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.