Typography | Task 2 :Typographic Exploration & Communication
02.05.2022 - 16.05.2022 | Week 6 - Week 8
Yap Sze Ying | 0349172
Bachelor of Mass Communication (Hons) Digital Media Production
Typography | Task 2 Typographic Exploration & Communication
LECTURES
All lectures 1-6 completed in Task 1 Exercises
Week 6 | Task 2 Introduction
Mr Vinod brief us on an overview of task 2 Editorial Text Options, which was about the combination of type expression and text formatting using Adobe Indesign and Adobe Illustrator. In addition, Mr Vinod guided us through the Type Expression and Text Formatting process in detail by utilizing pre-recorded lecture on YouTube (Typo Task 2 Process Demo).
Week 7 | Task 2 Evaluation
In this week's session, Mr Vinod examined our Task 2 procedure. Mr Vinod instructed us to upload our task 2 Editorial Layout on the Facebook group's comments page. Mr Vinod then provides us constructive suggestions on how to strengthen the type expression and text formatting on our Editorial Text Options. In addition, we were asked to revise our layout design based on lecturer feedback, and the date for Task 2 submission was mentioned (Typographic Exploration & Communication).
Pre-recorded Lecture | Typo_Task 2_Process Demo
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| Figure 1.0 Pre-recorded Lecture (4th May 2022) |
INSTRUCTIONS
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D95P0cPKIYTb6tSS8sJ0TTmatWkGVDjS/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
Task 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication (Type Expression & Text Formatting)
In the Adobe InDesign document, the page size given to us was 200mm x 200mm. I created six pages, each with two columns, a 5mm column gutter, and 10mm margins. In addition to this, the Indesign document preset details was 'Type Formatting,' which was the substance of the text.
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| Figure 1.0 Create Adobe InDesign New Document (5th May 2022) |
We were instructed to deselect the 'Allow Selected Spread to Shuffle' setting in the 'Pages' panel to avoid the pages shifting randomly. Then I selected 'page 2' and positioned it next to 'page 1' to develop a great two-page spread and a completed page for the text formatting contents.
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| Figure 1.1 Deselect 'Allow Selected Spread to Shuffle' (5th May 2022) |
Then I imported the body text to the page that I had previously adjusted, and I aligned the text by moving the body text with the '+' symbol to the next column.
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| Figure 1.2 Insert 'Body Text' (5th May 2022) |
After importing the body text to the page, I modified the 'Units and Increments' of 'Kerning/Tracking' to 5em to enhance the alignment when altering the tracking for the character.
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| Figure 1.3 Adjust 'Kerning/Tracking' (5th May 2022) |
Next, I changed the font to Adobe Caslon Pro with the regular typeface. I also modified the font size of characters with 11 pt and 13 pt for paragraph spacing to provide an adequate legible size. The number of characters in a line was also considered and it was visible on the "Info" panel. Besides that, I turned off hyphenation and maintained text alignment with left justify.
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| Figure 1.4 Paragraph Formatting (5th May 2022) |
After adjusting the text formatting, I checked the text alignment by using the 'Show Baseline Grid' option in the 'View' option. To align the paragraph, I selected the entire paragraph and changed the 'First Baseline Offset' to 'Leading' in the 'Text Frame Options.'
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Figure 1.5 Modify 'Baseline Options' (5th May 2022) |
I switched to Adobe Illustrator to create the type expression for the heading after adjusting the body text. In addition to this, I generated three different 'Visualise For A Better World' type expressions. 'Visualise' is the focal point, therefore I designed it in various ways to accentuate the word. The following are six type expressions of my work:
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| Figure 1.6 Three different Type Expression (6th May 2022) |
After completing the type expression, I imported the artwork into Adobe InDesign to begin my layout design. Below are several drafts of the layout design:
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| Figure 1.8 Draft Layout 2 (7th May 2022) |
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| Figure 1.9 Draft Layout 3 (7th May 2022) |
Based on the feedback given by the lecturer, I decided to try out different designs for my headline Type Expression that has a connection with the body text as well as the text alignment between the headline and body text. As the article highlighted in 'Visualise For A Better World', I kept the term in mind while creating the new type expression. Then I came up with three more type expressions, which are as follows:
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| Figure 2.0 Redesigned Type Expression (10th May 2022) |
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| Figure 2.1 Finalised Type Expression (10th May 2022) |
Another comment about text formatting was that the column adjustment was not very effective. Besides that, I was suggested to avoid river (gaps) between words and use hyphenation in a few of the sentences. I decided to change my text formatting layout after receiving feedback from the lecturer. In order to do this, I tried different typefaces, sizes, and kerning adjustments. Then I came up with different text formatting, which is as follows:
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| Figure 2.2 Text Formatting Layout Draft 1 (10th May 2022) |
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| Figure 2.3 Text Formatting Layout Draft 2 (10th May 2022) |
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| Figure 2.4 Text Formatting Layout Draft 3 (10th May 2022) |
Figure 2.3 Text Formatting Layout Draft 2 was chosen as the finalized text formatting from all of the drafts created. Then, I imported the Figure 2.1 Finalised Type Expressions into the document to view how they appeared.
