Project 4 -Symbolic Type
Zainab Alavi (216293573) YSDN 2007 Typography 3 Darren Wilson April 2nd 2020
Introduction Project 3 for Typography 3, titled “Symbolic Type” aimed for students to create a 24” x 36” poster using a selected theme. The ideal outcome for this project would be to showcase the theme of the word by using typography as the medium. Personally, I hope to successfully utilize typography as a form of communication - not literally but metaphorically and symbolically.
Challenges : - How can we use typography to indirectly/directly express a theme - What are the explorations that can be taken that can showcase the desired theme
Phase 1 Brainstorm To begin this project I started with choosing a theme by brainstorming. I specifically wanted to evoke an emotion through a specific theme or cause, so I started with listing potential emotions I wanted to evoke and chose my theme from there.
I decided to choose the feeling of iFWT`nfatuation for my chosen theme because I felt I could really extend and explore this theme through various media in my typography, because the feeling is very complex and contains many different meaning - both positive and negative.
Moodboard & first iterations
In order to create the feeling of infatuation, I drew inspiration from images + songs that had a very delicate yet powerful feeling to them similar to infatuation. I was surprised to see the Album Art for “Teenage Dream� by Katy Perry really incorporated the theme of infatuation, something I did not notice before.
After making a quick initial sketch for composition, I went straight into my digital renditions. Although, it was still in the rough stages I felt it was feeling too fluffy and the message was hard to convey,. I was having some difficulties portraying my message of infatuation being fluffy but also unrealistic.
Phase 2 Critique
After critique I was told I should - Continue exploring the theme of infatuation, but also look for similar alternatives. - Infatuation is kind of a long word - Theme needs developing (try portraying the dark side of infatuation more) - Explore light and other mediums
After further brainstorming, I decided to choose the word “Eros’ as it felt like infatuation with a more edgy twist which I felt worked perfectly with what I was going for.
Media explorations + experimentation
I wanted to some portray the word using light but I was finding it difficult to create letters and I felt digital manipulation would look unnatural.
I continued playing with the words “love”, “infatuation”, and “Eros”. I tested out watercolour to create a flowy dream-like feel however, it was looking more fun and colourful than I anticipated. I then resorted to creating a more intimate feel using materials, I used a chiffon scarf but it was not holding up to form letters.
Digital experimentation
I started to digitally manipulate text on material. I experimented with Photoshop to create silk to create a bed setting
Critique 2 - Dreamy feel is achieved - hard to read
Phase 3 Analyzing + sketches
In order to convey my theme better, it was crucial I actually understand what my theme was about. I conducted a STEEPV analysis in order to gain a better sense of what my theme was and what I wanted to covey. This really allowed me to re-analyze my design direction.
Through this session, I was able to envision the overall message I wanted to convey, which is to essentially, show the viewer the philosophical meaning of Eros, a fiery passionate “love� that tends to be short lived and hurtful in the end. I want to make the viewer aware that Eros is a beautiful but painful experience within romantic love.
Typographic explorations I looked for some contrasting fonts to combine and remix. I mostly mixed and matches pieces of the letters to see how some parts would look on other typefaces. I experimented with the fonts: Mr. Bedford - a display font that contained the curvy element I wanted to incorporate. Eagle Lake - a fun curly and sophisticated font which seemed to embody the feeling of “Eros” pretty well due to it’s serifs and curves. Quintessential - Similar to Eagle Lake, a bit more thin on the stems and more sleek
I created a warm gradient using colours that were not too warm nor too intense using the Gaussian blur, resulting in a subtle fiery but hazy background. I then masked the type onto this and added a back drop to make the type look stuck on.
I continued to experiment with the typography. I intended to create a “thorny� look to show the dark-side of Eros, since the background was already dreamy looking.
Phase 4 Composition exploration I created a new composition because I felt my previous typography iteration was hard to read and I felt it was not evoking emotion nor presenting my theme too well. Perhaps, a new composition would allow for a deeper meaning to be presented better.
I created a new composition because I felt my previous typography iteration was hard to read and I felt it was not evoking emotion nor presenting my theme too well. Perhaps, a new composition would allow for a deeper meaning to be presented better.
Bevel and Emboss (Inner Bevel) + Inner Shadow
Bevel and Emboss (Pillow Emboss)+ Inner Shadow
In order to create a hazy, dreamy look I experimented with Photoshop array of effects layer style effects such as Bezel and Emboss, Inner Glow and Gradient overlay. The following are me experimenting with these effects.
Bevel and Emboss (Chisel Emboss)+ Inner Shadow
Bevel and Emboss (Inner Bevel)+ Inner Shadow (Layer Multiplied)
Bevel and Emboss (Pillow Emboss)+ Inner Shadow + Gradient Overlay (Soft Overlay)
I felt I had made good progress in my piece in terms of finding an effective way of showing the intertwining and passionate element in Eros.
Bevel and Emboss (Pillow Emboss)+ Inner Shadow + Gradient Overlay (Soft Overlay) + Liquify distortion
Critique - Better incorporation of meaning within type - Try remixing type to create the dark, uncomfortable side of ‘Eros’ .
https://type-department.com/collections/fonts/ products/gallique
I continued to search for a new typeface that contained unique serifs that would be both spikey (to symbolize the aggressive downside of Eros that tends to be hurtful) . I came across a free trial for a typeface named Gallique, by Femme Fonts. It is meant to embody the rose both with thorns and petals, which I thought would be perfect as I wanted to convey that Eros is essentially a beautiful yet dangerous +hurtful stage in many romantic relationships.
Gallique Light ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv
Aa
I added curves and spikey edges to many letters to give a dreamy, flowy through movement yet aggressive {using the rigid thorny serifs)feel to my piece. It was difficult adding the serifs and curves to the sans-serifs letters as they already contained effects on them, this resulted in me individually crafting each of the spikes and whirls to seamlessly transition into the letter.
The areas circled are the adjustments I made through each iteration due to some areas looking too busy or did not blend right.
Final
Conclusion Overall, this project was very fun and enlightening. I enjoyed being able to discover and learn so many different methods and techniques, through digital and physical media exploration. My biggest takeaway would be the importance of research and experimentation. I would not have been able to achieve my final piece, which embodies the dreamy, perplexed and painful state of Eros without thorough research and understanding of the theme itself, as well as multiple iterations. I enjoyed this project very much as it was the perfect mix of challenge and creativity !
Thank you for reading !