Monogram Process Book by clairewarhover

PROCESS

Typography II Fall 2018 | Claire Warhover

monogram

4 | monogram process book

introduction

Assignment In this rapid assignment, you will be asked to design a 2-3 color monogram for a current, fictional, or historical figure. The monogram will be applied to a business card

Objectives • Gain experience in manipulating and constructing • Gain experience in matching typographic styles to (brand) tone • Investigate how color reinforces a message • Explore the application of a mark over a simple system

inspiration

6 | monogram process book

For my inspiration, I primarily looked at posters from films that Clark Gable appeared in during his time as an actor. The typography of these posters was high contrast, with very thick and thin lines appearing next to each other. The posters often juxtaposed a curly, script typeface with a blocky one. Additionally, they made use of bright reds and yellows. I initially wanted to be able to bring these colors into my final product, but quickly realized that they were too feminine given Gableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hyper-masculine reputation.

brainstorming

8 | monogram process book

C G C C GCG G

CG C CG C CGC C C g CG G G C C C G C C G C g G G G G C C G

Through my brainstorming, I tried to experiment with the ways that the C and the G could fit together. Both letters have a similar shape, which allowed me to combine them in interesting ways. The ultimate goal was to create a monogram that conveyed masculinity, luxury, and class while still remaining true to the time period of the 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I hand-drew many of the monograms, but I also experimented with pre-existing typefaces, altering them to achieve the look that I wanted.

10 | monogram process book

When we came up with our four initial ideas, everyone agreed that the one on the bottom right was the most appealing. However, they did enjoy the combination of the letter forms of the monogram on the top left. I created three new monograms (at right) that combined elements that were working from each old monogram in a new way. I also began experimenting with color at this stage, trying to find a balance between simple sophistication and intrigue.

12 | monogram process book

I combined parts of all three of the previous derivatives to make the final monogram, and then began refining my color choices. I knew that I wanted to use gold to convey luxury, so I decided to use multiple shades of yellow to create a gradient, making the gold appear like shiny metal instead of a flat yellow shade.

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

applications

14 | monogram process book

When we started applying the monogram onto the business card, I initially started in grayscale in order to think about the layout in terms of contrast and value. I liked the idea of having a black outline around card with the monogram inside to reference a movie screen or a film strip. I also experimented with inverting the color of the monogram on the back side to create a play between both sides of the card. In terms of orientation, I quickly realized I wanted the front to be vertical to showcase my monogram, but I was considering both orientations for the back.

Clark Gable

1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com (252) 2253 (252) 754754 2253 (668) 2867 (668) 432432 2867

Clark Gable Clark Gable Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Blvd 1901 Hollywood Boulevard 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkable@gmail.com clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com 754 2253 (252) 754 2253 (252) 754(252) 2253 432 2867 (668) 432 2867 (668) 432(668) 2867

Clark Clark GableGable 1901 Hollywood Blvd 1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkable@gmail.com clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

(668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood 1901 Hollywood Blvd Blvd clarkable@gmail.com clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com 754 2253 (252)(252) 754 2253 432 2867 (668)(668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable

16 | monogram process book

1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com Clark Gable (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867 1901 Hollywood Boulevard Clark Gable clarkgable@gmail.com 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com (668)754432 2867 (252) 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard Clark Gable clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com 1901 Hollywood Boulevard (252) 754 2253 clarkgable@gmail.com (668) 432 2867 clarkgable.com Clark Gable (252) 754 2253 1901 Hollywood Boulevard (668) 432 2867 clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

1 c c ( (

Clark Gable 1901Gable Hollywood Boulevard Clark clarkgable@gmail.com 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 432 2867 (252)(668) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable

1901 Hollywood B clarkgable@gmai clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

refinement

Once I knew the orientation and general layout of the card, I began experimenting with more ways of using color. I decided to bring the gold into the back of the card by rendering the monogram entirely in gold, and making his name and title match. I also added the stripe back into the monogram at the back, so that it referenced the one on the front more explicitly. For the edges of the card, I decided that two rounded edges would look more expensive and luxurious, and that adding a gold stripe around the inside would further this appearance.

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable

18 | monogram process book

1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable 1901 Hollywood Blvd Clark Gable clarkgable@gmail.com Hollywood Blvd Clark1901 Gable clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com Clark 1901 Gable Hollywood clarkgable.com (252)Boulevard 754 2253 1901clarkgable@gmail.com Hollywood (668) 432 2867 (252)Boulevard 754 2253 (668) 432 2867 clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable Actor

Clark Gable

Actor 1901 Hollywood Blvd

Clark Gable

1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkgable@gmail.com

Clark Gableclarkgable.com 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com

1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (252) 754 2253 (668) (668) 432 432 2867 2867

Clacc

Actor

(

1901

Clark Gabl(

clark

1901 Hollywood clark clarkgable@gma (252) clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable Actor

Clark Gable Clark Gable

1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkgable@gmail.com

1901 Actor Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com 1901 Hollywood Blvd (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com (252)clarkgable@gmail.com 754 2253 1901 Hollywood Boulevard (668)clarkgable.com 432 2867

Clark Gable

clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

Clark Gable Actor

Clark Gable

1901 Hollywood Blvd

ClarkActor Gable 1901 Hollywood Blvd

clarkgable@gmail.com Clark 1901 Gable Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com

1901clarkgable@gmail.com Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867 (668) 432 2867

critique

20 | monogram process book

Clark Gable Actor

Clark GableBlvd 1901 Hollywood

Clark Gable Actor (252) 754 2253

1901 Hollywood Boulevard

1901 Hollywood Blvd clarkgable@gmail.com Clark Gable clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253

clarkgable.com clarkgable.com 1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com (252) 754 2253 clarkgable@gmail.com (668) 432 2867 clarkgable.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867

At critique, the main criticism of my work was that it did not make full use of our ability to use 2-3 colors. I agreed with this criticism, and wish that I could have found a way to bring in another color while still letting the card feel masculine and classy. If I could do the process again, I would bring in another color in a subtle way in order to add some dimension and interest to the monogram. Overall however the response to my monogram was positive, with most people saying that it was elegant, and fit Clark Gableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality.

22 | monogram process book

Claire Warhover Monogram Process Book Typography II Fall 2018 Strada TF

Clark Gable Actor

1901 Hollywood Blvd Clark Gable (252) 754 2253

1901 Hollywood Boulevard clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable@gmail.com clarkgable.com clarkgable.com (252) 754 2253 (668) 432 2867