Typography II, Moodboards

Andrea, the one below is the moodboard that I was thinking about with the Jane Eyre series. I was telling you that I thought it might be cool to focus on the men of the stories, make it a little darker more moody. I really like the Frankenstein idea, but I also like the idea of using nature and distorting it in some way to create a texture (ie. the two top left pictures). I like the simplicity of the eye. I wouldn't use an eye, but maybe focus on the men through an item of clothing or something materialistic. (ha, just writing this to you makes me excited about designing a book cover)

Andrea, this one above is the moodboard for the "girly" series I am thinking about doing. I really like the Double Shot book cover. I think it would be cool to do a "cut and paste" idea like that. I was thinking about using block of color to show curves or lines suggesting femininity like the one picture with the white outline that kinda looks like a woman's hips. Maybe incorporate pictures with graphics like the green book cover... I don't know.

So tell me your opinions, I would love to know and I will also bring hard copies of both of these tomorrow to class. I am also going to upload my concept statements here shortly once I finish laundry.

Thanks!

Laura

This Means That Notes

This Means That:

Semiotics—theory of signs, Greek word “semeiotikos” – “interpreter of signs”

Signs: underlies all forms of communication, gestures, facial expressions, speech disorders, etc.

Mean something other than themselves

Signs, not isolated; dependent for meaning on contexts in which they are read or understood.

About took, processes, and contexts we have for creating, interpreting and understanding meaning in a variety of different ways.

Signs and Signing

Signs are formed by society that creates them

Produced and consumed in context of specific society

Humans have need to tell stories

2 Sources of Signing:

Natural, Conventional: depends on “rules” of particular society of which we are a part.

Key Semiotic Concept

Sender (who)

Intention (with what aim)

Message (says what)

Transmission (by which means)

Noise (with what interference)

Receiver (to whom)

Destination (with what result)

Signifier VS. Signified

We can have the same signifier with different signifieds.

We can have different signifiers with same signifieds.

Maps

Schematic: environment represented in abstract way

Topographical: environment represented in more exact/ concrete way.

Representational Photograph

Present problem because often appears to have been caused by real events even if faked.

When there’s a physical/causal relationship between signifier and signified, the non-arbitrary relationship that exists is said to be indexical.

Symbol and meaning- one thing can be thrown together with another and a relationship is created whereby first symbolizes the second.

Symbol— used in any special sense to mean literally any sign where there’s arbitrary relationship between signifier and signified.

Messages always transmitted through medium:

Medium:

Presentational: through voice, face, part of body, etc.

Representational: through paintings, books, photos

Mechanical: through phones, internet, radio, etc.

How we make sense of a message depends on how we interpret it and who we think is receiving it.

Ways of Meaning

Sarcasm—changes the meaning of what is said, literal communication is more dominant and common than non-literal communication

When we liken things to another we highlight the features that interest us.

Metaphor has implies comparison of 2 similar of dissimilar things.

When something is closely or directly associated to another it can be substituted for it so as to create meaning: Metonyms.

Sometimes what matter the most is what you leave out.

Synecdoche—using a part to represent the whole.

Final Projects Fall 2009

Refined Posters Due Thursday

Mac is Not A Typewriter

_ What are the advantages of a multiple column grid?

Grids are all about control. They establish a system for arranging content within the space of a page, screen, or built environment. Consistency is key!

_ How many characters is optimal for a line length? words per line?

The average characters in a line range between 45-75 (65) Long column? add a little extra leading.

words: on average 10-12 words.

_ Why is the baseline grid used in design?

It is an imaginary grid upon which type sits. The baseline of a piece of type can be forced to 'snap' t this grid to maintain continuity across the pages of a design. 12 points long, use for horizontal alignment.

_ What is a typographic river?

are visually unattractive gaps appearing to run down a paragraph of text. They can occur with any spacing, though they are most noticeable with wide inter-word spaces caused by either full text justification or monospaced fonts.

_ From the readings what does clothesline or flow line mean?

A flow line is the horizontal line that guides your eyes through text.

_ How can you incorporate white space into your designs?

You use white space in the outer areas of the layout. You shouldn't trap white space between columns of text. White space help organize and clean up a layout.

_ What is type color/texture mean?

It is the non-white parts of the layout. Increase leading or tracking to make texture.

_ What is x-height, how does it effect type color?

It is the height of the lowercase 'x' in a typeface. It deals with the space of the type. It affects type color through the spacing with the type. If the type has a tall x-height it will look darker, smaller x height lighter.

_ In justification or H&J terms what do the numbers: minimum, optimum, maximum mean?

Minimum- the least amount of space between words

Maximum- the most amount of space between words

Optimum- the right amount of space between words.

_ What are some ways to indicate a new paragraph. Are there any rules?

There are very many ways to indicate a new paragraph: indent second line, tracking, hang indent, all caps, etc. Do not indent the first line of a paragraph
_ What are some things to look out for when hyphenating text.

Mainly hyphens are used for hyphenating words and line breaks, but En dashes are used for time like hours, days, or years and Em dashes are changes in thought or where a period is strong and a comma is too weak.
_ What is a literature?

"acquaintance with letters"
_ What does CMYK and RGB mean?

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

Red Green Blue
_ What does hanging punctuation mean?

is a way of typesetting punctuation marks and bullet points, most commonly quotation marks and hyphens, so that they do not disrupt the ‘flow’ of a body of text or ‘break’ the margin of alignment.
_ What is the difference between a foot mark and an apostrophe?

An apostrophe and quote mark have a similar circle and curve that make it present the quote or word ("" '). To make apostrophes and smart quotes you have to hit the the option +[ (left bracket is quote, right bracket is apostrophe). to make them go the other direction and add shift.

_ What is a hyphen, en dash and em dashes, what are the differences and when are they used.

A hyphen is used for hyphenating words or line breaks like previously stated, it is found next to the equal sign on the keyboard. An En dash is used between words to indicate a duration of time like hours, days, months or years (there is a space en dash space). The short cut is option+hyphen. An Em dash is twice as long as the En dash, it is used in a similar manner to colon and parentheses, it indicates an abrupt change in thought.
_ What are ligatures, why are they used, when are they not used, what are common ligatures

Two or more letters that are grouped or 'tied' together, for example in some typefaces the 'fi' and 'oe' sequences overlapped which looks terrible.

Revised Visual Concepts Posters

Poster #1

Poster #2

2nd Poster for Visual Concepts

Poster #2