EXPRESSIVE TYPOGRAPHY
Communicating the meaning of a word via creative work with typography
Video Word as Image
Learning Outcomes
Understanding the use of typography as it relates to expression and creativity.
Understanding the creative aspect of type and lettering, how the meaning of the word can be expressed visually
Understanding creative process from sketch to final production
PART 1
– Choose four of the following words:
Carefully consider words that allow you the most creative exploration.
Puzzle, focus, confused, shrinking, unbalanced, sink, tired, separate, strong, cheer
fade, drip, destroy, create, mistake, run, walk, fast, slow, grow
– Find the definition of your selected words (even if you know the meaning, researching their definition can sometimes help you generate ideas).
PROCESS:
STEP 1- research:
1. Look at these examples and analyze how the word’s meaning is expressed visually
2. Browse the internet to see and analyze more examples
STEP 2 - sketches:
(Sans Serif typeface only)
You will create 3 different variations for each chosen word, each variation in a square (your notebook, horizontal layout, 2 words with 3 variations on one page and 2 words with 3 variations on another page)
Sketches have to be accurate and represent as precisely as possible how each word will look on the computer
Sketches Example of words Hide and Open (Page one of two)
Guidelines:
– Consider the entire space of the square.
– Use only the letters used to spell the word as part of your visual elements. You may choose to repeat or omit letters if appropriate.
– Consider how the use of negative space and positioning can help with the meaning of the word.
– Consider scale, repetition, overlapping, uppercase, lowercase, etc. to create a visual definition of the word.
– You may crop or “remove” parts of a letter as long as the letter is distinguishable.
– DO NOT use drop shadows.
– DO NOT use horizontal/vertical scaling (distortion).
– DO NOT use images
STEP 3 – digitize your ideas with Illustrator:
Choose the best solution for each of the four words
Compose each one into a square on one page following this guideline
Submission Example
Specs:
- Square size: 3.5" x 3.5"
- Distance between squares and from left and right sides of a page – 0.5"
- Distance from the top – 1.5"
- Add a 0.5 pt. outline (border around the square)
- Select one Sans Serif Typeface (you can use variations)
- Only black and white.
Communicating the meaning of a word via creative work with typography in conjunction with a small additional element
PROCESS:
The process is the same as in part 1. You can use the same 4 words or choose different ones from the list provided.
The difference:
1. In your sketch, you will add a small simple detail for each word to help communicate the meaning visually.
2. Working with Illustrator you will create that detail using Illustrator basic tools
Examples