- Part II: Word Depiction: Defining Words with Type
- In this exercise, you'll create a number of typographic solutions to depict the meaning of a word. You will be able to create your depictions using different typefaces and visual effects.
- So that you can visualize what is being asked of you, look at the three examples below. Also return to the top of the exercise to review the Herb Lubalin examples.
- You are going to create three different depictions, a single word (for example, "rain"), a two-word combination (for example, "big & small"), and a word (or two-word combination) of your choosing.
- ✔ 1. Select one word from list A. Select one two-word combination from list B. Come up with another word or combination on your own.
- ✔ 2. Sketch out in pencil numerous "roughs" for each of the three selections. Concentrate on the meanings of the words and brainstorm as many ideas as possible. Do not do this on your computer. The advantage of sketching out your ideas on paper gives you far greater freedom to be creative with no technological restrictions.
- ✔ 3. Select one sketch, the one that works best, for each of the three selected words/combinations. Analyze each meaning carefully and start visualizing mentally the characteristics of type that would best represent the words, for example a serif face, a sans serif face, or even a display or script face.
- ✔ The important thing here is to be as adventurous and creative as possible. The only constraint is that you must make sure that the typefaces you choose, because of their characteristics, supports clearly the meanings of the words you are communicating.
- ✔ 4. You can now start using your design software. The best tool to use would be a vector drawing application like Adobe Illustrator. It is a great tool for exploring variations in text and creating special effects, but you may use Photoshop or another design application as desired.
- ✔ In all three cases, the style and character of the type, even if distorted by effects, must be visually supportive of the respective words.
- ✔ 5. Present your completed designs on three separate documents. The page size should be no larger than 8 x 10 inches.
- ✔ You may wish to consider whether you want to present the work either in landscape or portrait format. This will depend on your final designs. For example, if your final design for a word is being depicted by the use of a condensed typeface, you may feel that presenting it in a portrait format will help to reinforce the message.
- ✔ Notice how Brian Slawson's students used not just typography by the canvas and white space to communicate the word:
- ✔ 6. Save your completed pieces as JPEG files named for your words or word combination.
jul 8 2011 ∞
jul 19 2011 +
jul 19 2011 +