type classification
Kelsey Beyer
I knew I wanted my posters to be clean and contemporary, so I chose to use only vertical and horizontal text. I felt that turning my title vertical would help create a unique feel that still succeeded in being clean.
along the side. I tried this, but I didn’t feel as though it completed the look I was going for.
This is where I began with my design on the computer. My ‘X’ was very large, the alphabet small at the bottom, the title along the right vertical edge, and my typefaces and paragraph following the lines of the ‘X.’
Instead, I stuck to a very strict grid and made some changes. I made my title smaller and made sure my paragraph would not go past a certain point. All paragraphs now line up at exactly the same point on the page on their right sides. All X’s are exactly the same height, and all type along the X’s is carefully spaced far away enough from the X that it is more easily seen from far away. I moved the ‘X’ and accompanying text (typefaces and paragraphs) down so that the top of the page wasn’t so concrated and heavy. Finally, I increased the size of my alphabet by two points to make it easier to read, and I made it 75% black rather than 50% red so that it is easier to notice and detracts less from the large red ‘X’ and red typeface of choice.
At the second critique, peers felt the spacing and balance wasn’t as good as it could be, and a couple of them suggested moving the title to the bottom of the page and the alphabet
I’m extremely happy with the changes I made, and though I went against what a few of my peers thought would be right, I think my solution works better for the vision I had.
I experimented a lot with exactly how to arrange my poster and exactly what elements to turn on their sides. I knew the ‘X’ needed to remain horizontal to achieve my goal. However, I was torn between turning my alphabet or my title on its side. After the first class critique, peers agreed they liked the design with the title on its side, rather than the alphabet.
old style
Calisto Goudy Old Style Perpetua Palatino
Old style type has roots in calligraphy, but it is the beginning of the departure from handwriting style. Throughout these years, approximately 1500 - 1750, punchcutters’ skills were developing, which allowed for letterforms to be more refined. Old style letters thus have greater differences between thick and thin weights. Some other characteristics of the forms are wedge-shaped serifs, more upright stress, and horizontal crossbars.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ; ‘ “ ? ! ( )
modern
Edition Bodoni Didot Century Schoolbook
It has been said that modern type was the first style created in an effort to use design of typefaces to establish a contemporary visual style rather than just a means to an end. The typeface pictured here, Bodoni, was designed by Giambattista Bodoni in the late 18th century for Duke Ferdinand of Parma. The style does not rely as heavily on technology as transitional does, but more on visual expression. Some characteristics of the style are extreme contrast between thick and thin, hairline serifs without bracketing, small x-heights, and vertical stress.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ; ‘ “ ? ! ( )
sans serif
Avenir Helvetica Futura Century Gothic
One could argue that sans serif letters have been around since the beginning of time, when ancient carvings first appeared. However, the
formal sans serif style was not introduced until the late 19th century. Before World War II, sans serif was based on classical proportions.
Later, there was experimentation with expressionism,
modernism, and the avant garde. After World War II, Swiss designers began creating more “older fashioned” sans serif typefaces, many of which are popular today, including Helvetica, Avenir, and Frutiger. Sans serif types can vary greatly, but they all have one trait in common: they are without serifs, hence, sans.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ; ‘ “ ? ! ( )
transitional
Georgia Times New Roman Mrs Eaves Baskerville
Transitional type style, created in the 18th century, has no influence from handwriting. The original designs were created on a 48 x 48 square grid, known as Paris
Scientific Type. This resulted in less organic forms and greater contrast
between thicks and thins. Other characteristics of transitional type include a larger x-height, numerals that are cap height and consisten in size, matching heights of capitals and ascenders, serifs, and flat bases.
Head serifs are general more horizontal than previous type styles, and round strokes like ‘o’ are more vertically stressed.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ; ‘ “ ? ! ( )
slab serif
Courier Rockwell Josefin St Marie
If you haven’t heard of the slab serif type classification, perhaps you’ve heard
of it by one of its many other names: Egyptian, square serif, mechanical, or mécanes. Where did Egyptian come from out of all of these logical
names? This name was actually born thanks to Napoleon Bonapart. At the time this classification was born and being developed,
Napoleon returned home from Egypt, and it was a hot topic. Somehow, the nickname caught on and stayed. Slab serif was created to be a “look at me” style rather than a body text style. One form of slab serif is Flat Face, created by Robert Thorne, who coined the term Egyptian. The leading characteristic of slab serif is the completely unbracketed serifs, attached at 90 degree angles, thus the term “slab.”
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ; ‘ “ ? ! ( )
decorative
Birthday Balon Little Bird Cinema Curlz
Decorative type first became popular in the 19th century and was
used primarily on posters and advertisements. It was created as a
result of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. People wanted to express creativity rather than just information. As we’ve all seen, it stayed in use in the 20th and 21st
centuries as well. The decorative classification is unique in that the underlying classification in decorative type
can be any other style. For instance, this typeface has an underlying style of modern. Decorative type is not typically used for body text, rather, it is used for specific purposes. Birthday Balon, for example, might be used to say “You’re Invited” on a birthday party invitation.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 . , : ‘ “ ? ! ( )