TYPOGRAPHY - EXERCISES

29.08.18 - 12.9.18 

Helen Angelia (0336203)

Typography

Exercises

LECTURES

Lecture 1 : Cannot attend due to the lateness of arrival or visa matters.

29.08.18 (Week 1)

Lecture 2 : Cannot attend due to the lateness of arrival or visa matters.

05.09.18 (Week 2)

Lecture 3 : -

12.09.18 (Week 3)

No lecture, first class after arrival, Mr. Shamsul gave me task of week 1 and week 2 the other students were working on to keep up with the typography class.

Lecture 4 : Typography Development / Timeline

19.09.18 (Week 4)

The lecture this week tells us about early letter form development: Phoenician to Roman, and how the Greeks changed the direction of writing which also changed the letterform as well. The lecture also tells us the year and what kind of typography that were used from time to time.

Lecture 5 : Animation Lettering

26.09.18 (Week 5)

This week is more of a practical than lecture. Mr. Shamsul and Mr. Vinod taught us how to do the animation lettering. Every lettering needs to be precise to our lettering that represent our personalities. 

Lecture 6 : Type Expression

03.10.18 (Week 6)

This week activity was to make typography from the words: sparkle, float, blur, heavy, tall and rage. We need to express those words from the fonts given and the type has to be precise as what the words meant. Then, we make an animation gif of it.

Lecture 7 : Type of Fonts

10.10.2018 (Week 7)

Today's lecture was about Type of Fonts (Serif, Sans Serif, Display, Script, Text and Dingbats), Font Styles (Regular, Bold, Italic, etc), Special Styles (Small Caps, All Caps / Expert Fonts, Base Line Shift and Outline and Shadow), Formatting Text (Tracking, Kerning and Letter Spacing), Alignment (Left, Centered, Right and Justified), Texture, Leading and Line Length and Type Specimen Book.

INSTRUCTIONS



CALLIGRAPHY (Week 1 - Week 3)


Since late of arrival, the third week's class is to finished the assignments of week 1 and week 2. Mr. Shamsul gave me the calligraphy beginner exercise to make my hand recognise the art of calligraphy and get used to the calligraphy pen. I was told to make sharp horizontal, vertical, and circular strokes.

Fig 1.1 1st attempt with horizontal, vertical, and circular strokes

Fig 1.2 2nd attempt with horizontal, vertical, and circular strokes

After I understand how to use the calligraphy pen with the exercise earlier, I was told to choose one of the four design hands: Chancery, English Block Letters, Roundhand, and Uncial. My choice of hand is Round Hands.

Fig 1.3 Chosen hand: Foundational Roundhand

Fig 1.4 Alphabetical Drills

Fig 1.5 Alphabets (A-I)

Fig 1.6 Alphabets (J-S)

Fig 1.7 Alphabets (T-Z)

Once I'm done, another task has been given and that is to search for quotes / poems / phrases / sayings of 3 lines.

Fig 1.8 Attempts on my quote

Fig 1.9 Final attempt on graph paper

Fig 1.10 1st attempt on plain A4 paper

Fig 1.11 2nd attempt on plain A4 paper

Fig 1.12 Final outcome of quote on plain A4 paper

ANIMATION LETTERING

For this exercise, every students have to make letterings based on our personalities. If the personality and the lettering doesn't match, then we have to redo it again. I was going with mysterious trait, but I noticed that my simplicity is more dominant. So, I choose simple trait.

Fig 1.13 First Attempt of Lettering (Sketches)

Fig 1.14 Final Attempt of Lettering

It's quite hard though, making letterings weren't easy. My letterings got turned down by both of the lecturers because they said it wasn't simple enough. I should only make something simple by "simplifying" it. And then, I come up with an idea and the lecturers approved it.

Fig 1.14 Digitalising Animation Lettering

Fig 1.15 My Digitalised Animation Lettering (GIF) - Simple

TYPE EXPRESSION

For this exercise, Mr. Vinod gave us six words and we have to express them in the fonts given. The expressions that we used must reflect the six words. We have to do it in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, also we need to make a GIF like the lettering.

Fig 1.16 Sparkle, Float, Blur, Heavy, Tall and Rage as the six words with directions of doing this assignment

Fig 1.17 Digitalised Type Expression

Fig 1.18 Final Attempt Digitalised Type Expression

Fig 1.19 Type Expression Animation (GIF)

Fig 1.20 Final Attempt Type Expression GIF

FEEDBACK

Week 3

Specific feedback: On my very first day of learning with piling tasks that I need to work on, it wasn't so easy. I screwed up the horizontal, vertical, and circular strokes that Mr. Shamsul needs to teach me directly. On the attempts to write the alphabets, Mr. Shamsul said that the letters should be attached to the bottom of the box of graph paper. I haven't really understand how to write Foundational Roundhand yet, and Mr. Shamsul gave me feedbacks that D and E letters needs to be the same large, the letter G loop is too long, and the H needs to have the same stroke as letter D, also the same goes with I.

