Typography
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Abstract
Art
Grad Thesis
MGx Thesis Project 2020 ArtCenter College of Design Yilin Miao
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Typography as Abstract Art Abstract art
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Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Grad Thesis
By changing the function of Typography, it can confer emotion and information as Abstract Art.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Description
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Abstract art
When Fine Art developed, figurative art was deconstructed and then rebuilt and it was up to abstract art to convey meanings beyond its visual aspect, and information included in those of art also turned from concrete to abstract. Similarly, as an effective way of communicating information, typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language more legible, readable and appealing once displayed. It is logical and it conveys information. But, can typography convey abstract information as abstract art does? By changing the traditional function of typography, which connotes a specific emotion, we change the way of appreciating, understanding and assimilating information.
Content
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Research and Analysis Abstract art _Background _Definition _Development _Abstract Art and Representational Art _Dada movement
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Typography _Definition _History
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Typography connotes emotions
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Inspirations
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An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
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Deliverables Specimen sheets
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Abstract poster series
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Tote bags
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Keychains
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Conclusion
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Bibliography
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Experiment Mind map
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Feneralia _Alphabet _Color Palette _3D Version
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Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
01 Abstract art
Research and Analysis
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Grad Thesis
Abstract Art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Willem de Kooning (USA, 19041997), Landscape, oil on two joined sheets of paper laid down on canvas, 91.4 x 121.9 cm. (36 x 48 in.), 1972
Background Worringer divides human artistic activities into two basic types: Empathy impulse and abstract impulse. Empathy impulse strongly rely on the object, which is the creative source of classical art and realistic art mainly based on imitation. On the contrary, abstract impulse focuses on the subject and emphasizes inner aesthetic needs of human beings. Our ancestors used simple points and lines to describe images with abstract meanings. Therefore, human's abstract impulse is a more primitive and essential artistic orientation. Human being is perceptual. During the process of growing up, we learn to accept the rational way of thinking and suppress the potential perceptual demands, which will eventually lead to the alienation of abstract expression. Especially at the end of the 19th century, productivity has been greatly improved, rationality has been highly praised and became a tool, which people used as a to conquer nature, But people were also isolated from nature by doing this. When people were gradually isolated from nature and even their own spiritual life was ignored, on the ground of abstract impulse, this anti rationality trend has become a historical necessity.
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Abstract art
Therefore, the reason for the arise and development of modern abstract art is to fight against the indifferent material and industrial civilization , to publicize human nature from the perspective of the freedom of conscience, returning back to nature and pursuing free expression.
Definition "Abstract "is a foreign language, the original meaning refers to the abandonment of non essential factors and the extraction of essential factors. Abstract in art is only the generalization and refinement of concrete image at first, which cleared the specific outline and details and become highly symbolic. Abstract painting must get rid of any recognizable objects, and is only made up of color, composition, symbol, point, line, surface, and texture.
Grad Thesis
Abstract painting art refers to the unrecognizable content in art, which has no relationship with the external world. It is not only the pure spiritual art but also the high sublimation of concrete painting art. Abstract art is not a reflection of the objective world like a mirror, but a reflection of subjective and emotional. It has no specific image, just a combination of some points, lines, faces and colors. The form of the painting completely gets rid of the concrete language and during the process of creation, paintes always feel relaxed and free.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Development Abstract painting as an art school originated in Europe in the early 20th century. Generally speaking, abstract painting can be divided into two categories: the passionate and dynamic organic abstraction represented by Kandinsky (thermal abstraction), and the calm, concise and orderly geometric abstraction led by Mondrian (cold abstraction). Cubism, born in 1908, is the forerunner of modern abstract painting. Kandinsky, a Russian who founded the "Green Knight school" in 1911, is regarded as the father of abstract painting.Mondrian insisted on thinking with the vertical and horizontal rectilinear square composition throughout his life. Red, yellow and blue are his main colors. The rise and prosperity of American Abstract Expressionism (hot Abstract) and Minimalism (cold Abstract) happened after World War II. In the 1950s, American abstract expressionism was represented by de cunning and Pollock. In
Juan Gris, Portrait of Picasso (detail), 1912.
the 1960s and 1970s, minimalism represented by Roscoe and Newman had inherited Mondrian's coldness and conciseness.
