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WEEK 6 - Syntax and Communication

Typographic signs are the individual letters and punctuations used in communicating written language. White space is also helpful in the design of typographic signs when it comes to individual letters. As I look at the examples shown on page 87, I am amazed at how just one simple letter can create so much art when it uses Gasalt's theory and just in the colors of black and white. We also see the thoughts behind kerning or "letter spacing" as the book calls it. Lines are also an intricate way to express letterforms because along with the use of grids, they help create dynamic wordplay.

As for my final project draft, I am proud of my work and the journey it took to get here. This is my first time really taking my time with my work and it turned out well. I changed some things with my final flyer design and it spilled over into the social media post and merch design as well. I added more of the curvy bubble lettering like in the Logotype to the rest of the page to keep the fun and lettering equal and precise. I played with spacing and coloring to make sure the visual hierarchy was on point. As far as the merch goes, I decided to make a phone case with some objects there would have been in the early 2010s and also because we were obsessed with phone cases at the time. With the social media post, I kept it fairly simple and I created a background with all of the colors mixed together along with a faded repetition of all the artists' names.

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Week 5

In the reading this week, we learned about grids and how they are used in various works. The main purpose of grids is to create a structure and plan for a piece that includes typography and maybe illustration. They also help with making the information clear and accessible for the reader. While there is no set beginning to the usage of grids in typography, we can attribute the use of mathematics in grids to Switzerland in the 1950s. When you use grids in different than normal ways. you can make your text appear to be moving within the page. There are three types of grids, singular, multicolumn, and modular grids.

As for my flyer this week, I think I've finally finished the design and style of my work for Project 1. Upon talking to my groupmates, I was suggested to make sure that my date and location stood out on the flyer more than the tertiary information. So, I used the bubble font and some kerning and angling to make it look different than the latter information. I also moved my logotype upwards instead of in the middle like how it was on my last post. I also used the bubble lettering for the Days on the bottom (4, 5, 6) and used a bolder font for the band names as they were hard to see against the yellow stripe on the background.

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Legibility is not as easy as one thinks it would be. You have to consider so many factors when determining how legible a piece of lettering is to most of the world. “Letterforms must be designed with clarity, each being distinct from the alphabet.” There are the qualities of legible text: contrast, simplicity, and proportion. There are also bonus factors such as the context of the words being communicated and the leading in between letters. No matter how elaborate you make a letterform, they still have to be distinctive to their unique structure in some way. Many people believe that serif type is more readable due to the reinforcement of horizontal lines. They also say it provides more definition to the letter with the serif marks. In the end, legibility depends on the reader’s capability and other factors.

For my project this week, I have been working on creating a grid structure for my type to be legible and easy to digest. For my original pictures, I decided to use a photo of sparkles off of my tote bag and shake the camera around to add a bright and sparkly effect. This came out well as soon as I color-graded it in Photoshop and blended it in with my correct background of neon stripes. I want the whole event flyer and campaign to reimagine the bright and colorful times of the early to mid-2010s and I think I’m on the right track so far. With us having to have three days, it’s been kind of hard to find a grid that can fit into my style. But I decided on using a regular 3 vertical column grid and using the diagonal stripes for help as well with spacing and such.

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Week 3 - The Anatomy of Typography

As we dive into the history of typography, it becomes evident that the beginning of basic type can be traced back to a simple linear stroke. However, it rapidly evolved, incorporating variations in stroke thickness and integrating geometric shapes such as squares, circles, and triangles. The choice of medium, whether writing or carving, significantly influenced the development of letterforms. In the contemporary era, typographers adhere to imaginary guidelines, ensuring a typeface's readability and digestibility. Vertical considerations, encompassing the capline, meanline, x-height, baseline, and beardline, play a crucial role in shaping letterforms. Reflecting on my initial typography class, I recall learning about various components like the bowl, descender, stem, terminal, serif, ascender, crossbar, leg, and tail, each contributing to the intricate anatomy of a letter. This evolution showcases the intersection of historical, design, and technical factors in shaping the typography we encounter today.

In my work from this week on the logo for the music festival, I've started to land on what I essentially want the logo for it to be. I am calling it Net Gen Fest as "Net Gen" is a nickname for GenZ, whom this festival is for. I want to represent the simpler times of the early 2010s when we experienced a cultural shift in what we ate, wore, and listened to especially now that those artists from that timeframe are still frontrunners now. I wanted to bring the pop and neon culture from that era into my design. I do have some nods to fonts from some of my favorite TV shows and movies from that era that I used to love such as iCarly and High School Musical. Arrows and bubble letters were also a big thing concerning text and logos from this timeframe and I wanted to include those to make the finished product more eccentric.

