Typography (Week 11) - The Booklet, Mocks-up (Second step)

 

30.3.16 (Week 11)

Fatin Nadia Binti Ishak (300 422 242)

Typography

Lecture: 

 

Mr. Vinod gave us feedback for our first mock-up individually. Then he will help anyone who has questions regarding the booklet.

Instruction:

Task 2 (20%): The Booklet
Your task requires you to come up with 10-12 lines about your self. The lines can vary in the number of words (1 word, 5 words, 10 words). These lines will be arranged and expressed according to their meanings. Utilize the knowledge gained in all the tasks previously and express yourselves.

The booklet you are creating has 8 pages in all (2 A4 sheets stuck together and divided into halves). The format of the booklet is an accordion fold and affixed on either end with a card-board.

You have to compose your lines on the various pages, using a variety or appropriate fonts/typefaces, and then considering the size, impact of the respective artworks, place them in an appropriate sequence to ensure a healthy variation from page to page.

A demonstration of this shall be conducted in class. How to fold, how to create your illustrator template and how to place the typographic artworks (expressions of the different lines) in illustrator.

You will submit, a hardcopy print out and upload the respective JPEGs of the 8 pages in spreads of 2 onto your eportfolio.

Marking Criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to express the meaning of your sentences through your typography and layout (arrangement). The layouts must showcase sensitivity and creativity in the choice of font, its arrangement, its relevancy and its suitability in context of the sentences. It must reflect and enhance the inherent meaning of the sentences. 

You must look at the arrangements for all the pages and decide whether the pages look like a cohesive unit, whether there is a level of consistency or variation, so as to avoid monotony or over-consistency.

You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration, research capability, ability to chronologically document your process and reflect on your journey. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Duration: 3 weeks
Deadline: week 13

Research & Thoughts:

Based on the last week feedback, he wants me to create something that has an impact and each work need to be related.

Again, I do few more research to get some ideas;

I’ve found few pictures from Google that really unique and can be used as an example for the task.

 

Previously, I did try out different font for different part of works. However, too much fonts looks really messy and there is no coherent.

Then I’ve decided to use only 4 types of font for the booklet, and I choose fonts that compatible with each other for the each sides of the booklet.

According to Mr.Vinod, people will usually choose unique types of font to express the words, it’s actually doesn’t work.

Basically, I will usually prefer unique decorative and cursive font on my work, but this time I will use a basic and plain look of font and make comparison.

Process:

For this Mocks-up, I have decided to stick with only four fonts, which are 

- Page 1A + 1B & 3A + 3B =  Helvetica with Palatino .

- Page 2A + 2B & 4A + 4B = Century with Bauhaus.

Important point; is that those fonts basically compatible with each other.

Next Step, size of the font mostly is 12pt. I did use bigger font as well.

I have made a lot of changes compare to my previous work; I have changed the fonts, words by making it simpler and design as well.

 Last week work;

1) 

2) Some changes; 

Process on the Adobe Illustrator:

a) Change of the font and shape for 'sarcasm'.

b) Trying something different by using 2 pages for one sentence;

Difficulties:

Despite using two laptops and a phone to update my blog and work, again I’m facing problem when it comes to printing part.

I need more ideas for the visual expression part.

 

For my second mocks-up booklet, I try to put in a heart shape in it and using 2 spaces for a sentence. I am using a lot of space this time, and I am trying to create flow from 1 part to another.
Less fonts really helps, it does look a lot more clean than my previous booklet. Especially when those fonts compatible with each other.
I am totally aware that this final task require to adopt things that I have previously learned in the class, type expression, type arrangement and etc.
 

3) Result for this week;

I am sure that I will make few changes again, because I’m still not satisfied with my work, till then.

Final Submission for Mocks-up 2: 

 

Feedback:

According to Mr. Vinod I need to use more space.

Reflection:

Observation:

I want my work to look clean and meaningful, but still I didn’t feel it yet, perhaps after few mocks-up I can finally come out with the nice clean work. At least, I still have time to try out a few more ‘design’ etc. for my work.

Experience:

When it comes to printing part, I am still not good at it. But practice makes perfect, I am so grateful that finally the annoying guy at the printing shop understand how I actually want him to print my work. 

 

Finding:

But still I’m enjoying doing the task because, it allows me to explore more and use my ‘creativity’. At Least, I get some ideas based of the feedback given to me last week, on what actually the task require us to do. Feedback really helps. I will try my best to combine my knowledge and experienced in this course and produce a good result for this final task.

Typography (Week 10) - The Booklet (Mocks-up)

23.3.16 (Week 10)

Fatin Nadia Binti Ishak (300 422 242)

Typography

Lecture:

He explained further details about the format of the booklet.

For instance;

- It can be 10 to 12 lines (can be from the poem)/ one word/ two words.

- It should have variations, as an example, we should follow BBC news rather than RTM news for the variations.

- One font or two to three fonts

- We can use one typeface that have range on it, for example 'Helvetica', which has 40 fonts under it.

