Typography - Week 1

14.01.16 (Week 1)
Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography

Lecture: Introduction

This is an informal lecture which Mr. Vinod started off by asking us to join the typography Facebook group he has created. After that, we logged on to a website yourbrief.wordpress.com and also created our own blog. It is interesting as this is my first time to submit our task through a blog and not in the form of hard copy. Also, Mr.Vinod introduced the background of Typography and explained what we going to do in our first task. In addition, we are encouraged to do research ourselves in order to understand more.

Instructions

Type Creation
Task 1 (5%): No. 27

Your first task is to understand the written letter, its origins and evolution over time. You will complete viewing the following youtube video, understand, analyse and reflect on the knowledge in your ePortfolio under the reflection tittle. Please view the sample eportfolio to understand how to write your eportfolio (and reflection).

After viewing the video and other videos of your own finding (please document the other videos you watched in your eportfolio under the lecture title) design the 27th alphabet. You will present this new letter to the class and describe your thinking or reasoning for its introduction.

Please draw the final 27th letter on an A4 graph paper using black marker or ink. Ensure that the letter is centered within the A4 graph paper and does not exceed 7cm in height or width. Please document the entire process; research, explorations, trial and errors, thoughts and epiphanies in your eportfolio.

Marking criteria: 
You will be judged on your creativity: the rationale (in writing 250 words) behind the 27th letter and the argument for its consideration. The aesthetic appeal of the shape of the letter and the process work behind the outcome. It’s visual and logical relevance when compared to the other 26 letters.

Duration
1 week

Deadline
Week 2

Reflection - on videos 

Experience: I obtained the knowledge of craftsmanship in earlier time; like how they create paper, pen, ink and printing. Also, I got attracted by their beautiful handwriting and their font of words; I believed that writing can be a form of art. Furthermore, I gained knowledge about history of writing, firstly they draw picture to represent their feeling and thought, and after that the letters are formed.

Observation: I observed that I understand more about typography after watching the videos of The Story of Writing. Nevertheless, I noticed that typography requires creativity and good drawing skills which are in fact, my weaknesses. Also, I can see how the technology get advancing from time to time as we can see in the printing technique.

Findings: I found that handwriting is an art for people in earlier time. They write words in different size and patterns to make the words appeal nicely in the books. Also, I found that books are precious during the past as it is not easy to produce a paper and people even lock books in the shelf.    

27th alphabet 

At first, I find it very difficult to design a new alphabet as I have no creativity and I am poor in drawing. Therefore, I searched for a lot of examples from internet as reference

I found that combinations of two alphabets are easier to draw yet creative. Therefore I try to use words to combine as an alphabet. These are my sketches before proceeding to the final outcome

I tried some of the simple words which you can see it everywhere. At the end, I used “H” and “I” to form a new alphabet which inspired by the word “Hi”. This is a very common word around the world and therefore I try to use this word to form an alphabet, pronounce as “Hai”. Also, it can be used on words like “High”, “Hike” or “Hide”. My 27th alphabet shown below.

Reflection

Experience: It was a very challenging task for me as I am lack of creativity to design a new thing. By far I have never created something new. When creating this 27^th new alphabet, I experienced the difficulty of drawing out the same shape and size again with the same alphabet. Every new alphabet I drew was slightly different.

Observation: I observed that I have the difficulty of drawing and creating new things. I have no idea in my mind at first, but those images I found guided me. I keep my mind simple and think of the words that I used to say or type. So, “Hi” is my final decision after all.

Finding: I found that my drawing skill and creativity need to be improved as I spent quite sometimes to design the 27^th alphabet. Also, it was not easy to draw an alphabet in a beautiful way even though I have learnt 26 alphabets since young.   

SECOND SUBMISSION

Feedback

The rationale underpinning the new letter seems alright. But the form needs a little more refinement. Please view the sample eportfolio as you have not followed the format as directed in class.

Experience: I obtained the knowledge from other classmates as their rationale under their new alphabet are much more logical and interesting. I learned more about alphabet from this task and the feedback are helping me a lot.

Observation: I observed that design an alphabet needs to be as simple as it can be because we all want to make own life much more easier. Also, the pronunciation of your alphabet can pronounce in any way you like without rationale.

Findings: I realize that I need to improve my ideas to be more creative. Also, I need to do more research in order to design a better alphabet with rational reasons. Besides, feedback from Mr.Vinod and my classmates are helping me to improve.