounted the alphabet on a black board as well as the sentence.

 

 

I spent a long time manipulating photographs I had compiled to zoom on details or part of the picture in order to create the letters.  I not only learnt to crop, size and compile, but I also learned the importance of being methodical and tidy in order to save time and find things easily on my computer.

I am including here part of my sketchbook which I used as a thinking board whilst thinking of which subject I would decide on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 EVALUATION:

I had no knowledge of typography until this project.  When I first read the brief, my heart sank as I thought it would be as riveting as train spotting! However, my interest rose when I completed the research and realised the importance of fonts particularly in the modern world. Since completing this project I have paid a lot of attention to my choice of font and experimented with different types of fonts on the same text.  I look out at fonts everywhere I go and on the television as well.  I have become a fonts spotter...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   

 

 

 

         

 

 



Photographic memory

 

 

BRIEF:  For this project, we were asked to produce a piece based on memory, with the use of pictures taken with an instant camera.  The photographs should be altered  by different means such as application of bleach, burning etc...

 

 

COMPLETION:

 

I decided to use the memory of a visit I made to 'Les Carrieres de Lumieres' at les Baux de Provence in France last summer.  This an art and sound exhibition which takes place in a lime stone quarry within a large rocky outcrop.

 

Avignon's Tourist Office

 

It is a huge space,made entirely of left over columns of rock which were cut in large blocks, leaving large flat areas within a vast empty.  The space is entirely dark and projectors have been installed in every corners. Huge images of Gaugin and Van Gogh's paintings were projected on the walls and the floor.  Music was played as well as letters from the artists read through speakers.  A second experience followed entitled Metamorphosis projecting films of germinating seeds through to the elements and the universe.  Finally, Jean Cocteau had used the carrieres for the making of his film 'The testament of Orpheus' in 1959.  I was able to sit in situ and watch part of the film.

 





carrieres-lumieres.com

 

The exhibition had a marked effect on me as it was so different and beautiful.  I decided to create a piece in 3D.  I used one small canvas and a cardboard cover, effectively using the inner space on one side to create the inside of the quarry.  For the front cover of the piece, I used sticky pads on top of each other, therefore creating different heights onto which I rested cut out pieces of photographs I had taken with the disposable camera, onto which I had applied bleach.

The whole process of assembly gave a feeling of block construction reminiscent of the entrance of the quarry.  Also, I purposely used more bleach on the slivers of photographs in between the larger pieces.  It looked like the colours of the exhibition trying to escape through the block. I also used the sticky pads to build a frame around the second canvas.  I then applied tissue paper that had been soaked in water to make it pliable. I then dry brushed the joints between the pads to make it look like the blocks in the quarry. 

 

 

 



outline of the entrance on the front cover entrance

                                                                           Inside frame 

 

I proceeded by building small cardboard fittings for the inside of the piece and glued more photographs.  I decided to concentrate on the projected paintings inside the box and the photographs of Cocteau's film on the frame. 





 

 

 

                      

 

 Extracts from my sketchbook

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

Evaluation:

 

 

I was pleased with the outcome as I feel the piece I produced was a good representation of what I was trying to express. I managed to encompass the analogy of the quarry as the skull and the brain inside the skull.  The quarry had been filled with colours and sounds, and the brain being the recipient of the colours and sounds.  I realise that I spend a long time thinking about a project before I start working on it.  I did find out , however, that painting really helps me to clear out my thoughts.  Using the sticky pads was a good idea but although I had made a trial piece before I build up the frame, I found out that I had stuck the pads too close together so that when I applied the paper it could not sink between the pads, therefore, reducing the effect of slabs I wanted to produce.  I will use this kind of 3D work again.



