Monologue Please forgive us (again) for the delay. In this publication we wanted to try to engage the readers in a slightly new way. For the first six publications we manage to accomplish our own personal goal : to keep publishing consistently. Though it doesn’t seem to be such a big deal, but for us it is. It shows how we are commited to this publication, and that is why we are so proud of what we are working of. True the publication is simple, independent if you may, but we learn many things from doing it and we hope you do too (from reading it of course.) We are also reconsidering some of our themes for the next few months, since some things unexpectedlly happen and we try to adjust ourselves to make sure everything goes well.
We have a treat from our friend that helped us in supplying graphics for this publication, it helps to have someone covering the artworks so that we don’t really spend a lot of time looking for some. (just kidding).
Well, we better not get to ahead of ourselves typing a lot, this publication speaks a little about type. Because there are a wide amount of information that could be typed in this publication we try to keep it minimum for our fingers to type. So let’s stop typing and please enjoy the work of our typewriters, Type 101.
2
|
JU N E
2 0 1 4
TYPE 101
As time goes on and new ways of communication are found and used, everyday we see the birth of many new texts. May it be neatly arranged or poorly organized. As various text compositions are made so does new terminology appears.
|
3
TYPE 101
T
he word typography has been a popular word in the design industry,
especially on graphic design. Another word that is closely related is font. When asked about font many people seemed to have diverse understanding on what the word font meant. Is it the same as typography? And what is type design? Here we hope we could give some enlightenment to those who still find themselves unclear about the terminologies stated before.
A typographic work by herb Lubalin
Type
4
| JU NE
So what is type? In graphic design
There are many terms associated
especially, type is a character or
with type. Most of them are slightly
a letter, it is a part of the design
different in meaning with another,
elements. Type is an important
therefore creating confusion to
element in any design that uses
some. Like the term font and
type. It serves as a text to inform,
typeface. What is the difference
persuade or communicate. It
between both of them? Imagine
also can serve as a shape or a
you are hearing a song, or a musical
composition. Compositions made
composition, the tune is produced
with using types are often called
when playing an audio file, such as
typography art or typographic art,
mp3. Now, the song is similar to
while using hand to free draw a
typeface as mp3 to font. Typeface
letter composition is often called
is the collection of type that we see.
lettering.
While font is what enables us to
2 0 1 4
TYPE 101
see typeface, and in today’s age, it
each type in the typeface, while a
would be like a digital file.
typographer uses the types
So when someone said “I like the
and create
way helvetica looks”, he/she is
artworks or
referring to the typeface helvetica,
design based
but when someone said “Can I
on the type
copy your helvetica?”, he/she is
that was made
referring to the font helvetica.
by the type
Knowing the correct term about
designer. You
font and typeface may not help you
wouldn’t mix
save millions, but it sure doesn’t
someone who
hurt to be able to understand the
made guitar
difference. Especially if you are
with someone
really into the business.
who play guitar right? But here’s Herb Lubalin
Another couple that are often
the interesting
misinterpreted would be
fact: Someone who plays guitar
typography and type design. Type
may not be able to create one,
design is the act of designing a
but someone who made a guitar
type, or designing a letter. While
probably can play one.
typography is the act of designing a type composition, such as lettering. A type designer decides how the type would look and feel,
So a type
“You can do a good ad without good typography, but you can’t do a gread ad without good typography. ” - Herb Lubalin
designer is often a typographer too, such as Herb Lubalin. Mr Lubalin is known with his amazing works
|
5
TYPE 101
with lettering, logos, typographic
a typographer can’t be a type
compositions and also Avant
designer?
grade, the typeface he designed. Now this kind of understanding
Looking back at the definitions,
is what probably makes some
a type designer creates a type
people confused. As great as he
and later a typeface, which
is, Massimo Vignelli isn’t a type
consist of several typeface, while
designer. He is a typographer,
a typographer creates type
but he does not create his own
compositions with the typeface.
typeface. So if then how can a type
Now when designing a typeface,
designer be a typographer while
the type designer also makes
Auto Kerning
Optical Kerning
0 Tracking
Leading, tracking and kerning.
-100 Tracking
6
| JU NE
2 0 1 4
TYPE 101
measurements of kerning, leading,
of how hard the work is. There
and tracking. All of them are
are many works that should be
measurements on how a type
done. Especially when creating all
is arranged with another. These
alphabet, numerical and symbols.
measurements are also used when
The purpose of this discussion is
creating a type composition,
to acknowledge and respect the
therefore a type designer also
work of others, type designer of
works as a typographer when
typographers by learning about
creating a typeface, although quite
their works. By learning and
unnoticeable.
understanding we hope that people could find the value of their work
The work of a type designer is a
and use their work as it should have
work that has reached many people
been used. Used properly.
in the world. Without a proper type design, text that communicates
Type Design
information would’ve been unclear
As mentioned before type design
and messy. Imagine a world without
is the process of creating a type.
a proper and readable text, imagine
If a typographic composition is
a world where typeface is nothing
a building than type itself is the
but a fantasy. how hard would it
foundation block. When most of us
had been. Information, education,
are at university, our lecturer once
technology wouldn’t developed.
mentioned about how designing
Great typefaces, such as helvetica,
a type is like designing a building.
garamond, frutiger, bodoni, and
It had to be stable, so that the eye
many more, helps humanity by
could see it as something pleasant.
properly connecting them.
