7 October 2009

Lots of ground covered from the 16th century to the 21st century in typography.

Here's what you need to take away:

The anatomy of type.

The classification of type.

You should never mix different typefaces from the same category of type in a single document.  It will look like a small mistake and that is a big mistake.  You can use multiple fonts within a single design but be sure that they do not come from the same category.

Also at the more practical end of typography be sure to remember that computerized bold, italic and underlining are based on mathematical calculations and not aesthetic needs of the font.  These can be fine for use in a letter or an academic paper but professional design requires professionally designed font families and the variations which are based on the character of the font.

In the history we once again saw the development of typography as a profession, a reversion to what appear to be more traditional renderings of words and letters in the 19th century and then, with Lewis Carroll, the embracing of letterforms as actual visual elements within communication design.  The words themselves became a part of visual design.  Typographers and graphic designers created memorable designs long before the advent of the computer.  With the coming of the computer the opportunity to become a typographer is available to nearly everyone.  What has also come with the advent of the computer is the need to find ways to startle and grab attention as exemplified by Stefan Sagmeister carving the words into his own flesh and then taking a picture of himself in 2000.

Some names to remember are:
     Caxton
     Durer
     Tory
     Caslon
     Bodoni
     Carroll
     El Litsitsky
     Sandberg
     Sagmeister

Some work to remember is:
    The type guides
    The William Blake Poem
    The Lewis Carroll Poem
    The Japanese Forest
    The Go Out Ad

I will be posting the images with names in the next day.  When it is posted I will make the title of this blog a link to the flash movie.

Attendance:
More than 15 minutes late to class:
     Henry
     Bonnie
     ChanFly
     Kevin
     Eddie
     Calvin
     Ester
     ChakChak
Absent:
    Rainbow
    Windy
    Graham
    Christy
    Candy