SETTING THE STAGE - TYPOGRAPHY 2 2 2018
PROCESS
RESEARCH
As I began this project, it was crucial that we understood it’s purpose. The purpose of this project was to set a stage or scene through typography. This meant using unconventional materials to communicate themes of my chosen book through the typography, imagery, and setting of the book jacket. I waspushed to go beyond setting type visually, and begin creating it by hand. As I began my process, it was important that I understood the main themes of the literary work I chose. I decided to work with Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I had read Macbeth when I was a Sophomore in high school and once again when before I graduated. I was particulary intrigued and struck by the themes of guilt, fate, and the consequences of our decisions.
RESEARCH
As I started to further research Macbeth, I wrote a plot synopsis, in order to remind myself of the themes or motifs that are often seen in this play. I then brainstormed potential materials to work with.
DISCOVERY
I began to explore these concepts in my intial thumbnail sketches. Some of my initial ideas included materials such as Scotch Whisky, Tide to Go Sticks, Cherry Pie, Bandaids, Tartan Plaid Fabric, and more. I was particularly intrigued by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s desparate attempts to keep patching up the holes in their plans, the motifs of blood and stains, and being driven over the edge by guilt.
DISCOVERY
As I started to narrow down which ideas I wanted to focus on, I found myself most interested in my bandaid, whisky, and cherry pie concepts, so I continued to sketch out these ideas.
DISCOVERY
One of my initial ideas was to just shape the letters “M A C B E T H” with bandaids...A little boring but it was a start. Another one of my first photos...I tried to carve “Macbeth” into a bandaid...it was not the most successful attempt, but this would become a spring board for my final concept.
The cherry pie idea was far less sucessful than my bandaid idea, so after trying it out, I decided to move on and solely pursue the bandaids.
DISCOVERY
My classmates and instructors were intrigued by the unusual medium, and the haunting elements of an etched bandaid. It also would allow me to continue with the ideas of the Macbeths continually trying to patch up the wounds in their plans. I decided to run with this idea, and began to test out which environments the bandaid should reside in. I also experimented with the types of bandaids I used. I realized that with the plastic bandaids, I was able to more effectively carve into the material, than with the woven bandaids. I also learned that it was essential for me to use the largest bandaid I could find.
DISCOVERY
Macbeth Macbeth MACBETH MACBETH MACBETH These are some initial type specimen that I created before pursuing this concept.
Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth
Macbeth William Shakespeare
DISCOVERY
I began to consider the flaps, spine, and back cover of my book.
M
Macbeth
acbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
“What’s done cannot be undone.” William Shakespeare
M
Macbeth
acbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
“What’s done cannot be undone.” William Shakespeare
REFINEMENT
As I continued with my project, I began to reconsider the typeface I was working with. I decided to graduate from serif to a sans serif on the bandaid. I thought this would allow me to execute much more precise cuts and match the modern take on this classic novel. I also began to further consider the textures on which the bandaid would reside as well as the textures and imagery that would be on the back cover and flaps.
REFINEMENT
The evolution of the spine
Macbeth About Macbeth
About Shakespeare
Macbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact
Born in 1564 in Stratford upon Avon, William Shakespeare would become one of the greatest playwrights in history. His work, extremely prolific, varies from genre and theme. All of which however, discuss human tendencies and beg his audience to ask both introspective and external questions to themselves.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare
REFINEMENT
I also considered how (or if) I should incorperate quotes on the back of my jacket...
“What’s done cannot be undone.”
M
MACBETH
“What’s done cannot be undone.”
William Shakespeare
M
MACBETH
acbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
acbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
William Shakespeare
REFINEMENT
Macbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
About Shakespeare Born in 1564 in Stratford upon Avon, William Shakespeare would become one of the greatest playwrights in history. His work, extremely prolific, varies from genre and theme. All of which however, discuss human tendencies and beg his audience to ask both introspective and external questions to themselves.
About Shakespeare
About Macbeth
Born in 1564 in Stratford upon Avon, William Shakespeare would become one of the greatest playwrights in history. His work, extremely prolific, varies from genre and theme. All of which however, discuss human tendencies and beg his audience to ask both introspective and external questions to themselves.
Macbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
An evolution of the typeface, size, and heading of the text on the flaps of the jacket.
CRITICISM
The criticism I received from my classmates and instructors was very crucial to the success of my jacket. Much of it surrounded the texture that the bandaid laid on and making sure the space of my cover was activated effectively through this texture. They also helped me make sure the text on the bandaid was legible as well as make sure the colors were harmonious. My instructor also gave me the idea of incorperating a bandaid onto the spine of my book, continuing the bandaid motif through every side of the book. Through this feedback, I was able to create a unique and innovative yet clear book jacket for a classic play.
CRITICISM
macbeth “What’s done cannot be undone.” About Shakespeare
CRITICISM
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
William Shakespeare
Born in 1564 in Stratford upon Avon, William Shakespeare would become one of the greatest playwrights in history. His work, extremely prolific, varies from genre and theme. All of which however, discuss human tendencies and beg his audience to ask both introspective and external questions to themselves.
About Macbeth Macbeth tells the story of how man’s thirst for power betrays him. Macbeth’s obsession with staying at the top of the noble hierarchy and controlling his fate becomes is fatal flaw. Guilt and desparation drive him over the edge, leading to his ultimate demise. Shakespeare shows his audience that our fate is in fact not enitrely in our hands.
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare
This Process Book was designed by Ariela Basson for Typography 2 at the Sam Fox School of Visual Arts and Design, Fall 2018