Typography - Task 2 / Typographic Exploration & Communication

8/5/2023-22/5/2023 Week 6- Week 8
Ng Jia Ern 0363033
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Task 2 / Typographic Exploration & Communication

CONTENT

1. Lectures
2. Instructions

Task 2

Final Submission

3. Feedback
4. Reflection
5. Further Reading

LECTURES

Refer to task 1

INSTRUCTIONS

Task 2 Editorial Layout

In this task, we were asked to express typographically the content in a 2-page editorial spread (200mm x 200mm per page).
Choose 1 from the 3 editorial text options provided by Mr Vinod.
No images are allowed. However, some very minor graphical
elements, i.e. line, shade, etc. might be allowed.

For this task, I chose the article "The Role of Bauhaus Thought on Modern Culture" which I find this topic is very interesting to me. I started by researching the topic to help me understand this topic so that I can express the message to the audience correctly.

1. Visual Research

Summary of this article:

This article discusses the role of Bauhaus thought in modern culture, marking the 100th anniversary of the German design school.
It explores how the Bauhaus movement has influenced various aspects of modern culture, from furniture to fonts and famous buildings.
The article highlights the often overlooked contributions of artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee within the Bauhaus, emphasizing their interaction with the evolving design theory.
The author points out Kandinsky's shift towards a machine aesthetic and Klee's focus on colour theory.
It also mentions Oskar Schlemmer's Triadic Ballet, which reinvented ballet with three-dimensional costumes.

What is Bauhaus?

The Bauhaus was a German art school founded in 1919 that aimed to unite art, craft, and technology. It promoted functional and accessible design and significantly influenced modern architecture and design. The Bauhaus style is characterized by simplicity, clean lines, and geometric forms.

Bauhaus style layout characteristic:

Geometric Forms: Bauhaus design often utilizes clean, geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles.
White Space: Bauhaus's design embraces the use of white space, also known as negative space. This is the empty or unoccupied area between or around design elements.
Minimalism: The layouts are typically clean, uncluttered, and free of excessive decoration. The focus is on essential elements and functionality.
Typography: Bauhaus design often features clear, legible typography. Sans-serif typefaces, such as Futura and Bauhaus, were commonly used in Bauhaus layouts.

Then, I move on to search for some inspiration for the layout design through magazines, posters, and brochures on Pinterest for my reference. Below are some of the fantastic works I discovered that are really good at presenting the Bauhaus style with a simple design that is easy to understand.

Fig 1.1. Editorial Text Layout Example/Reference (9/5/2023)

2. Sketches

After going through the process of visual research, I sketched out some of my ideas, I tried to explore different arrangements to express the Bauhaus style and emphasize the word Bauhaus in the headline.

Fig 2.1. Layout Sketches (11/5/2022)

3. Digitalize

Layout 1

First, I digitalize my heading in Adobe Illustrator

Fig 3.1. Layout 1 heading design process (12/5/2023)

And then bring it to Adobe InDesign to edit the body text.

Fig 3.2. Arranging body text for Layout 1 (13/5/2023)

I come out with my first layout design below but consider the center seam of two pages will affect the readability of the text, so I need to adjust this layout.

Fig 3.3. First version of Layout 1 (13/5/2023)

I moved the heading to the left page and adjusted the body text to avoid the gutter.

Fig 3.4. Adjusting layout 1 (16/5/2023)

Fig 3.5. Adjusted layout 1 (16/5/2023)

For Layout 1, I think my body text didn't arrange well enough because there is too big space in the top right corner. Moreover, the tilted body text affects the reading experience for viewers.

Layout 2

For layout 2, I transform the letter "A" into triangles to express Bauhaus style, which is characterised by geometric shapes.

Fig 3.6. Process of Layout 2 (16/5/2023)

Fig 3.7. Layout 2 (16/5/2023)

Layout 3

As I learned more about the Bauhaus, I learned that this painting was in the famous Bauhaus style, so I express heading this style which fills in grey colour blocks in the letter.

Fig 3.8. Layout 3 (20/5/2023)

I personally liked this layout 3 the most.

Layout 4

And last I tried minimalist style for the 4th layout, I used simple lines and much white space to express it, but it seem unbalanced and not connected with the body text so I gave up on this layout.

Fig 3.9. Layout 4 (20/5/2023)

Final Submission

Fig 4.1. Final Editorial Spread, (21/2/2023)

Fig 4.2. Final Editorial Spread(PDF), (21/2/2023)

Fig 4.3. Final Editorial Spread(Grids), (21/2/2023)

Fig 4.4. Final Editorial Spread(Grids)(PDF), (21/2/2023)

Heading

Font: Futura Std (Bold)

Body Text

Font: Futura Std (Book)

Point size: 10pt

Leading: 13 pt

Paragraph Spacing: 13 pt

Line Length: Around 55 words

Alignment: Left alignment

FEEDBACK

Week 6

General Feedback: The headline must be connected to the body text.

Specific Feedback: When designing pages, need to consider the gutter of the book, not recommended to place body text on the centre of two pages.

Week 7

General Feedback: Graphical elements should be fewer. Not encouraged to put the headline in the centre because of the gutter.

Specific Feedback: I don't have received feedback. So that I think I am overall no problem with my layout.

Week 8

No feedback due to independent learning week.

REFLECTION

Experience

Engaging in this project was a valuable learning experience for me as I applied the knowledge gained from Task 1, which served as the foundation for this task. I began by sketching out my ideas and then proceeded to explore various headline and layout options. One challenge I encountered was generating different layouts, as there were numerous elements to consider and ensure compliance with typographic rules, such as appropriate line length. While I faced some difficulties and wasn't entirely satisfied with many of my layout designs, the process was ultimately rewarding.

Observation

During this task, I realised the importance of conducting thorough research and gathering relevant references and information to effectively express the chosen topic through design. For example, when selecting the Bauhaus topic for my editorial spread, I realized the importance of understanding the principles and aesthetics of the Bauhaus movement. By researching Bauhaus design, I was able to include crucial features like clean lines, geometric shapes, and a simple colour palette to represent the essence of the Bauhaus movement.

Findings

During the process of designing the editorial spread, I observed that it is not always necessary to include all the words from the topic heading in the design. Instead, focusing on selecting the most important and impactful word can create a visually powerful and concise layout. This approach not only enhances the visual appeal of the design but also allows for a quick understanding of the main theme. Overall, by prioritizing the most significant word, we can create a compelling layout that successfully communicates the essence of the topic.

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Ng Jia Ern (0363033)