For our first project we were asked to complete a Type Specimen Screen, this was to represent a given Typeface. The typefaces we could select from were a list of classic and modern typefaces.
Typefaces refer to the specific design of an alphabet, the difference in typefaces are usually very small but will affect the appearance drastically. Examples of typeface include Bodoni, Gill Sans, Futura, Modern etc.
The art of designing with type began in 1455, Johannes Gutenberg had perfected printing from pieces of type. Typography is the art of designing with type, every designer must have thorough knowledge of typography. The success of designers is determined by by how well they are able to design with type.
My first task was to research a few of these typefaces. I found some interesting facts about them such as Gotham which is commonly known as the “New York font”, Caslon was the typeface used when Benjamin Franklin write the Declaration of Independence for America and Helvetica was named after Switzerland.
However, one that caught my eye was Futura, this font actually got taken up to space where the astronauts placed a sign with this font on it in hope of aliens to read. I decided I was going to sketch all of them to see what one I liked more.
After the sketches I decided that Futura was the one I was going to use and started to focus on this typeface. After many tries I found myself struggling to come up with creative designs but wasn't happy with my designs.
It was then time for Week 2 where we were going over some typefaces again to refresh last weeks class, there was some more examples of different typefaces and after hearing the typeface Bodoni I really wanted to try it out.