Studio Brief 2 - Typeface Design - Videos

Videos 

House industries interview with Ken Barber 

‘Draw to become a better designer’

Drawing enables designers to deal with individual elements and understand the relationship between them. Having an awareness of type within space is important.

Lettering can stand as a logotype or work in conjunction with other elements to enhance design work. There is a need for more specialisation in design, graphic design encompasses so many areas that people can’t be expected to be good at everything.

A good letterer needs knowledge of type history as there are cross discipline principles in type ad lettering. Using typefaces as a basis for lettering is an effective way of approaching lettering for people new to the subject.

Font Smith interview with Jason Smith

Calligraphy and signmaking important influences when creating letterforms. Originally he did a lot of packaging however this is a very consumerised, meaning it is thrown away and does not last very long, whereas identities do.

Sketchbooks are important as they show how an identity could and should develop. The concept of what the typeface should portray must be firmly understood as the typeface will bring the story of the brand and what it stands for to life. Adapting it across various media should be thought of afterwards.

Things learnt from the interviews

- the importance of drawing in design, which enables you to better understand typography as well as have more control over the design process

- sketchbooks provide an accessible place for your ideas to start and develop 

- it is important to play with scale whether this be expanding a singular letter to better refine it or reducing it to see whether they work alongside each other 

- defining the concept of the typeface is the most important thing, as this will underpin how your type will develop and increase the likelihood of you communicating an idea to the viewer