Reflective Practice Essay Format

Essay Paragraph Notes 

The aim of the project was to create a tool designers could use to create more experimental typography. The outcome produced is a sketchbook of original grid systems which can be used to create modular letterforms. 

Analysis against context and reading

Focus to increase experimental design in typography – engage more with process – Chen Design Associates – designers more engaged with the process of making

- Creative Bloq – comments how improvisation within handmade techniques leads to more interesting results as the designer becomes responsive and influenced by the process of the work, meaning there is less control

Working with grids – creates structure – restrictions – less control but more control in some senses-  but flexible – sketchbook format encourages experimentation – not a focus on the end product – supposed to be used in a rough way – sketchbooks seen as initial ideas – less pressure – hand-drawn easily adaptable – create multiple variations quickly and easily – grid system provides prompts – restriction encourage problem solving especially when trying to create a full alphabet so it is consistent – control over which parts to use – after which grids and structure provides control for continuing the design

- Chen design associates suggest that designers are more engaged with the process of making when using analogue techniques and this connection is retained within the work

Interactive – need to engage with piece in order to use it – physically drawing

Mass distribution of digital design 1970s - Odling Smee comments on how this type of design became a mass market style that was seen everywhere with little individual personality at the time , which led to the rise in experimental techniques

- Font Generator

The use of such a format makes the viewer feel more engaged with the work, and as an object it would encourage interaction and play through curiosity and interest, as well as previous understanding.

The designer hands over creative responsibility to the viewer allowing them to take ownership of the tool to create their own work. As Hubner et al (2009) infers, involvement with a physical work creates an experience for the viewer. By creating things for themselves this evokes a sense of achievement and provides an experience making the work more meaningful.

Rise of digital design – decline in skill – increase understanding – encourage traditional

- Use of constraints – in designing – design challenge – encourages problem solving

- Traditional approach to design – increases fundamental skills – better knowledge of the make up and forms of letters

- Understanding of typographic forms – forces designers to consider characteristics across an alphabet

- Using modular typography – difficulties when designing a whole typeface – characteristics need to be balanced – certain letterforms need adjusting – if to be readable – creating certain letters much harder – curved letters need to be slightly bigger to look the same size as other squarer letters –

Increase understanding – Beirut et al has written that within typography, traditionalists predict a decline in standards with the increased accessibility of digital tools which allow typography to be made and used by anyone

- Grids use modular typography – sketching designs allows better understanding of the composition of letterforms – difficulties with modular type – problem solving needed – adjustments needed e.g. balance etc – when creating passages of text – need to understand kerning etc  

- More skill – Odling Smee accessibility to computers has led to drawing skills being replaced by computers, which has meant the craft within the creation of the work has been lost, reducing respect for the design process – use of pre - created design elements ‘are often a camouflage for a lack of creativity’ and mean designers have lost an understanding of the basic tools and principles within graphic design creation.

- ‘Designers have lost an understanding of the basic tools and principles that they are using as graphic designers’

Bodoni Typeface - Maker created the tool and mapped out each individual letter – will have an intimate knowledge of the typeface and its anatomy – the machine mechanics created by her allow complete understanding and control over the tool – not always the case with computers as a majority of people do not know the complete workings of the tools they use

- Creating own typography – something original – not just using standard typefaces

  

DIY approach – limit need for computers – many type generators – bring into familiar format – not expensive or need for specialist equipment – format already used

- Encourages hand rendered sketching rather than a focus on the finished product

- Bierut et al suggested that digital tools allow typography to be used and made by anyone, whereas in contrast handmade design needs specialist materials and tools which are not easily accessible

Sketchbook format – frequently used in design community – traditional analogue technique – accessible 

- Font Generator

Bierut (1994) suggested that digital tools allow typography to be used and made by anyone, whereas in contrast handmade design needs specialist materials and tools which are not easily accessible. However, in this case it is shown that through a DIY approach, simple tools for creating handmade typography can be produced making typography accessible in this way also. This being said computers remain the most widespread and mainstream tool within the industry because of their versatility and ability to perform multiple functions.

- Risatti writes about Aristotle and his groupings of knowledge, theoria or theoretical knowledge , praxis or pratical knowledge and poiesis which is knowledge of making, producing and creating something – provides format that is used and simple to use for a variety of people – basic approach to typography – little understanding needed – how to work a grid – common knowledge – has practical and theoretical knowledge – can draw easily – no skill needed apart from drawing – modular type basic – formulate basic concepts easily – room for more eleaborate designing for the more experienced

Combination of techniques needed – combine – digital and handmade - needed to make final - handmade for generation – create something different – ‘reactionary use of tech’

- Creative Bloq suggests that through improvisation and adaptation digital and handmade can inform and work together to create interesting design

Tool primarily used for experimentation and exploring initial ideas – once frame work achieved – design would need to be refined and digitalised on the computer – so it can be used more widely – can make further alterations – e.g. to increase legibility etc – most probably would be used in conjunction with the computer to create the final outcome  - creating standardised grid system scale – helps transfer of design to computer – know the scale will be the same – initial use of restrictions leads to more original and exciting outcomes later one – helps with the generation of ideas 

Analysis against the brief

Bring the construction of type into a physical format

- Compact and familiar format for designers

- Encourages hand rendered sketching rather than a focus on the finished product

By engaging physically with the process of creating the work, more control,understanding and experimentation during the process , more original outcomes

- Flexibility – can adapt them further – gives designer creative control over how they want to use them – use of multiple elements allows for creative choice over which bits are used or ignored

- Understanding of typographic forms – forces designers to consider characteristics across an alphabet

- Encourages interaction – physical interaction with piece – created for designers to use

Allow construction of multiple letterforms

- Restrictions and rules can be applied – to create consistency across the designs

- Overlapping shapes – more options to play with – able to use in multiple directions – reflecting and layering allows for more outcomes – easier to create reflected type

- Full alphabet constructed out of each grid – consistency determined by level of restriction used between elements

Compact to increase practicality and ease of use

- Thicker lines improve usability – breaks grids up into modules – easier to visualise – could have thicker lines for shapes rather than modules

Suitable for a range of ages and degrees of professionalism

- Format suitable for students and professionals

- Compact and familiar format for designers

- Use of modular format provides a way experimenting with type design – suitable as an introductory into type design – suitable for range of audience

- Sketchbook format – appropriate for all levels of professionalism – something they already work with – understood and easy to use

- Some designs may be more complicated to find type from

- Neutral look – applicable for a wider audience

Should be able to be physically engaged with in order to create typography 

Engage them with the experimental construction of type

- Some designs may be more complicated to find type from

allows for adaptation and easy modification

- Although structured grid system – variety of possible outcomes – flexible enough to be used in an experimental way

- Options for construction – from geometric forms – can be as simple or elaborate as possible

- More elaborate designs – allow for more abstract designs