Typography // Project 1: Text Formatting & Expression

September 21, 2020

Typography // Project 1: Text Formatting & Expression

15/09/20 -29/09/20 (Week 4 - Week 6 )

Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra (0339381)/BDCM

Typography

Project 1 - Text Formatting and Expression

Lectures

Lecture 4: Introduction & Text P1 (14/09/20)

This week Mr. Vinod showed us some tips and tricks in Indesign since we're all new to the software. He also explains some requirements we needed to do for project 1. Here are some Indesign tricks and tips that I learned and understood:

- master page

- edit in master page command + shift

- ideal leading 12 pt

- ragging = when you clean up the paragraph to look smoother

- edit >files >preference >tracking to 5

- command - control- H

- river :

- Orphans :

- wide 35 (body text)

- command + D

- adjust pic using a direct tool (A)

- paragraph spacing = leading

- cross alignment: a paragraph is in line with The other column

Text/Tracking: Kerning and Letterspacing

Kerning: the automatic adjustment of space between letters.

Letterspacing: add space between letters

Tracking: addition and removal of space in word or sentence

Lecture 6: Project 1 Demo (28/09/20)

Since this week we needed to show our progress for project 1, I watched the lecture video provided on YouTube which has a demo of what project 1 actually is. I also learned what to do and some tips on how to layout. Here is what I have learned and understood:

- layout all of the text first to see

- thumbnail sketches

- you can do things in illustrator

- minor details for kerning, text spacing

- turn off shuffle

- cover them with shapes to see the overall layout

In the Type Formatting Exercise, the important points are:

• knowing how to adjust Margins & Columns and Creating Guides (rows)
• Cross Alignment (Headline, byline and body text)
• Point Size (8-12 pt), Line Length (35–65) & Leading (2.5–3 pts larger than the type size)
• The difference between a Forced Line Break (Shift + Enter, follows leading space) and a Paragraph Space (Enter - folows paragraph value - space after)

Instruction

Task: Project 1 (Text formatting and Expression)

In the fourth week of class, we were briefed about our first project in Typography. We were told that we're going to make an editorial layout text formatting using the three dummy article that Mr. Vinod has provided. I went ahead and look through the three texts and I found the ' A Designer's Code of Ethics' is the most interesting. I do notice that this text has quite a lot of text which may make it harder for me, however, I like the article. Therefore I went ahead to research the editorial layout on Pinterest.

Reference and Research

Fig 1.0 Reference 1

I really like this one because it has a clear image of which is the central focus of the text. Additionally, I really like the minimalist concept it had.

Fig 1.1 Reference 2

Fig 1.2 Reference 3

Sketches and Exploration

From the lecture that I had watched on YouTube, Mr. Vinod talked about creating thumbnail sketches before directly designing in Indesign. This would help us to explore more possibilities. Therefore I did a digital sketch on my iPad and here are the results:

Fig 1.3 Idea 1

Fig 1.4 Idea 2

Fig 1.5 Idea 3

After doing my sketches on my iPad, I went ahead and digitalized it in Indesign. I did the overall same idea however, I did change some of the things for the final digitized sketch. I choose the typeface Gill Sans because I liked how it looks on the layout. Since the article is called Designer's Code of Ethics, my design includes some incorporations of numerals such as binary codes and more

Fig 1.6 Draft 1 Grid

Fig 1.7 Draft 1

In the first design I was inspired by Fig 1.2, the reference I found on Pinterest. What I did is making the designer word on the middle and big so that it is the focus point of the layout. I also make the word split in half which is an inspiration from fill in the word. This helps to illustrate the text theme which is codes.

Fig 1.8 Draft 2 Grid

Fig 1.9 Draft 2

For the second design, I used black and white to separate both pages. This helps detached the title page with the text page. I also incorporated binary numbers that spelled ethics to enhance the code feelings. I also did the text layout in three vertical pieces, which I'm not sure if it's a good idea, I thought this would spice the text up and make it more interesting and playful.

