Twenty Minute In-class Exercise
Using an existing “class reminder” written on the white board in the design room as content, layout the content as a typographic message in the form of a rough pencil design sketch. Explore different different type hierarchies, fonts, point sizes and compositions, and note changes to the message as you explore your design decisions.
Post on blog at the end of the exercise.
DP5R - Experimental Type Zine
The open-ended Experimental Zine project has resulted in some nice concepts for an image-based zine, but it has become a dismal project for learning the expressive messaging qualities of type formatting, page layout, and multiple-page syntax.
As such, we are revising that project, revamping into an Experimental Type Zine, comprised of type and graphic elements only, color and texture, with little or no object-based imagery. In other words the message will be driven by type and supplemented by imagery, as opposed to being driven by images and supplemented by type.
Check out the following pages in your textbook, New Typographic Design for examples of
type-driven design solutions:
pages, 32-41; 44-45; 53-54; 63-64; 66-67; 99-100; 142-145; 150-153; 166-167; 186-187.
This means you will need to write and or gather at least 500 words of text for your book ASAP!
The format of the book will remain the same– 12 pages, 6"w x 12"h.
Remember this is an EXPERIMENTAL TYPE class, and this project is an EXPERIMENTAL
TYPE Zine!
The revised schedule for the project will be as follows:
• Full text Block-in due Thursday, April 5th.
• Publication grid, message/typographic hierarchy, and graphic standards, along with a
sample two-page layout due Tuesday, April 10th.
• Full publication rough due Thursday, April 12th.
• Full publication comp (laser dummy) due Tuesday, April 17th.
The client just called and moved the final project due date to Tuesday, April, 24th.
There will be NO formal class held Thursday, April 19th so you can prepare for the 24th.
• Final printed publication is dueThursday, April 19th Tuesday, April 24th, the last day of class.
Be sure to also post the final experimental zine on your blog.
_______________________________________________________________________
If you are having a problem revamping your existing zine, then I suggest you create a new
zine with Type Classification as the subject, using text from the following handouts.
As such, we are revising that project, revamping into an Experimental Type Zine, comprised of type and graphic elements only, color and texture, with little or no object-based imagery. In other words the message will be driven by type and supplemented by imagery, as opposed to being driven by images and supplemented by type.
Check out the following pages in your textbook, New Typographic Design for examples of
type-driven design solutions:
pages, 32-41; 44-45; 53-54; 63-64; 66-67; 99-100; 142-145; 150-153; 166-167; 186-187.
This means you will need to write and or gather at least 500 words of text for your book ASAP!
The format of the book will remain the same– 12 pages, 6"w x 12"h.
Remember this is an EXPERIMENTAL TYPE class, and this project is an EXPERIMENTAL
TYPE Zine!
The revised schedule for the project will be as follows:
• Full text Block-in due Thursday, April 5th.
• Publication grid, message/typographic hierarchy, and graphic standards, along with a
sample two-page layout due Tuesday, April 10th.
• Full publication rough due Thursday, April 12th.
• Full publication comp (laser dummy) due Tuesday, April 17th.
The client just called and moved the final project due date to Tuesday, April, 24th.
There will be NO formal class held Thursday, April 19th so you can prepare for the 24th.
• Final printed publication is due
Be sure to also post the final experimental zine on your blog.
_______________________________________________________________________
If you are having a problem revamping your existing zine, then I suggest you create a new
zine with Type Classification as the subject, using text from the following handouts.
Book Design Planning
Designing a publication can get complicated. When you are both writing and designing a book it is imperative that the designer be organized.
The following is information about organizing and planning the design of a multiple-page document.
In this case, the information was related to creating a case study book for a comprehensive design project in the advanced design class. Although specifics references may not be applicable to your Zine, you may want to incorporate the planning stages and use the templates for planning your multiple-page design.
A Project Brief
When you start any design, even if it is part of an already existing larger project, you will want to orient yourself to the specific design task by creating a Project Brief for it. A project brief lists information about the project that answers the following questions:
- What is the project about?
- What is its purpose or objective?
- What message is the design trying to convey?
- Who is the sender of the message?
- Who is the audience the message is talking to?
- What action or reaction is the message hoping for?
- Where and/or how will the message be disseminated?
- Is there a schedule for the project?
- Are there particular specifications for the design?
Here is a sample template you might want to use as a guide to create a Project Brief for your Zine:
A Content Outline
A designer, often in conjunction with an editor, creates a Content Outline.
Here is an example of the Content Outline for a design project of mine for the revamp design of the 2012 Utah Travel Guide. The outline is a bit more complicated than one might be for your Zine.
Typically they break the content of the publication down into message parts and allocates space, sequence an page numbers to that content.
You will want to create a Content Outline for your Zine.