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Abstract art
From rationalism to emotionalism, and then from emotionalism to rationalism, this is a cycle of rising and is the law of the development of all things. It is also the feature of the evolution of all artistic styles.
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Abstract art and representational art
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Representative
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Grad Thesis
Preference and affective responses to abstract and representational art
Representational paintings with interpretative content tend to arouse more emotion in viewers than abstract paintings.
Preference measured on nine-point scale, affect on nine-point SAM scale
Irrespective of the kind of art preferred by the viewer, paintings that arouse the viewer’s emotions tend to be preferred.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
This one shows that the number of fixations and their duration differed significantly for abstract and representational paintings.
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Representational art elicits a large number of short eye fixations dispersed over a very broad area of the painting, whereas abstract art is viewed in a more focused way, with fewer but longer eye fixations concentrated on the central gravity area of the painting.
Representative Abstract ***p=.001 **p=.01
Abstract art
Differences between abstract and representational art by number and duration of fixations
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Examples of eye movements for abstract and representational paintings Grad Thesis
The viewing style of representational art indicates, perhaps, that consumers are actively searching for meaningful cognitive elements in all parts of the artwork, including the peripheral parts. In contrast, abstract art often lacks specific details containing symbolic meaning, and therefore perceived in a more focused manner, with fewer fixation points. The peripheral parts of abstract paintings are identified only with peripheral vision, which is not captured in eye movement figures, whereas with representational paintings symbolic elements are searched for actively in all parts of the work.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
the first column shows the original paintings. The second column shows total eye fixation frequency for all participants. The third column denotes the eye scan paths of one representative participant.
In our non-professional consumer sample, representational art was preferred over abstract art, and also aroused more intense emotions. Abstract art seems to arouse less emotion in viewers than representational art. This may indicate that abstract art tends to cultivate an intellectual aesthetic experience rather than an emotional experience. However, the positive association between a viewer’s preference and affect also held true for abstract art. Therefore, we can draw a general conclusion that art preference and the strength of emotions aroused are positively correlated for all types of art. Through the use of eye movement measurement, we found some significant differences in the viewing styles applied to abstract and representational art. Representational art elicits a glancing, broadly dispersed viewing style with many short fixations, whereas the viewing of abstract art seems to be more focused and to be concentrated towards the centre of the painting. Perhaps the difference is due to the fact that, in representational paintings, more information can be gathered from different parts of the painting, whereas abstract paintings contain less detailed symbolic information, which in turn leads to more focused viewing with only a few fixation points. The results for the viewing of contemporary representational and abstract art are entirely novel, since other studies of art perception have focused solely on traditional genres. Abstract art
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Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Dada Dada aims at deconstruction, it is about destroying traditional values in art and to create a new art to replace the old. It first emerged as a reaction to boredorn, or perhaps, in spite of it. If nothing to be done in the pursuit of perfection, then maybe destruction can be a viable alternative. In dada terms, destruction is meant to cause awakening, and to stimulate a break away from the norm. It is an absurdist philosophy: anti-rational, anti-logic. Against itself. Dada is anti-dada.
Abstract art
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Grad Thesis
Typography
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Movable type being assembled on a composing stick using pieces that are stored in the type case shown below it
Definition Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line-spacing (leading), and letter-spacing (tracking), and adjusting the space between pairs of letters (kerning). It also involves font style, appearance, and structure, which aims to elicit certain emotions and convey specific messages. In short, typography is what brings the text to life.
History Typography can be dated back to the 11th century, during the innovation of movable type. Before the digital age, typography was a specialized craft associated with books and magazines, and eventually public works. The first example of typography can be seen in the Gutenberg Bible, which kick-started a typography revolution in the west part of the world.
Typography
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Grad Thesis
Typography connotes emotions
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
People are asked to assign personalities and emotions to each font, and the result were organized according to personality factors that the different fonts shared most frequently. Serif fonts were rated as"stable","practical", and"mature". Sans serif fonts didn't receive any particularly positive or negative personality associations. Script fonts were perceived as"feminine", "funny", and"casual". Modern fonts were categorized as"masculine", "assertive", and"coarse". Monospaced fonts were called"dull","plain", and"unimaginative".
Sans Serif
Calibri/Century Gothic/Arial/Verdana/Corbel
Traditional
Serif
Constantia/Georgia/Times New Roman/Cambria
Happy Creative
Script/Funny
Kristen/Comic Sans
Assertive Bold
Modern Display
Impact/Rockwell Xbold/Agency FB
Plain
Monospaced
Courier New/Consolas
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Typography connotes emotions
All purpose
Grad Thesis
Here's the full breakdown of the top three fonts for each emotion and personality trait in the survey.