Week 4

General Feedback: For the lettering task, Mr. Vinod told us to make letterings based on our personality. We need to make five different styles to express one word, which is our name.

Specific Feedback: I tried to have some feedbacks, but both of the lecturers said that my letterings weren't simple enough. Mr. Vinod taught me that the word simple is to simplify. However, mysterious trait also includes simplicity. I got confused of how to combine them so I asked Mr. Vinod about simple first then maybe I can find a way to do the mysterious trait.

Week 5

General Feedback : For those whose animation letterings that doesn't represent their personalities, they have to try and find the match ones.

Specific Feedback : Mr. Shamsul was satisfied with my lettering that I have digitalised. He approved that it's simple and whoever sees it also conclude it was mysterious. However, because my simplicity is more dominant than my mysterious trait, first thing came into people's mind is my simple trait, which is exactly what I want to make. At first my animation lettering was too simple and Mr. Shamsul suggests me to add more fade in and fade out, and also more frames to make it smoother.

Week 6

General Feedback : We need to make the type expression exactly as the traits that the words have.

Specific Feedback :

• The Sparkle's dots needs to move closer to the source of the word.
• Float looks like falling down and I have to make it a bit further to each other.
• Heavy is fine, but I should make it a bit bigger.
• Rage is getting there, but still not quiet and I should change the fonts.

Week 7

General Feedback : Make sure the printed type expression has our name and ID number also the date when we made it, at the back of the paper.

Specific Feedback :

• The Sparkle still looks weak. I depend too much on the graphic (the dots).
• The Rage animation looks not forceful, it's too weak and slow, almost look like doodling.

REFLECTION

EXPERIENCES

Week 3

When I first joined the class, everyone was so busy working on their calligraphy, and while they're doing that, I got my tasks explained by Mr. Shamsul. He said they I arrived so late that I need to complete week 1, week 2, and week 3 exercises, as well as the blog by this week. I did get panicked because calligraphy is hard and I never use calligraphy pen. However, I tried, and tried, and tried every single day before the deadline and post my calligraphy exercise on my blog. I actually found fun while working this task even though I'm in such a hurry. The lecturer was also nice and very supportive.

Week 4

Making letterings were such hard tasks. Every time I asked for feedbacks, the lecturers weren't satisfied with my work. I got confused how to come up with the idea of simplicity or mysterious. I was really scared that I might disappoint them, because even now I still struggle with my letterings.

Week 5

I was really nervous if the lecturers will not approved my digitalized letterings or the animation as well, but Mr. Shamsul and Mr. Vinod seems fine with it which is a relief. They said it was simple and my animation lettering was a match to my personality, too. I was so happy.

Week 6

I could do pretty fine on the type expression than the lettering, because I think the lettering was more confusing. The type expression was kind of confusing too, but still I like doing it like any other tasks given. After some feedbacks, I've known where I did wrong. I changed the Rage like Mr. Vinod wants and he likes my idea of expressing it.

Week 7

Since today's class was about In Design, it was hard at first. But once I get the hang of it, it's actually pretty easy. I enjoyed doing it. Especially when I can do my work in one go (doesn't have to repeat all over again). Maybe for the next assignment which we have to do type expression again (now isn't in one word, but one sentence), maybe I'll be having a hard time doing it.

OBSERVATIONS

Week 3

I noticed that all of my friends are already getting used with their pens and some of them have already finished their tasks. Watching them draw the strokes looked so easy and smooth, but when I tried it out myself, my hand still have difficulties using the calligraphy pen. The strokes were really stiff and I couldn't even write simple strokes, at first. However, continuous exercise really helped me out.

Week 4

I noticed that a lot of my friends had struggle in working the letterings, too. They have worked for about 15-20 different kinds of letterings, but only one that gets approved by Mr. Vinod and Mr. Shamsul. Some of my friends got frustrated and some gave up. However, we all keep cheering for one another to overcome the struggles.

Week 5

I noticed the others were going well with their animation lettering, but some also needs to repeat or still working on theirs. The main reason was it doesn't represent their personalities.

Week 6

I noticed that the others didn't really have a problem in doing the type expression, too. I took a peek of their works and they are all good.

Week 7

I learned about how to make body texts looked more pretty with the smooth curve and everything else. I love to read books and now that I'm learning the basic, I'm so excited! Although it's kind of confusing sometimes.