Here is a sample format of a Content Outline you might want to follow, although you will need to change it’s organization to match your content – written text and planned images:
I converted the Content Outline for the Utah Travel Guide into to a Flat Plan showing where the contents might appear in the book. The flat plan shows the organization and layout of the entire book/publication page by page as thumbnails and/or notes.
Here is a sample template of a Flat Plan similar to what you might use for your Zine.
Here is an a Project Board template similar to what you might use to help develop a design concept/theme for your Zine. (Yes, book designs have concepts too).
You will need to change content particulars of course.
A Publication Grid
You will most definitely need to create a publication Grid for your Zine.
The following is information about organizing and planning the design of a multiple-page document.
In this case, the information was related to creating a case study book for a comprehensive design project in the advanced design class. Although specifics references may not be applicable to your Zine, you may want to incorporate the planning stages and use the templates for planning your multiple-page design.
A Project Brief
When you start any design, even if it is part of an already existing larger project, you will want to orient yourself to the specific design task by creating a Project Brief for it. A project brief lists information about the project that answers the following questions:
- What is the project about?
- What is its purpose or objective?
- What message is the design trying to convey?
- Who is the sender of the message?
- Who is the audience the message is talking to?
- What action or reaction is the message hoping for?
- Where and/or how will the message be disseminated?
- Is there a schedule for the project?
- Are there particular specifications for the design?
Here is a sample template you might want to use as a guide to create a Project Brief for your Zine:
A Content Outline
A designer, often in conjunction with an editor, creates a Content Outline.
Here is an example of the Content Outline for a design project of mine for the revamp design of the 2012 Utah Travel Guide. The outline is a bit more complicated than one might be for your Zine.
Typically they break the content of the publication down into message parts and allocates space, sequence an page numbers to that content.
You will want to create a Content Outline for your Zine.
Here is a sample format of a Content Outline you might want to follow, although you will need to change it’s organization to match your content – written text and planned images:
A Flat Plan
The next step in a book or publication design process is to create a Flat Plan.
Here is an example of the Flat Plan for the same revamp of the 2012 Utah Travel Guide.
Here is an example of the Flat Plan for the same revamp of the 2012 Utah Travel Guide.
I converted the Content Outline for the Utah Travel Guide into to a Flat Plan showing where the contents might appear in the book. The flat plan shows the organization and layout of the entire book/publication page by page as thumbnails and/or notes.
Here is a sample template of a Flat Plan similar to what you might use for your Zine.
Here is an a Project Board template similar to what you might use to help develop a design concept/theme for your Zine. (Yes, book designs have concepts too).
You will need to change content particulars of course.
A Publication Grid
All publication or book designs use strict grid systems. It helps organize content and keep a consistent layout and look through the book.
This is the Grid I used for my design revamp of the 2012 Utah Travel Guide. It includes margins, gutters, as well as eight columns per page that allow a great deal of layout variation including the following page column relationships: 1 col; 1col x 7 col ; 2 x 6 ; 3 x 5 ; and/or 4 x 4.
You will most definitely need to create a publication Grid for your Zine.
Publication Rhythm
One of the biggest challenges of multiple-page publication or book design is turning pedantic content into an interesting and visually exciting rhythmic layout. It helps me if I look at the book I am designing like a visual piece of music. I try to create a visual rhythm composed of various visual parts – perhaps a light riff of a visual introduction, pedantic repeats to set up a beat, followed by a break in the beat, the pedantic repeat again, then followed by a contrasting visual turn-around of two or three single pages, followed by the pedantic repeat, then back to the break, ending with a light summary riff. Here I compare the layout of a book to the 12-bar blues. You can listen to this design on guitarcompass.com/free-lessons/blues/12-bar-blues/. Just click on the video.
DP5 - Experimental Zine
Our next type class project is to create a zine, or multiple-page publication on a subject of your choice. The objective of the assignment is to communicate information in a multi-page document, using type and imagery created by you in an expressive and experimental way.
The first step in the project is to choose a subject that you are knowledgable and interested in, then write a short narrative content brief and/or outline.
This is due on your blog the beginning of class, Thursday, March 22nd.
The second step is to research the project and write a project brief, create an image board, and envision the design concept through a series of quick sketches. Using your research as a basis, and your content outline as a guide, write the finished text for the document. If you can, you may also want to make a list and preliminary morgue of images as well.
This is due on your blog the beginning of class, Tuesday, March 27th.
The design of the zine will be spread over three-weeks. As such, the success of this project will consist a large part of your overall class grade.
The final critique scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th.
The final printed Zine will due Thursday, April 17th.
The first step in the project is to choose a subject that you are knowledgable and interested in, then write a short narrative content brief and/or outline.
This is due on your blog the beginning of class, Thursday, March 22nd.
The second step is to research the project and write a project brief, create an image board, and envision the design concept through a series of quick sketches. Using your research as a basis, and your content outline as a guide, write the finished text for the document. If you can, you may also want to make a list and preliminary morgue of images as well.