Stable
TNR
Arial
Cambria
Flexible
Kristen
Gigi
Rage Halio
Conformist
Courier New
TNR
Arial
Polite
Monotype Corsiva
TNR
Cambria
Mature
TNR
Courier New
Cambria
Formal
TNR
Monotype Corsiva
Georgia
Assertive
Impact
Rockwell Xbold
Georgia
Practical
Georgia
TNR
Cambria
Creative
Gigi
Kristen
Rage Halio
Happy
Kristen
Gigi
Comic Sans
Exciting
Gigi
Kristen
Rage Halio
Attractive
Monotype Corsiva
Rage Halio
Gigi
Elegant
Monotype Corsiva
Rage Halio
Gigi
Cuddly
Kristen
Gigi
Comic Sans
Feminine
Gigi
Monotype Corsiva
Kristen
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Gigi
Kristen
Rage Halio
Rigid
Impact
Courier New
Agency FB
Rebel
Gigi
Kristen
Rage Halio
Rude
Impact
Rockwell Xbold
Agency FB
Youthful
Kristen
Gigi
Comic Sans
Casual
Kristen
Comic Sans
Gigi
Passive
Kristen
Gigi
Comic Sans
Impractical
Gigi
Rage Halio
Kristen
Unimaginative
Courier New
Arial
Consolas
Sad
Impact
Courier New
Agency FB
Dull
Courier New
Consolas
Verdana
Unattractive
Impact
Courier New
Rockwell Xbold
Plain
Courier New
Impact
Rockwell Xbold
Coarse
Impact
Rockwell Xbold
Courier New
Mascline
Impact
Rockwell Xbold
Courier New
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Typography connotes emotions
Unstable
Grad Thesis
Inspirations
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Thomas Ingmire, exploratory calligraphy for One Day by Jack Hirschman, 2017.
Thomas Ingmire His work are related to music and poetry, which will be used as inspiration for guiding the development of new calligraphic forms and compositions. He is interested in the pictorial possibilities of language itself: the word as image, and the expressive potential of calligraphy to capture the emotion and atmosphere of a text. This involved the creation of new non-traditional letterforms and testing the limits of various techniques including distortion, fragmentation, shifts in placement of text, and composition. He uses abstract calligraphic marks in response to jazz music. Words and images, are intended to create a picture of sound. In reading, to the “hear” the music of the language.
Inspirations
This one was from the 1980's. The calligraphy and painting strive to capture the atmosphere and mood of the poets' words.
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Thomas Ingmire, One Day by Jack Hirschman, handmade book, San Francisco, 2017, 39 x 58 cm.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Inspirations
This picture uses of color and contrast in the development of new letterforms as a means to capture expressions of delight.
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
The 3D Alphabet Ji Lee created a 3D alphabet with the help of a 3D computer program. He took the left most point of each capital letter and revolved it 360 degrees around the axis and created the symmetrical letters. Since the letters are symmetrical you can read them from left to right. Ji Lee’s purpose for the letters is to challenge your mind by simply just trying to figure out each letter or a word. He also uses the letters as forms and creates toys or abstract images. He challenges the reader to read right to left, in a stacked or circular from because of the symmetry of the letterforms. Ji Lee, Universe Revolved Alphabet (The 3D Alphabet), 2008,Computer Graphics
Inspirations
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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My collections
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Research and Analysis
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Direction
Opacity
Blurr
Overlay
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An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
Size
Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
Result 1
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Abstract art
Result 2
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Result 3
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An idea about deconstructing the function of typography
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Research and Analysis Typography as Abstract Art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
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Experiment
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Abstract art
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 1
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Grids, structures and alphabets
Feneralia, Frank Stella, 1995
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Typography as Abstract Art
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W Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 2
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Grids, structures and alphabets
Feneralia, Frank Stella, 1995
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 3
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Grids, structures and alphabets
Feneralia, Frank Stella, 1995
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Example 4
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Grids, structures and alphabets
Untitled XII, 1975 and Untitled 13, 1977, Willem de Kooning
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Example 5
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Grids, structures and alphabets
Untitled XII, 1975 and Untitled 13, 1977, Willem de Kooning
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Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 6
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Grids, structures and alphabets
Untitled XII, 1975 and Untitled 13, 1977, Willem de Kooning
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 7
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Guernica, Picasso, 1937
Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 8
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Guernica, Picasso, 1937
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Example 9
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Guernica, Picasso, 1937
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Example 10
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Composition Viii, Wassily Kandinsky, 1923
Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 11
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Experiment
Composition Viii, Wassily Kandinsky, 1923
Grids, structures and alphabets
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Example 12
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Experiment
Composition Viii, Wassily Kandinsky, 1923
Grids, structures and alphabets
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Feneralia
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Typography as Abstract Art
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Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Alphabet Firstly, I printed out the original painting. Then, I lined out the basic structure of this painting depend on my understanding and feeling. Next, I used one of the methods which I explored in the last phase to create this alphabet. I divided the whole painting into several squares and drew each letter in each square following a specific sequence. By doing this, I got an unique alphabet paired with one painting. Lastly, I put this hand-drawing alphabet into Glyphs to generate the final alphabet.
