typography. reflection.

The literal definition based on typography reflection reminds me of the first project this semester that I struggled greatly with. I won’t stray from the truth, I wanted to quit. I didn’t know how to make a typography exercise represent the seven design elements: anomaly, convention, direction, gradation, repetition, space, and texture and the quote that we had chosen in relation to design. Not only did we need to do this digital, but also analog. It was one of the most difficult assignments that I had done so far. I am used to working abstract, but it was too difficult for me to figure out how to bring all of those ideas together to create one cohesive unit. I feel that by the end of the project, it made more sense to me, but I still greatly struggled with how you make letterforms look like an idea, that people could understand. This project ended with a window wrap, which I thought was an interesting application. I had never really thought about how much work goes into creating window wraps.

The second project, the design lecture poster had one of the largest impacts on me this semester. It began with research on our assigned graphic designer, mine was April Greiman. Being an avid research buff I threw myself into the research. It was an extremely rewarding process because I was able to learn more about a designer’s process and inspirations. I then was able to look more into my own process and inspirations, which is actually the largest part of being a designer, the process to the final product. I also worked more with layout and attempted to be “less Swiss” as I often have a tendency to be. My edits to my poster post the final iteration show my progression with typography. It is still a work in progress, BUT I am getting closer to where I should be at the end of sophomore year.

I have gotten better with adding emphasis to words by only making small differences such as using bold and roman together bring emphasis versus using smaller roman text and larger bold text. I am finding the ability to add just a bit of emphasis instead of an in your face extremes. This allows my work to look more refined, elegant and thought out; which is what I am trying to prove with my personal style.  Overall I know I still have work to do but I know by adding subtle differences I will be able to keep a cohesive look that is effective and not distracting.