One week project: Typography

Here we feature some of the solutions to the latest year 1 creative thinking briefs - typographic interpretation.

Each student was given three words to explore and express typographically in black & white.

A section of the studio critique wall

This task was all about understanding the meaning and nuance behind the given words. Then it was about how to represent and interpret the word in a simple yet creative way.

Students spent a day tracing and sketching their ideas from type samples.

They were encouraged to really look at typefaces and letterforms as shapes.

Restraint and simplicity were also encouraged in their solutions.

Also they were asked to take the format and page size into consideration. Exploring scale and positioning in their layouts and compositions.

In summary, this exercise appeared at first glance to be quite easy to gain a satisfactory solution…but much harder to get a truly outstanding one. Tutors stressed the importance of tracing from type to have an idea before going to a computer in order to render it.

It was noticeable that a lot of solutions had been rendered on the computer in the intervening period before the crit and in most cases had, in some way, suffered because of this treatment. Some solutions had begun to rely on Photoshop tricks which was a sideways step and in some cases a backward step.

That said, overall the staff thought everyone had a good solid direction, in some cases more than one direction. The advice given to each solution and the overarching points that came up in the crit session has given everyone food for thought.

Staff look forward to seeing how each solution develops over the semester prior to folder hand in at Christmas.

Type in the environment

On a recent weekend visit to Llandudno (North Wales) I came across a range of typographic signatures made out of Limestone. They were located on the summit of the Great Orm headland by tourist, visitors and walkers.

Some of the names had slowly been moved over the years probably due to the sheep that graze on the Orm.

Here is an example that is almost unreadable.

Typographic Poster - A case study

As our second years grapple with their first project back after the long summer break we thought it would be timely to lead by example and help them along with this instructive post.

They have all been given just over 2 weeks to produce an appropriate typographic poster for a range of UK festivals with topics such as cheese, kites and horror to name but a few .

The sketches, development and design concepts below are for the UK Dry Stone Walling Championships.

This solution focuses mainly on a short bold title ‘The Uk Drystone Walling Championships’ rendered in an appropriate typographic style.

Sketches and experiments with a free style interlocking typeface which is designed to reflect the basics of the art of dry stone walling.

This project is all about choosing and creating an appropriate typeface and the technique you choose can be the idea. In this case once the style was developed, through a series of drawings and sketches, the finalised render was spray mounted to black paper and carefully cut out by hand with a scalpel. This hands on analogue approach was also a nice reflection of the subject matter itself

This was then digitised, re drawn out and refined.

Once the composition was finalised in black & white colour could be considered. In this case a pallet of greys was explored to reflect a stone like quality.

Further colour iterations with a small amount of typeset text added, with dates times and location of the event. Plus an appropriate sponsors logotype.

We hope this post helps everyone along a little in their own particular subject areas. So in summary; 1. Keep it simple. 2. Remember to keep the typography appropriate. 3. Sketch and draw your idea down before going to the computer and 4. Understand that the technique can be the idea.

5. Please do not over think and complicate your poster…that is not the aim of this project.

Rev J. Whitehead (Esq)

Words within Words

Here we explore a visual communication technique
The following presentation highlights examples of how the designer has primarily used the written word to illustrate an idea or concept. What sets the following examples apart is the economy and restraint that has been employed by the designer. By merely finding a solution within the word(s) or language that surround each subject.

There also appears to be an effortless feel to these design solutions that belies the fact that each and every designer has had to work hard, striving to find that solution. However at some point on their creative journey they have had a ‘eureka moment'! They have made a creative connection or series of connections and when analysed, in order to achieve this, they have employed one or more of the following techniques:-

They have consistently kept an open mind.
They have visually interrogating the surrounding word(s) & language.
They have exploited the incidental.
They have embraced serendipity (a happy accident) and happen-stance (chance occurrence).
They have approached the problem both laterally & from 360 degrees.
They have applied a relevant or appropriate technique to enhances the concept... 

...but most importantly they have looked and looked, and looked again.

“Brains A one Ale” - Brewing cask ale in Cardiff for over 125 years.

Logotype for the Earth Art Institute - 1992.
One powerful word is hidden within another.

Vidal Sassoon 50th Anniversary Logotype - 1992.
Stylishly combines both name & number.

Apartheid succinctly illustrated - Designer - Bryn Jones

The designers actually found four directions.

Personal Christmas card - Designed by Rita Kinsella - 1995

Poster for New York based human rights charity Witness.
Designed by Lippa Pearce Design

Claire is marrying Dave - Wedding invite
Designed by The Chase Creative Consultants

Great use of an anagram amongst Friends!

Course language.

Book cover for a Pan Paperbacks on the ultimate diet.
When given the word fasting as the title the designer saw greater possibilities.
From - Smile in the mind 1.

The co-operative Bank Calendar - 1991.
Designed to raise money for 6 special niche charities.
The introduction above contains a hidden message.

Manchester Evening News are expanding & moving office
Designed by The Chase

Is Ikea a good Idea...discus.

Year 1 creative thinking type solution.
Designed by Jennie Potts 

Designed by Matt Johnson - 2007

Advertising Standards Authority press campaign.
 D&AD runner up 2002

‘The difference a letter can make’
Advertising Standards Authority press campaign - D&AD winner 2002

Fine Art Degree show Poster - 1994 - Designed by Mark Hurst.
University of Central Lancashire

French Connection UK - Trevor Beattie in 1997. 
French Connection used the abbreviation FCUK on an internal memo.
The idea evolved into one of the highest profile and most controversial
British ad campaigns of the 90's.

Brand marketing campaign for Manchester City.
2008/09 season - by Mark Studio

Proposed identity for The Mitchell & Kenyon Cinema - by The Chase - 2006

Pilotlight Australia
Pilotlight’s aim was to spark ideas, turn heads & make people think.
Seeing something good or unexpected, in something bad.

Cystic Fibrosis - Johnson Banks
“In discussions and research, it became apparent pretty quickly
that the condition is widely misunderstood.
Most people don’t understand what it is, or what it does,
until someone close to them is affected by it”.

Alzheimer’s Australia - Interbrand Australia - 2012
The following brand features a flexible logo that changes & evolves
to communicate different messages. 
Using two colours and often just four words the idea communicates
the name of the organisation, highlights a problem and features
a strong call to action.

A great little book, highly recommended.

...and finally the Scunthorpe problem

The Scunthorpe problem is the blocking of e-mails,
forum posts or search results by a spam filter or search
engine because their text contains a string of letters
that are shared with an obscene word. 

While computers can easily identify strings of text
within a document, broad blocking rules may result
in false positives, causing innocent
phrases to be blocked.