Feneralia
some screenshots of process
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some screenshots of process
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
Color Palette I extracted colors from original painting to generate a the color palette.
R: 255 G: 51 B: 157 #FF339D
R: 255 G: 143 B: 69 #FF8F45
R: 255 G: 239 B: 102 #FFEF66 Feneralia
R: 0 G: 197 B: 99 #00C563
R: 87 G: 214 B: 255 #57D6FF
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Typography as Abstract Art
Experiment
3D Version Alphabet I also explored to apply this alphabet into 3D version.
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
03 Abstract art
Deliverables
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Specimen sheets
Grad Thesis
Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Specimen sheets
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Abstract poster series
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Tote bags
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract poster series
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Tote bags
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
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Typography as Abstract Art
Deliverables
Keychains
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
04 Abstract art
Conclusion
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Typography as Abstract Art
Conclusion
I have kept asking myself two questions throught out the whole process of experimentation and expolration. The first one is, instead of always being used in a traditional way, How can letters function in a pictorial way? The other one is, to what extend can abstract art be used as a way of a grid system, which create letter forms. During my research, I found out different people have different understandings of abstract arts and their respones varies from individual to individual. Some people even do not care about whether they can understand them, while another group of them are very curious about the deeper meaning and the value behind those paintings. Moreover, each master's work could generate its own alphabet and its unique structure based on people's understanding, and the text which is made up of its alphabet conveys more meanings and facets of the story than traditional descriptions. At first, I tried to make every step make sense, but I failed many times and sometimes the experiment that I did led to nothing and failed to meet my expectation. However, they brought me fresh ideas which I never thought about before at the same time, and they broadened my ways of thinking.
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Bibliography
1. What Was Abstract Art? (From the Point of View of Heidegger), The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Ingvild Torsen, Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo 0315, Oslo, Norway 2.Consumer Perception of Abstract and Representational Visual Art, International Journal of Arts Management, Volume 15, Number 1, Fall 2012, Liisa Uusitalo, Jaana Simola, Jarmo Kuisma 3. The Practice of Chinese Typography: Layout, Tony Palmer,1 Monash University, Australia
Grad Thesis
4. Calligraphic Forms in Contemporary Typographic Design, Ezden Pekta, Turgut Assistant Professor, GaziUniversity Faculty of Fine Art VCD Dept
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Bibliography
5. Emotional Typography: The Effectiveness of Current Typographic Design, Categories in Eliciting Emotion, Amic G. Ho,1 The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 6. Calligraphy and Klee's Abstract Painting: A Study on Categorical Ambiguity, Liliana Albertazzi, Luisa Canal, Rocco Micciolo and Massimo Vescovi 7. Defining the abstract, Jane Hart 8. The Road to Abstraction: Progressing from Image to Symbol, Karl Hagedorn and Diana Cavallo 9. Typography and Graphic Design, Roxane Jubert 10. Graphic Design: Fine Art or Social Science? Jorge Frascara
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Typography as Abstract Art
Research and Analysis
Abstract art
Colophon Designer Yilin Miao Class Grad Thesis Professors and Department Advisors Samantha J. Fleming Sean Adams Constantin Chopin Kjell Van Sice Institution ArtCenter College of Design Term Spring 2020 Typefaces Helvetica, Minion
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