The Evolution of Type
Movable Type: Johannes GutenbergEarly 15th Century
Studio on Fire: Minneapolis
Anatomy of Type
Anatomy n n x-height
finial
terminal
ascender
spine
ear
serif
counter
stemeye
bowldescender
cross bar
describes gtype forms
capheight
Humanist Typefaces / Old Style
Nicolas JensonWilliam Morris
Garamond
Bembo
Jenson
Palatino
Type Classifications: Old Style
Garamondslanted stress
sharperhorizontal cross barswedge-shaped serifs
slanted serif
greater thick and thin
oldest style typeface—use could be for historical reference or text
Other typefaces include:
GoudyCaslonBemboPalatinoPerpetua
Italic Letterforms
Aldus Manutius
Italic LetterformsGaramond italicslanted Old Style forms used for emphasis
Roman Idealism / Enlightenment
William CaslonJohn BaskervilleGiambattista Bodoni
CaslonBaskervilleBodoni
Type Classifications: Transitional
Baskervillevertical stress
serif more hoizontal
greater thick and thin
Roman du RoiLess Caligraphic FlowEasier to ReadNewspapers
Other typefaces include:
ClearfaceCochinCaledonia
Type Classifications: Modern
http://ilovetypography.com/2008/05/30/a-brief-history-of-type-part-4/
Type Classifications: Modern
Didothorizontal stress
Vertical axisSmall aperture
abrupt thick and thin
move away from humanist or handwritten letterformsNeed lots of spaceAustere
Other typefaces include:
BodoniModern No. 20OptimaDidone
Abrupt (unbracketed) hairline (thin) serifs
Rise of Advertising
Display Type
ClarendonGothicCondensed
http://ilovetypography.com/2008/06/20/a-brief-history-of-type-part-5/
Type Classifications: Display
STENCIL
Different each face
Script Type falls into this category
SignPainter
Turn of the Century Manufactured GoodsLeading to AdvertisingUsed to make meaning through type and gain attention
Other typefaces include:
Giddyup
MeSquiteBlockheadand many others
Type Classifications: Egyptian / Slab Serif
Clarendonmore even stress
Often times fatter
more even strokes
AdvertisingBorn in Britain
Other typefaces include:ClarendonOfficinaCourierAmerican TypewriterCharter
Unbracketed Serifs
Universal Language
Theo Van Doesburg—DeStijlJosef Albers, Herbert BayerPaul Renner “subtle variations...calming...ab-stract and proportion...a tool for constructing a page in subtle shades of gray
Futura
JOSEPH MÜLLER-BROCKMANN
Type Classifications: Sans Serif
Futuraeven modular stress
Often times fatter
perfect exact strokes
Function v. FormBauhausSwiss ModularityOther Terms: Grotesque, Modular, Gothic, Humanist
Other typefaces include:
HelveticaFranklin GothicGill SansFrutigerMeta
Unbracketed Serifs
Type for the Screen
Wm Cromwell—New AlphabetDesign methodology as rule-based and systematicZuzana Licko—EmigreRudy VanderLans
Universal
Reaction to Perfection
Barry DeckP. Scott MakelaDavid Carson
Dead HistoryTemplate Gothic
Let’s Get Serious / Contemporary
Zuzana LickoMartin MajoorTobias Frere-Jones
Mrs. Eaves Mr. Eaves
Type Classifications
Humanist / Old Style:
GaramondTransitional:
BaskervilleModern:
Bodoni
Humanist
Gill SansTransitional Sans Serif
HelveticaGeometric
FuturaDisplay
NoteworthySlab Serif / Egyptian:
Clarendon
Project 1 Steps
1. Go onto Adobe Typekit and find fonts that match the following categories and sync/download:
Old Style/Transitional/Modern Slab Serif Sans Serif Display
2. Create a document in InDesign or Illustrator with 4 8 x 8 pages (can use more for playing putting information on the back).
3. Choose 2-4 letterforms from each font and turn them into outlines.
4. Play with those 4 letterforms from each category on one side of the 8 x 8 pages.
5. Create 4 compositions with the goal of creating interesting positive and negative space in each and also recognizing the anatomical details of each, making notes on the opposite facing page describing those details.
6. Finalize your compositions after getting feedback from your peers and instructor.
7. Print and mount on matte board for presentation.