The publication for everyday type enthusiasts 80Ęźs Special Edition Nobody puts type in a corner ...
Issue 2|July 2017| $4.90
“Typography needs to be audible. Typography need -Helmut
The Evil Dead Logo Image Source: http://cromeyellow.com/80s-horror-movie-logos-compiled-by-christian-annyas/
Tron Movie logo Image Source: https://awesomelyshitty.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/tron/
Stranger Things Title Image Source: http://hellogiggles.com/you-can-make-your er-than-you-can-toast-an-eggo-waffle/
The 1980’s were a glistening time to be alive, Pac-Man came chomping into arcades, Michael Jackson released his timeless classic ‘Thriller’, The ‘Back to the future’ film series starring Michael J Fox was released and Apple founder Steve Jobs brought the first Macintosh computer into the world. These are just some of the landmark events that defined the unforgettable decade that was the 1980’s. With all these mainstream pop culture mediums came the designs that accompanied them, typography played a fundamental part in the design process throughout the decade. The type design would incorporate graphical elements such as grids, gradients, neon effects and drop shadows to name a few. Fonts used in popular movies, tv shows and games would take the form of different shapes and styles to suit the tone of that particular medium. Typography could be big and bold to create emphasis for a title, or a more sleek approach such as slanted or handwritten type would be used to display a sense of glamour. Pixelated font styles are another dominant example from the genre defining decade, this particular style had an effect on the arcade scene in which the games themselves were pixelated. Many of these design traits have become memorable examples to many everyday people and have changed the landscape of pop culture. To this day, this particular style has inspired shows like ‘Stranger Things’ to capture the 80’s spirit in it’s opening title sequence. The year of 1984 saw the emergence of the Macintosh 128k, otherwise known as the first Macintosh computer from tech giant Apple. This piece of technology would change not just personal computing but the design industry as a whole. The traditional typesetting
First Macintosh Computer Image Source: https://everystevejobsvideo.com/original-macintosh-introduction-apple-shareholder-event-1984/
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80’s MTV Logo Image Source: http://www.liketotally80s. com/2010/08/80s-mtv/
80’s inspired pixelated font - Bordersprite Image Source: http://m.font.downloadatoz.com/font,29223
ds to be felt. Typography needs to be experienced.” Schmid
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Masters of the Universe Logo Image Source: https://collectmasters.org/tag/masters-of-the-universe-logo/
Pac-Man Title Screen Image Source: https://www.genesis8bit.fr/archives/ index.php?news_id=489
method used by designers at the time would be replaced by the system’s digital font library. This transition would benefit amateurs entering the graphic design environment as well as industry professionals. The low resolution of earlier models would require new fonts to be made to establish legibility. The impact this computer had on the design community would lay the ground work for the future and would set Apple computers as the industry standard for designers worldwide. Many font families were pass-downed from previous decades and took a stronghold in the 1980’s along with more recent entries. A great degree of typefaces would be included in the ITC, (International Typeface Corporation) library for filmsetting and computer set types globally. Some notable typefaces that surfaced in the decade are Gill Sans, Century Old Style, Frutiger 55, Garamond, Futura and Avant Garde Gothic. These examples could been seen in print publications and also displayed on album covers. Notable graphic designers that experimented with type and contributed to successful designs in the 1980’s are Neville Brody, David Carson, Michael Beirut, Paula Scher and Herb Lubalin. You can ask any designer which decade they’re work is inspired from, you would get various answers from different designers; however, I believe many would cite this decade as one of the most influential in history as it demonstrated to be experimental and adventurous with design elements and principles. These design traits would pave the way for forthcoming designers to break all the rules and reach daring new heights in their career.
80’s Inspired font - Rubix Font Image Source: https://www.behance.net/ gallery/148670/Rubix-Font
80’s inspired font - Sweet Talk Image Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/173861/SWEET-TALK
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This publication is designed for use in all graphic design studios
TYPE HEAD Copyright Š 2017 by Josh Ankers Made and designed in Brisbane, Australia