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| Figure 2.5 Text Formatting Draft 4 (10th May 2022) |
As I preferred Figure 2.5 Text Formatting Draft 4 for the finalized text formatting layout, I proceeded to make final adjustments to the spread. I created the words 'Better World' larger to highlight the word 'Visualize,' as the entire article illustrates the imagination for a better future. In order to fit the headline type expression to the grid and align it with the body text, I resize the headline size in Adobe InDesign. Besides that, I changed the typeface of the subheadline from 'Bold' to 'Book,' the same as the headline, and aligned the subheadline with the last sentence of the body text to make it more legible. Aside from that, I utilized hyphenation in a few of the sentences in the body text to avoid river (gaps) between the words. I decided with 'Futura Std' typefaces for the entire font as it looked neater and is readable.
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| Figure 2.6 Final Text Formatting Layout (10th May 2022) |
Final Submission
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| Figure 2.7 Final Text Formatting (10th May 2022) |
-Final Text Formatting with Guides and Grids (10th May 2022)-
-Final Text Formatting (10th May 2022)-
Typeface : Futura Std Book
Font size : 10pt (Body) 10pt (Subheading) 115pt, 258pt, 547pt, 560pt (Heading)
Leading : 12pt (Body) 12pt (Subheading)
Paragraph Spacing : 12pt (Body)
Margins : 10mm (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)
Columns : 2
Gutter (for columns) : 5mm
Alignment : Left Justify
Average characters per line : 50-61 words
FEEDBACK
Week 6
General Feedback:
We're instructed to watch YouTube tutorial videos (Typo Task 2 Process Demo) to gain additional understanding before beginning the editorial layout.
Specific Feedback: N/A
Week 7
General Feedback:
Mr Vinod gave us some advice on how to make our layout design more legible and readable when completing the Editorial Layout. Mr Vinod then remarked on certain mistakes to avoid when creating layout designs such as maintaining line length between 55-65 words, producing a clear/step alignment, avoiding indentation, justifying word alignment when using indentation, etc.
Specific Feedback:
Draft Layout 1 - The headline ‘Visualise for a Better World’ had no relationship with the body text because there isn’t alignment, make the headline more alignment to achieve it. The body text is well-organized but the second column is not very well, avoid rivers (gaps) between the words, and introduce a few hyphenations to maintain the body text and headline.
Draft Layout 2 - The headline should be designed with more relationship with the body text. The body text of the layout design same as Draft Layout 1.
Draft Layout 3 - Ensure the alignment of the Sub-headline, could bring it down a little. The headline ‘For a Better World’ and put it in the same font size as the ‘Visualise’. The body text of the layout design same as Draft Layout 1.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
In week 6, the entire task was detailed and straightforwardly explained during the task briefing. In week 7, I'm having trouble aligning the headline and body text, as well as the type expression of the headline. Throughout these few weeks, I experienced a variety of layouts, typefaces, and styles, which helped me to comprehend critical thinking. Besides that, I also learned how to develop a layout in detail, the principles and general requirements for layout design, as well as text organization and formatting.
Observations
In week 6, I struggled in creating different layouts as I didn't have many ideas on the type expression with the typefaces provided. In week 7, I discovered that this task is more challenging than the previous one as there is more text to deal with. Throughout these few weeks, I've observed how each element needs to align with something to provide a sense of structure and solidity when arranging text and constructing layouts. It is important when designing layouts that emphasize information hierarchy.
Findings
In week 6, I realized that designing layouts is not an easy process and that learning the principles of layout design takes time. In week 7, I used to take notes on some constructive comments from the lecturer to improve my work and make them intriguing while also ensuring their legibility and readability. Throughout these few weeks, I've come to realize that there are numerous methods to express editorial text which allow your imagination to flow and take you where it wants to go.
FURTHER READING
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| Figure 1.0 Thinking with Type (9th May 2022) |
'Design is as much an act of spacing as an act of marking. The typographer’s art concerns not only the positive grain of letterforms, but the negative gaps between and around them.'
The book is divided into three sections which are Letter, Text, and Grid. Each section examines the subject matter in depth and how it relates to typography. There are many overlapping pieces of information, as one would expect, but the context in which each one is presented provides new insight each time it appears. The writing is well-paced and always poignant for me.
In addition, it also includes footnotes, side notes, marginal notes and other fun tidbits that keep the reader as engaged as the main text. The examples, exercises, and always entertaining "type crimes" provide much of the book's actual content. There are also numerous tips on how to apply the practises using modern computer software. Some of the software suggestions are general, but many of them are specific to Adobe InDesign which I have learned (Polaine, 2021).
Reference:
- Lupton, E. (2004, September). Graphic design reading. Thinking with Type. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from https://readings.design/PDF/thinkingwithtype_ellenlupton.pdf
- Polaine, A. (2021, January 7). Thinking with type. Thinking With Type. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from https://www.designersreviewofbooks.com/2011/04/thinking-with-type/
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