Design Principles: Introduction to type

The letter A - what is it? It is much more than just a letter, we have to think outside the box. It is:

• vowel
• sound
• symbol
• shape
• lines
• language
• capital
• uppercase
• serif letter

We learnt about the processes of typography, and sorted our three chosen fonts into groups (our previous task was to choose three fonts with distinctively different characteristics). Mine were:

• Colonna MT
• Edwardian Style
• Bauhaus 93

In groups we attempted sorting our fonts into 5 categories:

• stone - has been carved into through history, and the serifs give curved edges so the stone does not crack.

• sable - the use of a brush that originated in the far east. Curved lines are used.

• bone - a quill or nib, which originated in the middle east. There is a clear contrast in line weights.

• wood - originated in Europe in the 1400's. Thick and simple letterforms worked best in wood, and allowed type to be mass produced.

• lead - a durable metal which can develop a whole range of possibilities, including thin lines.

• silicone - developed digitally, with the ability to 'undo' and endless possibilites. Type that isn't able to be created any other way.

This is what we discovered about our types:

• Bauhaus 93 - we first thought it was wood, but then realised it is silicone.
• Colonna MT - stone, because of the serifs.
• Edwardian script - bone
• Times new roman - stone
• Arial - wood
• American type writer - silicone

These are some  features that help to make the decisions:

Anatomy
bold
italic
serif
line/stroke weight
consistency
curves/apex
case
straight or curved edges
legibility
formality

Identity
symmetrical
condensed
italic
bold
formality
font name
mass produced
context

Character
bold
corporate
feminine
decorative
simplicity
heavy
playful
industrial
geometric