Doctor the deck

Doctor the Deck

 

 

 

 

 



Brief

In this project, we were asked to construct something out of cards and use fasteners.
I decide to use, as a theme, the expression 'King of the Castle', except in this case, it would be entitled 'Too many Kings for a Small Castle'.  This relates to an experience I have had when working for a very small organisation who had a multitude of trustees and managers (official and self appointed).  Things were not as well as they could have been!
Part of the brief was to complete some research but not to plan anything on paper and record  the process of making the final piece after completion.
I looked at many cards art works.  I found them to be very clever and amazing in their precision but not the sort of thing I would get into particularly as an art form.

Research

History:

It is agreed by most historians that playing cards originate from China although some believe that they originate from the Middle East. 
Early examples of playing cards have been found dating back 800 years, and playing cards appeared in Europe in the 14^th century. 
They were brought to Europe by traders from North Africa.  Due to the fact that cards are easy to carry and offered a good entertainment value, they spread across Europe rapidly.

 

        From China about 1000A.D. (University of Cincinnati Digital Press). 
                                     

 Although cards were reserved to the very rich to start with, they became more accessible to people as printing became more available.Originally, there was no queen in the deck as society was male orientated, however, France introduced the queen to the game as well as the black and red colour for the suits. It is possible to get German and Spanish suits today with a king and two marshals but no queen.

 

The popularity of playing cards spread very quickly and very soon, the church intervened as playing card was judged immoral as it was believed that gambling would lead to depravity, dishonesty and drunkenness. By the 15^thcentury, cards were only played during the 12 days of Christmas in England. By the 17^th century, cards were taxed and the Worshipful Company of Makers of playing cards was set up in England. It is interesting to note that cards were also used as a source of paper and the blank back of cards were used for notes. In Holland cards were left with abandoned babies. However, if the card was torn in half it meant that the mother would come back at a later date to retrieve her child.

Cards were also used to pass on hidden messages by secret societies in the ensuing centuries.

Tarot cards appeared at the same time as playing cards in Europe. It is believed that they originate from ancient Egypt. Initially they were another type of playing game -the Tarocchi. However, with time they became linked to the occult and are used to guess the future.
 

                                         tarotdeck.biz

Artists using cards:

The first artist I have chosen is a French artist who create cards rather than build with them.

Jean Delpech 1916 - 1988)

Delpech was an painter and engraver as well as an illustrator.

He completed the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Although french, he was born in Hanoi and spent the first 19 years of his life there. This had a marked effect on his work and influenced him greatly in his painting.

He is particularly famous for his engraving and received many awards for his work.

He became a teacher in Paris and trained students in the art of engraving, with many of these becoming famous themselves.

 

 

 ressources-aa.blogspot.com

 

 

                                                              dxpo-playingcards.com          

Bryan Berg (1974)
Berg is a professional card stacker. He studied architecture and has a

Master of Design Studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
He is not an artist as such as, he builds existing buildings out of playing card. So creativity is limited

 

                                                                                  cardstacker.com

Completion

Having decided to build a castle, I experimented with fasteners and opted for large paper clips to hold the cards to the walls (helped by staples also). This gave an effect of crenellation which I also used for the corner towers, although the paper clips used for these were even bigger.

 

In order to get the cards sufficiently pliable, I soaked some cards in warm water for a few minutes and was then able to peel off the top layer of the cards before sticking them around the towers which were made of cardboard tubing.

 

 

 

I also made some suits symbols (Heart, spade etc), with some clay to plade on post within the larger central tower. As well as a couple of bodies hanging over the wall.

 

 

Evaluation

This project enabled me to realise the importance of planning.

I used cards and fasteners with a view to assemble and construct the castle without sketching or making reference notes.

I tried to assemble cards by cutting slots into them and build up towers.  However, I did not go for this option for the following reasons:

• It offerred little room for stability as soon as it got higher than three cards on top of each other.
• I realised it would take me a very long time to get to any satisfactory result.
• I didn't like it.

The end result was more sturdy than stacking and it also enabled me to use fasteners.  This is not a project that I would do again.