This is due on your blog the beginning of class, Tuesday, March 27th.
The design of the zine will be spread over three-weeks. As such, the success of this project will consist a large part of your overall class grade.
The final critique scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th.
The final printed Zine will due Thursday, April 17th.
E3 - Typographic Form Explorations
Please post at least five samples of your typographic form explorations created in class on Tuesday, February 27th.
DP4 - Type Tinder
Our next class project is called DP4 - Type Tinder (originally called Type Dating).
To begin, go visit the class blog and peruse your classmate's typefaces and choose one your typeface would like to date.
The assignment is to create a design using your font and your classmate's font to express your first date in words and form.
The date can range from never meeting up to consensual or more, but be earnest in your efforts. Initial design concepts, thumbnails and block-ins will be due Thursday, February 22nd. We will work on the date in class that day, with the final due next Tuesday, February 27th.
The final size of your type date will be 11x17, in color, and may use an image as ambience.
Like on any date, experiment.
Your classmates will need to access your font, so be sure to PUBLISH your font on fontstruct. Copy the url of your fontstruck page to create a link to your font and post that on your blog. Your classmates should be able to use that link to download your font. For example, here is font I created called COSMOS. You can view it and download it at https://fontstruct.com/fontstructions/show/237051/cosmos_4.
If you are interested in dating Joe‘s or Addies’ font, you will need to contact them via e-mail to get their fonts. Here is a list of your classmates e-mail addresses:
Michael Collins <michaelcollins2@mail.weber.edu>,
kerbybarker@mail.weber.edu,
samanthablack@mail.weber.edu,
Thomas Foxley <thomasfoxley@mail.weber.edu>,
Tiffany Iarussi <tiffanyiarussi@mail.weber.edu>,
Addison James <addisonjames@mail.weber.edu>,
Corinne Klc <corinneklc@mail.weber.edu>,
Jennifer Merrell <jennifermerrell@mail.weber.edu>,
madisonosborn@mail.weber.edu,
Joe Salmond <josephsalmond@weber.edu>,
First Date
Your first type date will be due posted on the blog, Tuesday, February 27th.
Second Date
Your second date may include an actual second date with the same font as your first, or a new first date with a different font.
A tight rough of your second type date will be due printed, and posted on the blog, Tuesday, March 13th.
The final second type date will be due, along with a print out of your full font alphabet, as well as your final first type date, will be due on your blog, and printed and posted on the crit wall by the beginning of class on Thursday, March 15th.
We will be having a guest critique by one of a finalist for the new Graphic Design faculty position that day. Be prepared with your designs and be ready to participate!
To begin, go visit the class blog and peruse your classmate's typefaces and choose one your typeface would like to date.
The assignment is to create a design using your font and your classmate's font to express your first date in words and form.
The date can range from never meeting up to consensual or more, but be earnest in your efforts. Initial design concepts, thumbnails and block-ins will be due Thursday, February 22nd. We will work on the date in class that day, with the final due next Tuesday, February 27th.
The final size of your type date will be 11x17, in color, and may use an image as ambience.
Like on any date, experiment.
Your classmates will need to access your font, so be sure to PUBLISH your font on fontstruct. Copy the url of your fontstruck page to create a link to your font and post that on your blog. Your classmates should be able to use that link to download your font. For example, here is font I created called COSMOS. You can view it and download it at https://fontstruct.com/fontstructions/show/237051/cosmos_4.
If you are interested in dating Joe‘s or Addies’ font, you will need to contact them via e-mail to get their fonts. Here is a list of your classmates e-mail addresses:
Michael Collins <michaelcollins2@mail.weber.edu>,
kerbybarker@mail.weber.edu,
samanthablack@mail.weber.edu,
Thomas Foxley <thomasfoxley@mail.weber.edu>,
Tiffany Iarussi <tiffanyiarussi@mail.weber.edu>,
Addison James <addisonjames@mail.weber.edu>,
Corinne Klc <corinneklc@mail.weber.edu>,
Jennifer Merrell <jennifermerrell@mail.weber.edu>,
madisonosborn@mail.weber.edu,
Joe Salmond <josephsalmond@weber.edu>,
First Date
Your first type date will be due posted on the blog, Tuesday, February 27th.
Second Date
Your second date may include an actual second date with the same font as your first, or a new first date with a different font.
A tight rough of your second type date will be due printed, and posted on the blog, Tuesday, March 13th.
The final second type date will be due, along with a print out of your full font alphabet, as well as your final first type date, will be due on your blog, and printed and posted on the crit wall by the beginning of class on Thursday, March 15th.
We will be having a guest critique by one of a finalist for the new Graphic Design faculty position that day. Be prepared with your designs and be ready to participate!
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