It also had to be consistent in style and shape so that when formed
If you haven’t tried designing your
together as a word or even a
own proper typeface, you probably
sentence, each letter would serve
have no concrete imagination
it’s purpose, to communicate well.
|
7
TYPE 101
In type design we have what we
above. By knowing the anatomy of
call anatomy based on the shape of
type we can also design a unique
each letter. The anatomy are used
typeface on our ow, simply by
just to describe several parts of the
having consistency on some parts.
letter in precise.
for example by putting a similar treatment to the bracket of an ‘a’
By knowing the terms for each
and the tail of a ‘y’ we can create a
letter’s anatomy we can easily
relation between them, a consistent
describe a letter well. We can just
and similar proportion between
simply say ‘ear’ rather than trying to
stem and crossbar for each letter
describe a part of ‘g’ that is hanging
can also help creating relationship
Type Anatomy
8
| JU NE
2 0 1 4
TYPE 101
of type. Another anatomy that is
famous ones which are quite hard to
usually known and highlighted is the
spot if you don’t really know where
serif. Since it is probably one of the
to look. In identifying typefaces it
most reoccurring part in a typeface.
is hard to just see from one letter,
Serifs is also used to create a
as several distinct aspects of the
classification for typefaces. You
typefaces are usually located in
probably know that the most known
several letters.
Type classification based on the serif
classification for typefaces are serif and sans serif. Actually there are still
In the next page we would like to
several classifications more than that
invite you to a simple game, try to
based on serifs. As complicated as
guess the typefaces that are listed
it seems, designing the shape of a
bellow. The typeface we chose are
type is not all the hard parts. When
typefaces that are quite popular,
designing and also making a font,
so it shouldn’t be a hard task to
the type designer also measures
figure them all. We will be putting
kerning, leading and tracking.
the answer on the last page of the publication. No cheating, make sure
By understanding these parts we
you have all your answers before
hope you can find it easier next time
checking the answer in the last page
to identify typefaces, especially the
of the publication.
|
9
TYPE 101
1 0
| JU NE
2 0 1 4
TYPE 101
Typography
their vast characteristics is hard. To
Now we’re at the fun part, the part
overcome this limitation designers
were most people prefer more than
would usually use different families
the other. Typography is basically
from their typeface, such as bold,
messing around with type. Typing
extended, light, italic, and others.
in a word processor, calligraphy, doodle, graffiti, giving colour to
Back to type design for a moment,
a word, or simply writing stuff.
the families are all designed in a
In a more design oriented way,
similar manner one another. The ‘f’
the term typography is arranging
from a regular typeface will have the
the letters in a design layout, the
same characteristic with it’s light,
colour, and choosing the typefaces.
bold, heavy cousins as they are all
In graphic design the famous rule
the same typeface.
on typeface usage is the limitation to only two or three the most.
Another formula on typeface
The reason is because combining
usage in design is by using one
various typeface at one design, with
serif and one sans serif. Serif and
Helvetica Neue Family
|
1 1
TYPE 101
sans serif both has different pros
where the designers, or artists,
and cons, serif with it’s hook like
create works using experimental
shape connects each type better,
techniques of typography.
as to increase reading speed more
One of the first designers who
than serif, therefore when creating
experimented on typography and
design with massive amounts of
gave birth to grunge typography is
text using serif as a body text is a
David Carson. Though his work was
good option. Sans serif on the other
considered brave for the industry
hand without and attachments has
at that time, David showed that
high readability than serif, therefore
typography can be a free art form.
in some spaces, such as small sized mediums like name cards or
So in the end of the day we would
mediums that are viewed quickly
like to encourage everyone to be
such as a sign uses sans serif more.
more fluid and expressive on their work, especially on typography.
But still these are just a basic rule
They say rules are meant to be
for designers and there are no
broken, but the thing is you have
obligations to follow them. Some
to know the rule so that you can
designers can also pull off using
really broke it. So to make sure you
various typefaces, though it is more
are heading towards the right path,
often seen for typographic works
keep learning, and keep discussing.
Article References: http://johndberry.com/blog/2011/09/27/a-typographer-is-not-a-type-designer/ http://www.aiga.org/theyre-not-fonts/ http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/01/17/understanding-difference-between-type-andlettering/ http://www.sitepoint.com/elements-of-design-type/ http://www.mmprint.com/blog/2011/typography-kerning-leading-tracking/ Our own lecture notes back then =)
Image References: http://www.thefoxisblack.com/blogimages//herb-lubalin-poster.jpg http://ranbalin.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/herb_lubalin.jpg Infographics prepared by Brian Alvin Hananto from Weiss Graphic
1 2
| JU NE
2 0 1 4
Next Discussion: Next discussion we’re going to be more focused upon typography as none of us are really type designers so we may not have the right to speak much and teach others about type design, but at least some of us are keen typographers so probably we could share some.
Currently the project for August’s publication is on progress, and it’s kind of tricky. Sooo let’s stop typing in this publication and start typing for the other publication. Cheers guys.
Quiz answers: (1) Optima (2) Din (3) Avenir Next - The typeface we use in the publication (4) Avant Garde Gothic Pro - Made by Herb Lubalin (5) Gotham (6) Interstate (7) Meta (8) Helvetica - Which we feature in this publication (9) Gill Sans (10) Universe.
|
1 3