Time to hand in assignment number two! This assignment was a lot of fun because, to be completely honest, type is the last thing I think about when it comes to concept development, and it really shouldn't be because type can act as the glue that holds everything together. Some might argue that sound design acts in the same way, and I totally agree. In fact, the material from this class made it very clear that paying attention to the little details as much as the bigger picture is just as important when building your final composition. I have a whole new way of looking at type in the overall scope of a project now.
It was during this class that we were introduced to our final assignment, and how developing the look and feel of the type so early on in the production process could drive our design decisions later on. We learned about the important role type plays not just in design, but in society as well, and the evolution of type over the years. We also learned how to deconstruct and reconstruct type by learning the different vocabulary associated with it, and how the elements of a typeface, as well as it's family, can drastically affect an overall design. For instance, learning about the early printers who developed some of the most common typefaces of today and their decisions for balancing elements like line weight was incredibly interesting. There is a reason why certain typefaces are more appealing than others, and why creating a typeface from scratch is a hard craft to conquer. We may not realize it, but these characteristics play a big role in balancing our designs.
Below are some typefaces I messed around with, and the one I ultimately ended up choosing to use for my final assignment. I think the weight of Verlag made it a versatile choice given that it has both sharp and rounded edges, which I felt was similar to the design of a playing card. It also had a few different weights to play with, which made it even more of a versatile choice. As I continue to progress through this course there will inevitably be an evolution to my font choice, and while the visuals from this week's assignment may not be the most captivating, it is important for overall development. Check out the font placement frames below, and stay tuned for more progress made in Main title Design.
