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Photo Book: Public Lettering/Typography
As graphic designers we spend much of our time working with typographic application for a variety of two-dimensional surfaces from magazines to computer screens. There is however, a world of rich typographic experience both formal and informal in signs, graffiti, and other forms of lettering that inhabit our everyday environment.
I want each student to select a discrete niche within this environment and make a photo essay book about it. You will have authorship of the collecting of the photo material, the writing of an essay to accompany it, and the design of the publication. The first step is to choose your subject matter.
Some examples of kinds of lettering:
building & shop signage
roadway signage
graffiti
shoe lettering
monuments or tombstones
focus on a specific typeface (like Helvetica) found in the environment
led, electric or neon type
food & beverage type
hand made type
vehicle type
garment type
athletic type
handbills
natural or man-made forms that suggest type whatever interests you
Deliverables: (Must be printed*)
Two copies of the photo essay.
*unless your concept is more appropriately distributed in another way.
Parameters/Page Count:
• Size: 8.5x11inches or smaller (at least 36 pages)
• Size 8.5x11 inches — 11x17 inches (at least 28 pages)
• Size: 11x17 inches or greater (at least 16 pages)
Schedule:
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WED MAR 12
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Review moodboards and concept statement presentations
as pdfs in small groups.
Homework:
For our first installment I want you to take/collect 50–100+ photos of your subject. Photograph/Scan these as high of quality tifs or jpgs as you can. You will want the flexibility when laying out your photo essay.
A good approach is to not only record the typography but the context in which it exists. The making of an “establishing shot” (this is alley > where is located the dumpster > that has the graffiti) can help with the story telling we want to eventually do.
Create a grid on 11x17 sheets of paper and print these “boards” out, so we can see your “collection” next class. The board should give an idea of the variety of your photos, including establishing shots, main or subject shots and details. Also include on the boards some photographic textures that come out of the photos you’ve taken so far. Also include simple color palette of black + 2 or 3 colors. Build the board so that the photos, textures and color give context to each other and are telling your “story”
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WED MAR 17-19
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Spring Break
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MON MAR 24
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Review image “collection” boards in small groups. At this point we are looking for the theme you will use for your book to emerge. In your groups make wordlists for what you all are seeing in the imagery. Following this review you should be able to go out with a greater conceptual focus and make more photos that help tell your “story”.
Homework:
1. What else do I need? This is a good time to review your photos – do you have enough? Are they covering your subject the way you need to? Where can you find to take more?
2. What might this book look like? Based on those words you made in your small groups...create a moodboard(s) of layout, typeface choices, colors, textures, overall visual mood that this book might feel like. Use some of your photos. The board(s) should give an idea of the variety of your photos, including establishing shots, main or subject shots and details. Also include on the boards some photographic textures that come out of the photos you’ve taken so far. Also include simple color palette of black + 2 or 3 colors. Build the board so that the photos, textures and color give context to each other and are telling your “story.”
3. What will the text be? Where can you find info?
You will be providing/writing your own texts for the book. These can be your own essays and/or existing articles or a mix. The word count should be a minimum of 1500 words. Everyone will need to use at least two sources for your research. Since there is a wide variety of topics SOME of these can be off the internet – a search for “graffiti” or “neon signs” in a source like Wikipedia can give you usable material. Bring in a couple sources to share with Jeremy next class.
For your essay you will need the following text parts:
An outline of your proposed text. Break your subject down into chapters noting the content of each. Make use of all the text parts as given below.
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• A title that includes the words “Public Typography”. Needs to locate the subject matter and intrigue.
• Your main text. This will be the bulk of the written content. It can be an explanation of your interests in your typographic subject. It can additionally be a recounting of traveling to/through the photos you took in your book. Like a travelogue or diary. Or a combination of these approaches. In other words you can write to suit your interest and / or process.
• Main heads. These fall at the outset of chapters or sections. This is display type and brings specific typographic flavor to the book.
• Subheads. You will have need of this text part to break down the main text subject matter into smaller categories or parts of the “story”.
• Captions. Don’t just tell us what we’re looking at and where it is – in most instances you will want to go further and write an extended caption that tells more details about the photo or the circumstances of the photo taking.
• Pull quotes. These can come from your outside sources. These are attention getting quick lead-ins to your topic. They can also be “expert” or other voices commenting on your subject.
• Side bar. This text is in a kind of “parallel” to your main text. It can tell a story-within-a-story, or be a break-out that expands on an aspect or your
subject. An example might profile a local “tagger” in a book on graffiti.
• Credits. Give yourself credit. Credit others. List your information sources in a bibliographic form. You also need to record your book type face(s), kind of camera and other technical matter. Thank anyone who helped you.
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WED MAR 26
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Review moodboards & text outlines/articles in individual crits.
Homework:
1. Collect any additional imagery & text needed.
2. What format will this thing be? Create at least 2 paper mockups of chosen book size with example grid(s) to show next class.
3. Create at least 2 different typographic strategies (typefaces, color, texture, layout, interaction with imagery). Using your keywords and moodboards as departure points, take some words from your essay (titles, body copy, subtitles, heading, quotes, etc) and play with these words in type. You are trying to explore how your book might treat your text. Play. Print out for next class.
4. Do the same with your imagery. How will you crop it? Edit? Place it? Montage? Collage? Frame? Color correct? One Color? Two? Stylize? Contrast-level? Grain? Treatment? Play. Print out for next class.
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MON MAR 31
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Review paper mockups & type strategies in small groups. How is the typography interacting with your imagery. How do they feel together? What is working/not working to express your keywords.
Homework:
Refinements based on feedback. Using your chosen type/image direction apply it two atleast two spreads of your book. Establish the following:
- Page Number: Indicates the sequence of pages in the book.
- Captions: This text illumniates the image and/or gives photo credit
- Running Heads: These are elements that appear at the top or bottom of each page, often including the author's name, chapter title, or book title.
- Body (Text): The main content of the book, including chapters, paragraphs, and other text elements.
- Page Margins: The space between the text and the edges of the page.
- Headers and Footers: These are elements that appear at the top and bottom of each page, respectively.
- Column Width: The width of the body copy.
- Pull Quote: Sections of text pulled from a book and displayed in a larger or different style to stand out on the page
- Line Spacing/Leading: The vertical space between lines of text.
Print out for next class.
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WED APR 02
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Review two spreads in small groups!
Homework:
Refinements based on feedback and create the first draft of your book (All main text placed, establishing flow, rhythm, pacing.) It’s okay if imagery isn’t all in there, but deal with all the text to see how much space you need/have. Print out atleast half-size for next class.
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MON APR 07
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Review first draft & make refinements.
Homework:
Second draft of book (Includes book matter: title page, colophon, etc.)
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WED APR 09
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Optional Class. Workday.
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MON APR 14
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Review second draft of book (includes multiple pages printed on final paper stock/color to test).
Introduce Project Three
Homework:
Final Book Due (2 copies) and post pdf HERE.
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MON APR 21
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Project Due
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WED APR 23
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MON MAY 05
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MON MAY 07
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WED MAY 14
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