OUGD404 Design Principles - Studio Brief 1 - WHAT IS VISUAL LITERACY?

'All that is necessary for any language to exist is an agreement amongst a group of people that one thing will stand for another. In order to understand that language all members of that group must learn the principles, vocabulary and grammar in order to use and understand it.'

Origins of type

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/alphabet.html

'The original alphabet was developed by a Semitic people living in or near Egypt.*  They based it on the idea developed by the Egyptians, but used their own specific symbols.  It was quickly adopted by their neighbors and relatives to the east and north, the Canaanites, the Hebrews, and the Phoenicians.  The Phoenicians spread their alphabet to other people of the Near East and Asia Minor, as well as to the Arabs, the Greeks, and the Etruscans, and as far west as present day Spain.  The letters and names on the left are the ones used by the Phoenicians.  The letters on the right are possible earlier versions. If you don't recognize the letters, keep in mind that they have since been reversed (since the Phoenicians wrote from right to left) and often turned on their sides!'

The pictogram of an ox's head in context.

The six classifications of type, the method of production effects the design of the typeface.

Stone - Carved into stone using a chisel, the method of production created serifs on glyphs.

Sable - Originating from the orient, the fluid brush stroke created type without the need of serifs.

Bone - Quill nibs dipped in ink.

Wood - Woodblock text used for printing, texture and irregularities are found in each glyph.

Lead - Metal letter press type 

Silicone - Digitally created type.

What is typography:

• The art and technique of printing with movable type.

• The composition of printed material from movable type.
• The arrangement and appearance of printed material.

How to identify type:

• Line weight
• Quality of line
• Sans Serif/ Serif
• Geometry
• Reproduction
• Chronology
• Name/ Identity
• Header/ Body copy font
• Font family

Resources to identify fonts:

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2008/12/7-free-tools-to-identify-a-font/

A short animated video of the history of typography

Task 1:

Create an on-going type journal which will aid my own practical work throughout the course.