Next, Mr. Vinod gave us feedback for last week task. He also remind us to copy words from the eportfolio in the word file and save it as PDF.

Mock up:

Print out any words etc., then put hard cover on it.

Instruction:

Task 2 (20%): The Booklet
Your task requires you to come up with 10-12 lines about your self. The lines can vary in the number of words (1 word, 5 words, 10 words). These lines will be arranged and expressed according to their meanings. Utilize the knowledge gained in all the tasks previously and express yourselves.

The booklet you are creating has 8 pages in all (2 A4 sheets stuck together and divided into halves). The format of the booklet is an accordion fold and affixed on either end with a card-board.

You have to compose your lines on the various pages, using a variety or appropriate fonts/typefaces, and then considering the size, impact of the respective artworks, place them in an appropriate sequence to ensure a healthy variation from page to page.

A demonstration of this shall be conducted in class. How to fold, how to create your illustrator template and how to place the typographic artworks (expressions of the different lines) in illustrator.

You will submit, a hardcopy print out and upload the respective JPEGs of the 8 pages in spreads of 2 onto your eportfolio.

Marking Criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to express the meaning of your sentences through your typography and layout (arrangement). The layouts must showcase sensitivity and creativity in the choice of font, its arrangement, its relevancy and its suitability in context of the sentences. It must reflect and enhance the inherent meaning of the sentences. 

You must look at the arrangements for all the pages and decide whether the pages look like a cohesive unit, whether there is a level of consistency or variation, so as to avoid monotony or over-consistency.

You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration, research capability, ability to chronologically document your process and reflect on your journey. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Duration: 3 weeks
Deadline: week 13

Primary Research:

Search for a booklet picture online. I wonder how it usually looks like, the arrangements etc.

Below sample are amazing, the style and variations.

The sample below is very unique; I wonder how much time they spend, to create those booklets.

 

Secondary Research:

Google, poems & quotes about self, just to get some ideas how an arrangements of words.

Poems and quotes about self;

 

Process:

Basically I need to use four pages (2 A4 sheets), which then divided into halves.

So I need about 8 different lines to describe myself:

1. I love traveling
2. I am complicated
3. I never give up
4. Stubborn
5. Crazy Mom
6. Lack of sleep
7. Sarcastic
8. Unpredictable

I know that I need to search more unique words, beautiful poems and etc., in order to describe myself, so it will be a lot more interesting.

Experience & Difficulties;

1. I did not remove the 10mm grey line on my artwork.
2. I am not sure which type of paper I shall use for the cover.
3. After print it out, I have found that the sequence of the lines is wrong.
4. I did print it as double-sided but it turn out to be upside down.
5. My MacBook really annoy me, it’s stuck for no reason it’s probably because of it’s age. I need to use two laptops to save and print my works.
   
   

   Basically, I have at least known what I should and shouldn’t do. I need to ask Mr. Vinod a lot more regarding the Adobe Illustrator.

Using Adobe Illustrator, creating a template for the booklet:
Step 1: (Four pages/create the 10cm x 10cm box and put it at each angles)

Step 2: Divide it page into halves

Step 3: Create a black color line, so I will not use that part, because later I will cut it

Step 4: Lock the selection

 

 Step 5: Put in lines and words in

The truth is, I do mixed up fonts for each part, I wonder how it will turn up. But, the result is really messy so at least I know what font I should and shouldn't use.

Folded Booklet, things that needed:

12" scale (ruler), cutter, 10 sheets of A4 paper, and double sided tape 10mm (not the thick one the thin white one).

Types of paper for the front and back cover of the booklet;

(1) Mounting board white (2) THP PVC Foam Sheet (3) PVC Sheet White

My mocks-up:

The one we did in the class last week;

Mocks-up (combinations);

The Mocks-up

Close-up (Mocks-up)

Front:

Back:

Submission, for the first Mocks-up:

Feedback:

Mr. Vinod suggest me to stick the hard cover first then only cut it, so I will get the exact size. I need to use more spaces, he said that I'm being safe. I need to make a visual impact. I need to make sure that, one place flow to the next.

Reflection 

Observation:

Details are really important when creating a booklet. Arrangement of words, choice of fonts and many other are important too. I need more time to figure out more unique lines to describe myself so it can be more interesting. 

 

Experience:

I was having difficulties when printing those work, it turn out to be upside down and looks messy, but practice makes perfect. I was having difficulties with my Mac Book, it stuck and I have lost all of my work that I’ve saved, I need it to update my blog. My other laptop is worse, it does has an Adobe Illustrator in it but I can’t open WIFI ‘Internet’, because my software will update automatically, so I have no choice but to close the WIFI thingy!

Finding:

For the lines in booklet, I wanted to create something different and again unique. However, I’ve found that the booklet, which is our final work for the subject, need a combinations of all. For instance, I need to use what that have been taught to us in class previously, for the final task, arrangements of words, size, fonts, kerning, leading and etc.

Typography (Week 9) - Final Love Letter

16/3/16 (Week 9)

Fatin Nadia Binti Ishak (300 422 242)

Typography 

Lecture:

He gave us feedback for the three options of letters.

