Art.103 Two-Dimensional Design
Typographic Composition: type as a mark
In this assignment, you will work with type as a mark to visually express the connotations, emotions, and/or meanings behind a short piece of text. This assignment is primarily focused on revision strategies as a method for strengthening the ability to see and manipulate detail in a two-dimensional space.
To begin, choose not less than 12 words and not more than 50 words from the Bill of Rights. You may choose to excerpt text, but if you do so, use the ellipse ( . . . ) to designate where you have omitted text. Copy your text into FreeHand and using only Palatino type style, design an expressive layout in an 8.5" x 11" format. You may use any typeface within the Palatino type style (bold, italic, bold italic), but you may not use any special effects such that distort the letterforms, add shadows, etc. You may place type on a path. Use only black type on a white background. Do not use any other elements, images, lines, etc.
Consider these options as possibilities:
- contrasts in scale (large type and small type)
- contrasts in type style (bold to italic to roman)
- contrasts in letter spacing (add white space between letters)
- contrasts in word spacing (add more or less space between words)
- contrasts in leading (add more or less space between lines)
- contrasts in text alignment (left, right, centered)
Design 12 different revisions and print them out on the laser printer. (These will be required for your type composition portfolio of revisions, number them.)
Working with Starla, select your best three ideas. Print out a version of each at 80% scale, 70% scale, 60% scale, 50% scale and 40% scale. (These will also be required for your type composition portfolio of revisions, label them with the percentage.)
Continue with the revision process. Follow the guidelines for revisions listed in the Type Composition: Portfolio of Revisions assignment. After you have finished all revisions, choose your favorite and mat it in black or white with 3" borders for critique and grading.