Fig 2.0 Draft 3 Grid

Fig 2.1 Draft 3

Fig 2.2 Draft 4

My third and fourth design is based on the same style only different in layout composition. For my third design, I did a circle which spells alphabets to enhance that code feeling. Inside the circle, I put the title and compose a fixed composition. For this design, I combined the text layout to both pages and leave the title on the top of the first pages. As for my fourth design, I separated the title from the text layout. This gives more breathing space and a simplistic feeling.

Now, It's time for our Tuesday class where Mr. Vinod will see our progression and gave feedback on it. Therefore, my design could change drastically.

Final Draft

After Mr. Vinod's feedback on class, I fix my minor mistakes on InDesign and redo my work. I did a little more ragging, linked all the articles, makes the codes grey and change the layout of the title. Here is the final outcome:

Fig 2.3 Final Outcome ver 1 (29/09/20)

When I sent this to Mr. Vinod He told me that my headline was average. If I wanted to change something I could change the headline. Therefore, I did one more, This one is inspired by cross word game. In this case A designer code of ethics is the word that we need to find and the binary code is the other alphabets.

I made the title as white and other binary number as grey. Then, I lower the opacity into around 25%, this enhance the title and create a contrast.

Fig 2.4 Final Outcome ver 2 (4/10/20)

Here is the Final Grid :

Final Outcome

Feedback

Week 6

General feedback:

Mr. Vinod told and taught us to use the bounding box to create the side headline, he also remind us to make sure our body text is linked!

Specific feedback:

- Mr. Vinod looked at my design and he said that my layout and idea are okay. I need to switch the designer with codes of so that the title would flow more clearly. He also suggested making the binary code grey instead of white, that way the headline would standout more. Hoewever, I need to fix minor details such as ragging could be better. Therefore, he said it's all good with minor fixing

- Mr Shamsul is the one checking our blogs. He looked at my blog and he is happy with it. He gave feedback which is that my blog is updated and well-formatted.

PM Feedback:

The kerning for your text is good. The type expression in the headline is average. If you want to work on anything I would suggest seeing if you can make the headline better idea wise and expression wise.

Reflection

Experience: This was the most stressful task I've ever done. I never touched InDesign at all and it's all-new for me. I didn't understand anything and I was scared If I couldn't come up with anything good. Mr. Vinod's lecture helps a lot for a newbie like me. I was able to understand the basics of the software and how we do the assignment. Although, this is complicated and I was stressing over it. I couldn't come up with a good idea and I had struggles in the layout which makes it looks unbalanced. Especially with the ragging, in which makes my text looks unorganised.

Observation: I did had fun doing this project however I also observe that I was lacking in this particular area. I had a problem with layouts and composition. Especially when we need to make the text look good and we need to operate it with kerning, leading, tracking and etc

Findings: I find that watching the lecture video has helped me a lot in understanding the software. I was not sure what I need to do and it helped me figure out the way. Since the lecture is detailedly explained I find myself understanding the software slowly.

There are appropriate reasons, for setting either justified or unjustified typography, but typeset flush left and ragged right promotes greater legibility. If properly used, flush-left, ragged-right typography provides visual points of reference that guide the eye smoothly down the page from line to line. Because each line is either shorter or longer than the next, the eye is cued from one line to another. In a justified setting, all lines are of equal length. Lacking are visual cues that promote easy reading.

With the use of unjustified typography, word spacing is even, creating a smooth rhythm and a consistent texture. The indiscriminate placement of additional space between words to justify lines causes awkward gaps or “rivers” in paragraphs, which are disruptive to reading. Hyphenations at the end of lines should be used—but not overused—whenever possible to keep word spacing consistent.

When setting ragged-right text, care should be taken not to rag the type too much. Uncontrolled line breaks of erratic rhythm can create awkward spaces that inhibit reading. In the ragged-right type, care should be given to the selection of interline spacing, for it influences legibility and appearance. Spatial consistency and rhythmic line breaks result from careful typographical decisions.

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Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra (0339381)