Mr. Vinod explained in further details on how to use, special formatting:

- Space bar

- En-dash " The width is N”

- Em-dash “The width is M”

To break a line, press (shift) then (enter).

For drop caps, 3 are ideal. 

Side bar: spacing between line should be the same for different size of font.

Mr. Vinod also explained about the final task:

- Booklet (front and back)

- Using two chipboard paper for the cover

Instruction: 

Type arrangement (30%)

Task 1 (10%): The Letter
In this task, you will write (type) a single page love letter to your beloved who has been abroad for the last 6 months. The year is 1986, the world wide web or internet isn’t yet available to the masses, however the desktop computer has been invented. Letters are still a popular means to send and receive news. As, such it has been your practice to write one letter a week on your new desktop computer, print it, seal it in an envelope and post it to your beloved. This single page letter must be written sensibly and sensitively.

Your task is to use Adobe Illustrator to format this letter in a classical letter writing format (in the days of old) – when letter writing was done by hand – using a suitable font (or a combination of fonts), and appropriate margins, alignment, point size, leading and line length.

You will be required to print two copies; one without creases or folds, the other for postage. The letter for posting will require an envelope, as such thought must be put into the writing of the address on the envelop. You will post this letter to yourself, and you will bring this letter to class for submission and discussion. You will as always document all the processes, drafts and the final results on your eportfolio.

   
Above: Classical letter samples

Important reading references:
Purdue: Common Letter Writing Formats
Good Letter Writing: Personal Letter Writing TemplateGood Letter Writing: Layouts

(Note* If you stumble on some additional references, do share the on our Facebook group).

Marking Criteria: Lorem Ipsum…

Duration: 2 weeks
Deadline: week 10

Research on the combinations of Type Font: (As suggested by Mr. Vinod)

Adjust & Execute "Final Process":

I've decided to stick with one font for the letter, which is Script MT Bold. It is cursive and looks sophisticated. 

I just redo my work (I played around with the margins etc.) and copy pastes the letter contents:

(1)

For "leading", I've changed it into 13pt; I also used the ruler to make sure it's in the straight line:

I used two of font’s combinations for my three options last week, Mr. Vinod says that I should search more for a font combinations on google.

In my perception, 'mixed fonts' equal to 'mix feelings'. It shouldn't be present, because it shows that the sender isn't sure of her/his own feelings towards the recipient and it looks confusing too

Since I like the font that I've chosen, I think it will be a lot better if I just stick to just one font; it will look more neat and logic. 

(2)

I played around with the font size too, later i found that size 10pt is the most suitable one. So, for kerning, I just click the (ALT) then (left arrow):

(3)

For the paragraph, I just click on the "justify with last aligned left”:

(4)

My love letter is ready; the next step is to find a suitable envelope. I've searched how an envelope does in 1980s, specifically 1986 will look like, and so I found few samples of it from Google;

I've manage to find the similar type of envelope, 'in my sister drawer'.

At first I've print out my name and address using the same Script MT Bold font, and stick it using glue, but it too sticky and look messy. So, I just write it out. I've tried to make a similar cursive handwriting but it turn out to be so weird.

Conflict:

Basically, a woman at the Post Office counter explained to me how long it will take to receive the letter, for Poslaju it will take about two or three days to arrive but normal post should take about one to two weeks.

I've chosen 'poslaju' instead. I've received it on March 16, 2016. I'm so excited, until I've realized that there is no stamp etc. on it;

I didn’t know that they will just put it inside the plastic envelope and there is no stamp on it. It is obviously not a 1986 type of letter, caused I'm sure they don't have 'poslaju' during the time.

Again, I go back to the Post Office and resend the same letter again, but this time via normal post;

Look at the picture below, they put a stamp on it and I'm sure this time my love letter will go through the normal mail thingy procedure. 

(5)

My final submission:

Envelope (love letter):

It's finally here, it takes about 9 days to arrived.

Feedback

Mr. Vinod says: "Format is correct; format is fine u get full mark for your format. Choice of font very good, you put your artwork very well. If I were to put it in National Art Gallery, I won't want to see creases on it".

Reflection:

Experience: 

Awkward feelings, when i need to queue for about an hour at the post office just to send a love letter to myself, but I know it will be my first and last experience ever. 

I rarely check or even open my FB before, but because of 'Typography' I need to check and be alert on FB.

Honestly, I never even double check my work, a lot of spelling, grammar and typo error. I should probably change that attitude since in typography, these things really matter.

Observation: 

Storyline idea is simple, and basically I've just use my experienced. I used to experience the long term relationship with hubby before, so it is easy for me to express the real feeling of missing somebody, lol.  

Finding:

I really excited when I received letters rather than email. Because I know that the sender will go through a lot of steps to write letter. Rather than sending email etc., which will only take shorter time?

We can keep a letter forever and show it to our kids later, a sentimental value thingy.

The task sounds simple but there are a lot of things I need to focus on in order to make it looks good. For instance, font, typo error, grammar, kerning, leading and etc.