Typography - Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication

26/08/2022–16/10/2022 / Week 6 - Week 8

Hayato Saito / 0350466

Typography / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication

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INSTRUCTION

Task 2: Text Formatting and Expression

We were asked to create two-page editorial spread with the texts that we were given. Only texts and minor graphical elements. We were required to use Adobe InDesign but we were allowed to use Adobe Illustrator for the headline expression.

1. Sketches

Fig.1.1 Layout sketches (2/10/2022)

These are the sketches that I came up with. I chose "Follow The Code" texts because when I saw the title, I thought I could create some interesting layouts using arrows. The reason why I wanted to use the arrow was because of the word "FOLLOW" and because I wanted to create layout that arrow leads viewer's eyes.

2. Layout Progress 

Fig.2.1 Hidden characters and alignment (8/10/2022)

Fig.2.2 Hidden characters and alignment (8/10/2022)

Fig.2.3 Hidden characters and alignment (8/10/2022)

3. Layouts

Fig.3.1 Layouts (8/10/2022)

Fig.3.2 Layouts blocked out (8/10/2022)

Shortlisted Layouts 

Fig.3.3 Layouts #1 (8/10/2022)

Fonts: Janson Text LT Std (Main Body), ITC New Baskerville Std (Sub Header), Univers LT Std (Header)

Point size: 9 pt (Main Body), 16 pt (Sub Header), 148 pt (Header) 57 pt (Header)
Leading: 14 pt (Main Body)
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt (Main Body)
Line length: 43 Characters

This is the first layout that I made based on my sketch. I tried to make some kind of the movement by putting emphasis on the word "FOLLOW" and using arrows. I thought it leads viewer's eyes like from the biggest word follow and next the 2nd biggest word the code and to the arrow. 

 

 

Fig.3.4 Layouts #2 (8/10/2022)

Fonts: Gill Sans (Main Body), Futura (Sub Header), Janson Text LT Std (Header)

Point size: 9 pt (Main Body), 12 pt (Sub Header), 97 pt (Header) 35 pt (Header)
Leading: 11 pt (Main Body)
Paragraph spacing: 11 pt (Main Body)
Line length: 95 Characters (Main Body),  43 Characters (Sub Body)

 I put that big arrow to lead viewer's eyes from the title to the subheading.

Fig.3.5 Layouts #3 (8/10/2022)

Fonts: ITC New Baskerville Std (Main Body), Janson Text LT Std (Sub Header), Janson Text LT Std (Header)

Point size: 10 pt (Main Body), 14 pt (Sub Header), 41 pt (Header) 

Leading: 14 pt (Main Body)
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt (Main Body)
Line length: 108 Characters (Main Body), 58 Characters (Sub Body)

This is the layout that I don't like most. I was exploring how to use and put the arrow but I looks so boring and the arrow doesn't working well in terms of leading the viewer's eyes. 

Fig.3.6 Layouts #4 (8/10/2022)

Fonts: ITC New Baskerville Std (Main body / Sub Header), Univers LT Std (Header)

Point size: 9 pt (Main Body), 16 pt (Sub Header), 148 pt (Header) 57 pt (Header)
Leading: 14 pt (Main Body)
Paragraph spacing: 14 pt (Main Body)
Line length: 43 Characters

I changed the way the movement of the arrow from the Layout #1. I think It's better than #1 because the arrow creating some kind of the balance compared to the layout #1.

Fig.3.7 Layouts #5 (8/10/2022)

Fonts: Gill Sans (Main Body / Sub Header), Janson Text LT Std (Header)

Point size: 9 pt (Main Body), 12 pt (Sub Header), 97 pt (Header) 35 pt (Header)
Leading: 11 pt (Main Body)
Paragraph spacing: 11 pt (Main Body)
Line length: 100 Characters (Main Body), 43 Characters (Sub Body)

This is my favorite layout. I moved the arrow on the left to right a bit and showed the whole arrow and I also moved the body text on the right to a bit left. After that I think this layout became more well balanced.

4. Development and Finishing work.

Since I liked the layout #5 most. I decided to develop that layout.

Fig.4.1 Development #1 (9/10/2022)

 I made the subheading aligned both sides and I also changed the font to ITC Garamond Std. And I am satisfied with this layout.

Fig.4.2 Development #2 (9/10/2022)

I wanted to make something tilted because I found it very cool and I felt like that makes layout looks more creative so I made the arrow longer and made the half of the subheading tilted along the arrow but since my texts are all horizontal and simple, it looks a bit weird in my layout so I gave up to do something with tilting.

After the exploring these layouts, I was satisfied with the Fig.4.1 layout so I decided to put the finishing touches on it.

Fig.4.3 Kerning before and after (13/10/2022)

Fig.4.4 Kerning before and after (13/10/2022)

Since I was just exploring the layout I didn't do kerning but I decided the final layout so I finally did it.

5. Final outcome

    Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication

Fig.5.1 Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication - JPEG (13/10/2022)

Fonts: Gill Sans (Main Body), ITC Garamond Std (Sub Header), Janson Text LT Std (Header)

Point size: 9 pt (Main Body), 18.8 pt (Sub Header), 97 pt (Header) 35 pt (Header)

Leading: 11 pt (Main Body)

Paragraph spacing: 11 pt (Main Body)

Line length: 100 Characters (Main Body), 43 Characters (Sub Body)

Fig.5.2 Final Task 2: Typographic Exploration and Communication - PDF (13/10/2022)

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FEEDBACKS

Week 6... Absent

Week 7... Public Holiday

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REFLECTIONS

Experience

This task was a good experience for me. I enjoyed the process of making layout and it was fun to think of ways to lead the viewer's eyes with the movement that I make. Throughout this task I learned the different approaches in creating the layout and how to come up with the layout. What I struggled with the most was the part where I had to come up with the layout and to continue the work without any feedback. I couldn't get any feedback as I was absent for the Week 6's class and the week 7 was public holiday, so working on my layout was quite challenging for me. It was especially strenuous as I had to believe in myself and my abilities while paying extra attention to my work 

Observations

As I worked on this task I realised that the most important thing to consider when creating a good layout is creating a great balance to compliment it. Especially during this task, I found it really crucial that making the layout to have great balance between external elements and texts is fundamental for the success of my work. 

Findings

What I found out is that it is easer and more effective for me to try out something before thinking so much about the sketches. I realised that I was struggling to come up with the sketches before I started working on my layout, but once I actually started making the layout, I got so many ideas and became much more creative. I also find visual hierarchy is really important to create movement or contrast in terms of text formatting. 

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FURTHER READING

Fig.6.1 The Vignelli Canon (2010)

Reference: Vignelli, M. (2010, November 1). The Vignelli Canon. Lars Müller.

Fig.6.2 Type Size Relationship (page 68)

In this page, author is talking about basic rules for typesetting and how they use the different size of the types and how they try to achieve a typographic composition that expresses intellectual elegance as opposed to blatant vulgarity.

What I learned from this book is that there are some basic rules for typesetting. 

Choose the proper size of type in relation to the width of the column

    - 8 on 9, 9 on 10, 10 on 11 pt for columns up to 70 mm

    - 12 on 13, 14 on 16 for columns up to 140 mm

    - 16 on 18, 18 on 20, for larger columns.