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ARTS 246 - Week 2

In the assigned reading for this week, I found the exploration of ancient writing and typography particularly fascinating. The diverse range of materials used in earlier times, such as the utilization of heavy clay tablets for writing and communication, stood out in stark contrast to the commonplace sheets of paper prevalent in contemporary times. The contrast of these mediums highlighted the evolution of typography over the centuries. Personally, I developed a profound appreciation for the Early English Gothic style, prevalent during the 13th to 15th centuries, as showcased in photos 1-31 on page 5. The intricate details and ornate elements of this style captivated me, offering a glimpse into the rich historical tapestry of typography. Furthermore, my admiration extends to the woodblock designs featured on page 8, particularly in photos 1-51, owing to their compelling stylistic design and texture. These elements not only serve as a source of inspiration but also underscore the dynamic nature of typography throughout different periods in history.

In the initial stages of my work on our inaugural project, I have chosen to conceptualize and develop a vibrant musical experience titled NextGen Fest—a celebration of Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B genres. This festival is designed to encapsulate the essence of the early 2010s, a period dominated by iconic artists that resonated with the emerging generation, often referred to as Gen Z or NextGen. This particular timeframe holds sentimental value for those who came of age during their elementary and middle school years. My project aims to transport attendees to the dynamic and memorable moments of this era, characterized by a fusion of fun, hipster aesthetics, and vibrant neon atmospheres. Moreover, NextGen Fest will pay homage to influential artists like Drake, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Bieber, who played pivotal roles in shaping the musical landscape of that time. Through this festival, I aspire to recreate and celebrate the cultural impact of the early 2010s, offering a nostalgic yet contemporary experience for the audience.

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US Airways

US Airways, originally USAir, has a history of evolving from a mail delivery airline in Pittsburgh to a major commercial airline, rebranding in 1997. Merged with American Airlines in 2013, it became the world's largest airline. The marketing objective is to raise "re-awareness" and establish a proudly American, and dependable tone while earning customer loyalty through incentives. Former slogans such as "Fly with US" reflected patriotic and confident tones with the post-America West merger potentially signaling patriotism and maybe even desperation. Success defined by our team includes high profits, being chosen over competitors, and becoming the most reliable airline. Competitors like Delta and Jet Blue pose challenges with customer satisfaction and competitive pricing that provide a necessary focus on maintaining competition in the airline industry.

The target audience includes savvy travelers and occasional flyers. The brand promises continual growth, prioritizing customer satisfaction. Reasons to believe include a robust loyalty program, early adoption of online reservations, and a focus on passenger comfort. The brand tone shifts from a militaristic to a welcoming, patriotic personality. In terms of design, must-haves include a recognizable name and patriotism, with potential for throwbacks to older designs. The success of this depends on effective branding strategies and a thoughtful logo redesign.

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Week 8 - Appendix

This week we finished up Project 4 and presented our final work to the class. I was very proud of how I finished my spread regardless of how I started off. I was critiqued on having more consistency with colors between my serif and san serif letters and I also needed to use more white space within my work.

In the appendix, there is a lot of valuable information being given especially dealing with design. I like how we were given a mini dictionary but also tips going along with the terms used. One of the concepts I agreed with the most was the thought of "Think more, design less." I feel like you can give more of a message without having to use many elements.

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Week 6 - Anatomy, Size, Classification, Families, Big Families, Designing Typefaces, Logotypes, Screen Fonts, Bitmap Fonts

In this week's reading, we continue to learn about the anatomy of letters with the different kinds of elements they all contain. Some of the terms we learned about are ascenders and descenders which are found in the letters "h" and "p" respectively. There are also ways to classify typefaces which usually tell how they seem to be made. One thing that was interesting was learning about Bitmap fonts and how they were usually just reserved for online works.

Also this week, we have been working on the second part of Assignment 4 by creating spreads to explain and express the structure of our 27th letter(s). I admittedly had a stump at first trying to figure out what style coordinated with my letters more but in the end, for my serif letter, I decided to go a more serious, muted route. I usually do not like working in InDesign, but I found myself working with ease as I found out what I wanted to work on by trying different techniques.

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Week 4 - Text

In this week's reading, one of the quotes that popped out to me was on page 63 where it reads, "... one of design's most humane functions is, in actuality, to help readers avoid reading." This is explained throughout the rest of the pages when it talks about how text is broken up and highlighted & colored to help the flow of information. We then read about how printing letterforms worked and the materials that were used to create them such as thin pieces of lead to create "leading," or the space between lines of type to make it easier to read.

In our project, we were tasked to combine a typeface with a flower that begins with that letter. We had to use Montserrat Black as the typeface and I personally chose the "Balloon Flower" for my design. It is a fairly simple flower which kind of made it hard to really make it dynamic. I feel like I could have incorporated the stem into the letter as well, maybe taking it through the bottom and swirling it around the bottom of the letter. However, I am proud of how I used my online design skills in this project and I want to see if I can take the next project further.

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Week 1 - Letter

In the reading, we read about how typefaces were created and revolutionized throughout the years. I resonated mostly with the section on "Reform and Revolution" because of the unique and different typefaces of that timeframe. I believe that art keeps moving forward because of revolutionary ideas such as some that came from Vilmos Huszár and Herbert Bayer. I am a big fan of bold and quirky typefaces myself and I use that in most of my graphic design work.

