How does the Studio Habit of Mind: Envision fit with our Typography project?
The Studio Habit of Mind that will be explored in this unit is Envision.
To envision as graphic designers, we must learn to picture, in our mind's eye, an idea (an aim, purpose, or concept), message (an important point or theme), feeling (an emotion or belief), or personal meaning (an intended communication of personal importance) as a visual artwork. This imagining should include symbols and metaphors as a visual representation to convey meaning through various artistic conventions. Another way artists envision their work is by imagining all of the steps in the process to create it.
Just as in all of the other Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to envision an artwork and the process of creating it takes repeated practice and time.
A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas from abstraction to reality. The concepts being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - Stretch and Explore & Understand the Arts Community is Conceptualization and Reflection.
Conceptualization lies in an artist's ability to create "something out of nothing" by seeing it in the mind's eye. It is the practiced, abstract ability to visualize the end product and the process of creation to get there. Artists conceptualize by imagining the artwork before it is actually created.
Each individual font will have aspects of it that are universal to all font types. These include the x-height, which is the top to bottom height of a lowercase letter that does not have an ascender or descender. A Cap height is also a universal aspect of typefaces. A Cap height is the tallest a letterform can be when it is capitalized. Two other important universal aspects of a typeface are the ascenders and descenders. These are the parts of a lowercase letter that go above or below the x-height.
The style or appearance of text, or the art of working with typefaces to communicate clear messages.
Think of an example or two. Where do you see typography in your everyday life?
Watch a professional graphic designer create a typeface from concept to inspiration to final product.
Design your own typeface based on gathered inspiration and reference images. Be descriptive when discussing your influences and how you will use them in your design. Finally, create a sketch of your typeface using your name as the letterforms. Complete a sketch for each of the different types of fonts.
Once your four unique typefaces are sketched out using the letters of your name as examples of the font it's time to reflect on what you've created and choose your best to take to a complete alphabet design. Get with a partner and discuss the following before making your final choice:
Is the reference/inspiration material evident in the design? Can you tell this typeface was designed with that imagery in mind? Why or why not?
Was the type of font considered in the design? Does it appear to be a version of a serif, sans-serif, script, and/or decorative font?
Using one word, describe the typeface? Does it match what the designer intention? Why or why not?
Is the design aesthetically pleasing? Is it effective?
Do you have any constructive criticism for the designer who created the font?
With the help of your critique partner, select your best typeface - one that you are excited to bring to life as the full alphabet.
Once your selection is made, draw, by hand, each of the letters in their capitalized and lowercase forms. Also create the additional numbers and punctuation in the style of your chosen typeface.
Pay particular attention and be consistent in the manner in which you create the ascenders and descenders. Make sure that the lowercase letters all hit the x-height consistently.
scan your image, adobe illustrator, create your favorite quote using the typeface you designed