FINDINGS

Week 3

I found out that I drew the strokes too fast that they become messy, and I learned that I shouldn't press the pen too hard or too loose. For what I found, I think calligraphy needs some accuracy, be comfortable in writing it, and better not to do it in a rush.

Week 4

I found out an idea after Mr. Vinod explained to me what simple is all about. It's like when we have a plain cup of tea without sugar, milk, or creamer, that's still simple and that's still the core. However, if we add something to the tea, the flavour will branch and it will get complicated. Mr. Vinod really strengthened the word of "simplify" for the clue. However, my mysterious trait keeps coming out, too so I kind of combined mysterious and simplicity trait. I just hope that this idea of mine gets approved by the lecturers.

Week 5

I found out that animation lettering was actually a really fun thing to do. Although it's hard and pretty handful, but the result comes out beautifully. I saw a few of my friends work and they were all amazing. They are all creative people and it never bores to take a peek at someone else's creations.

Week 6

I found out that words could be expressed by words, even though we only changed the fonts, added some graphics, etc. I think it's quite amazing. I learned so much in this lesson.

Week 7

I found out from the second feedbacks, my type expression about the six words still needs some improvement. And the lecturers said I might have to make it again for the Sparkle and Rage animation. It's no problem actually, but only more work to get done with, because I still have the sentence type expression exercise.


FURTHER READINGS

Calligraphy: A Complete Guide by Julien Chazal

Week 3

This book tells us about the basic calligraphy, such as: calligraphy tools, how to do the strokes, structure of letters, angle changes, numerals, etc which is a perfect guide for beginners. Not only the basics, but this book also contains scripts from many eras: roman, medieval, gothic, modern, and contemporary all in orders. I read this book while looking for some way to understand the hand that I chose for my task, which is Foundational Roundhand, and I found out my chosen hand has strong similarities with the roman scripts. I just knew that calligraphy only used for writings in the past eras. However, the change of the era has make the calligraphy not only as writings, but also to decorate. Engraved calligraphy, printing calligraphy, three-dimensional effect, color calligraphy, pictographic writing, and the envelope art is all used in decorating and layout. For the place of calligraphy today is used in graphic arts, for calligraphy enhances most ordinary message.

Complete Calligraphy Skills by Vivien Lunniss

Week 4

This book is almost the same as the calligraphy book written by Julien Chazal, but Complete Calligraphy Skills by Vivien Lunniss is even more detailed in the writing part. There are instructions for beginners as such the basics to begin calligraphy and scripts of Roman Capitals, Rustics, Uncials, Gothic, etc and how to write them step by step. For those who are interested in calligraphy and has no idea where to learn from, this book could be their best teacher in writing calligraphy.

Letterwork: Creative Letterforms in Graphic Design by Phaidon

Week 5

Many graphic designers refer to all letters, including written, drawn and computer-generated letters, as 'typography'. But many designs require specially made letterforms to achieve the right effect. The premise of this book is that specially made letterforms can do things that type cannot do without manipulation. Recent technological developments have made the use of hand-lettering in designs for print a very simple matter. In the first section of the book, letters are considered for their emotional impact. It emerges that particular emotions can be created by a fairly wide range of lettering styles. In section two, letterforms are considered as elements in compositions. The interaction of hand-lettering and type is considered in the third part of the book. The next section ties together the different elements of the first three in an effort to identify general principles that can be applied to the design of letters. The brief final section points the way towards the future of lettering.

The book illustrates letter-making techniques such as painting, cutting, tearing, collage, stamping, drawing, photocopying, faxing, airbrush and computer generation. The book also gives important information on basic tools and techniques, the principles of letterform and useful contact addresses. There is also guidance and inspiration to strengthen the connections between the professions of graphic design, typography and calligraphy.

The Art of Calligraphy in Modern China by Gordon S. Barrass

Week 6

Calligraphy is a defining feature of Chinese culture, both a means of communication and a revered form of art. At first of traditional art of calligraphy was transformed into an instrument of political power and protest, wielded on an unprecedented scale. Over the past three decades it has emerged as a more visually exciting modern genre, which now offers fascinating insights into the people of modern China. Although many societies have a tradition of creating beautiful calligraphy, few can rival what the Chinese have achieved with their splendid brushes, inks and papers. Calligraphy have always used their art to lend weight and beauty to the message they are conveying. The content, too, is easier to understand.

This book begins by outlining the factors that have shaped the development of calligraphy in China. The first chapter examines the continuing, and often heated, debate over the nature of art and its future. Because the art is best understood by examining the circumstances from which it emerged. The second chapter explores the influences that have shaped it over the past fifty years. The greater part of the book is composed of short chapters on twenty-five people who have been key figures in the development of the art of calligraphy or whose work illustrates some of its trends.