When referring to Project 1, I kind of had a hard time adjusting to the workflow of the class and just to an art class in itself. Up to this point, I have only done minuscule projects and none concerning actual art "theories" and "wording." I feel that so far, my line drawing is great but I am having trouble with the negative drawing. I know that I will find difficulty moving forward but asking questions and looking at examples of work makes things clear for me.

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FINAL ENTRY

For the completion of this project, I kept the theme of tinted colors and doodles throughout. I believe my project came out cohesive and true to my self-brand and image. It is a simple and clean-cut design that includes the usage of shapes and gridlines.

As for this course, I have learned so much more than I have on my own time. Through the creation of each project, I have learned a new skill to apply to new classes and any personal projects I have. My skills have sharpened specifically in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, which is the one I use for my personal endeavors. I also feel like I have gained great skills in brainstorming and sketching which I have learned is needed for a successful project. I will definitely use these skills in the future, thank you, Professor Smith!

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PROJECT 6 (IN PROGRESS)

In our final project, we are tasked with creating a portfolio that showcases our work from this semester. I have decided to design my portfolio using geometric shapes and designs along with doodles and slightly pastel colors. I am also using the font Bebas Neue for most of my book with a script font as a fun partner. I drew my inspiration from modern-like magazine layouts and pops of color. I want my design to be representative of me with pops of color laid about with an otherwise "boring" black and white design. But when one actually sees the shapes and various doodles on the page, one can see that there is more than meets the eye.

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PROJECT 4

While this project gave me a bit of a hard time, I am so glad for the finished product! I based this week's project on the Wiz, the African-American version of The Wizard of OZ. For this project, we had to design logos for two characters in our favorite movie.

I used shapes and vector images to create my pieces. Also, I drew the font for Evillenes's logo. I wanted to catch the essence of each character in both black and white and color.

For Dorothy's design, it was hard for me to come up with a concept since she is more of a basic character. But in the end, I came up with this New York City-inspired design with a pop of yellow/gold windows for her yellow brick road. For Evillene, I caught the essence of her head and the three crowns on the sides of her head included in her costume.

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For this project, we dove into the ideals of Syntax and Semantics. The syntax is the positioning of elements such as shapes and semantics are the relation of the objects to the scene's meaning.

We were tasked with picking four objects in the same category such as cars, shoes, or jewelry. In the Syntax, we had to describe the items using shapes, colors, and locations. Then in the Semantics, we had to describe the denotation, expression, and connotation we received from each certain object.

Using syntax and semantics helps us as the artist, understand how the consumer may see our piece and what the reason or use for it is, and also how we can use visual descriptions to explain the work to a possible client. It is important to know all the aspects of your design from both ends of the spectrum so you can be efficient in making and judging new pieces.

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PROJECT 3

For this week's project, we were tasked with creating a piece to call potential voters out to the polls. These flyers consisted of quotes from many greats such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Susan B. Anthony. I ended up choosing this quote by MLK Jr. because I believe that silence is a killer of many things that could've been solved. Not only in voting but in serious events as well.

I found this photo of a person with a semi-visible hand over their mouth on Google and thought it was a perfect representation of what I wanted to show with this project. I used the color white for most of the words and the highlight color of his face to make "end" and "silent" stand out as the connotation of those words can seem "harsh. I wanted that decision to call out to the reader to emphasize what their vote could do.

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PROJECT 2

Through the use of three black letters, we are able to create three abstract compositions for this project. We were encouraged to play with the sizing and location of each letter and even to transform the shapes of each letter differently.

In all honesty, this project is tough even for a creative person. When you are told to just simply "do," so many things and questions can run through one's head. For me in specific, I was thinking "What font? What letters? Should I try to make an object? What message am I trying to get across if any?"

As far as the reading this week, I was mostly inspired by the story and career of Allison Henry Aver. Her career mostly reflects what I would want to go into with graphic design. She was the Design Director for Kate Spade Saturday, which was a fashion brand under the Kate Spade Umbrella. She reflects that the position gave her a way to embrace everything she loved such as fashion, art, writing, and tv-- some of the very same things I enjoy as well.

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PROJECT 1

The assignment for this week was a beginner project related to conveying feelings through adding text to stock images. We were asked to write 2 6-word stories, and this is one that I wrote.

"I'm a robot with uncontrollable feelings." I came up with this while reflecting on my life and how I handle my feelings being at the age and space I am in.

The reading this week, talks about how graphic design is used as a tool for communication and how artists can use it to make a career. With everyone in the world constantly looking at screens all day, it is imperative for businesses, schools, and organizations to adapt to the screen world. The world now responds to media such as pictures and videos that all can be created by graphic design.

Even in the world of graphic design, there have been many advances and changes in standards and practices-- even the tools and applications used!