Firewater Band Poster

Source: New Age Vintage Type (book)

Typeface classification: free handed serif

Description: Decorative title art for band poster for Firewater

How it enhances the message: Firewater describes their music as worldly folk jazz with punk roots and Eastern European and Gypsy influences. If posters could be biologically tested like on Jerry Springer, this one would definitely be the child of Jazz poster and a Bohemian wedding invitation, and in that sense, I believe that the type and art support the influence behind the music 

Influence: This poster represents how important it is to keep the context of your subject matter in mind while choosing your typefaces and designing both layouts and artwork.

Box of Knots

Source: A surprise from dad

Typeface classification: Serif 

Description: A serif font that seems to have a "hand done" quality to it. 

How it enhances the message: The classic style done in a way that has a warm feel to it that's somewhat human marries the type to the image that depicts a very americana father son classical experience. (the pass time of tying knots with your pop-pop)

Influence: This typeface reminds me that there can still be warmth and character in fonts that sometimes seem old or too common to use. 

Source: Chocolate packaging!!!
Classification: Serif font and customized and sans serif
Description: this is a chocolate packaging that wants to be "healthier" so they chose a fun font as well as have a cardboard box.
Enhancement: there are no images and only type which is sometimes hard to pull off, but they did and it works.
Influence: I love the use of color, I will be using more color in a playful way, good color pallette and type pairing

Hi | Andrea Johnson

This is a typographic piece by Jared Erickson, a designer out of Atlanta.

This is a serif typeface. This could be Adobe Caslon Pro or Didot.

This is just a simple little piece that says "hi." This could apply to any audience.

The combination of the H and the I is very creative. It is really great to me that you could create such an effective piece just using two shapes.  The abnormality of the word begs for a simple background, which is exactly what Erickson went for here. 

This will influence my work by reminding me that typography is really just the study of space. Letters can be intimidating, but when you look at them as just shapes, it enables your brain to come up with many solutions.

Jen Stephenson

Source: John Mayer's Born and Raised CD cover
Classification: Serif font and customized (hand drawn font)
Description: This is the CD cover design of one of John Mayer's CD's. I chose this because it's one that is more detailed than most nowadays and focuses on the type. It has a vintage and dated feel about it and is unique. 
Enhancement: Although the type is the main focus in this design, the background really completes it. It's not a photograph (which is what I've seen on most covers). Instead, the entire cover was designed by someone completing the overall feel but yet, it doesn't take away from the type.
Influence: With this as an example, I think it is important to sometimes create your own typeface design to really complete the design you want to achieve. Also I think that can go both ways; if you designed your own typeface, sometimes it is beneficial to hand draw everything in the piece that is being work on. 

type

Source: Internet
Description: black and white image with a drop shadow. This image combines cursive and san serif fonts with lines to help create order on the page.
Inspiration: I really enjoy this style. I am working on how to combine the cursive and san seriffed font. This is just a basic example of the direction I am trying to go. It is clean and sophisticated. The drop shadow makes the typography really come off the page. The lines and shapes that were added to this piece are very simple yet impacting. The different sizes of the type helps the viewers eye follow the piece from top to bottom without hesitation.

Casey Sturm_I Want Candy.

Source: Avant-Sugarde by Samuel Mensah-Bonsu
Classification: San Serif
Description: Poster describing the addictiveness of sugar (at the bottom) while also showing off this typeface built of candy made by Samuel Mensah-Bonsu. Each letter is made of different types of candy all arranged into shape.
Enhancement: This typeface is perfect to describe and bring awareness to the addictiveness of sugar which of course is one of the main ingredients and attractions of candy.
Influence: This is a good example of everyday objects being used to create type. It doesn't have to simply be pen and paper or graphic shapes.

trolli sour brite octopus

Source: empty candy bag
Typeface classification: free handed
Description: playful type to go with sour candy shaped like octopus
How it enhances the message: the bubbled image of the brand has a fun tone to it, while the octopus has a certain fluidity to it that goes well with what it represents.
Influence: the typeface encourages me to remember to have fun with type while still maintaining a sense of pertinence to the subject.

For this weeks entry I want to focus on something similar to out current project. I chose this spread because I am using irregularly shaped images in my spreads. I think the designer used the space well and was able to unify the type and imagery. What makes their layout work is the spill over image and the type placed in the image spread. These two elements keep the readers eyes constantly moving around the spread. This s something I will keep in mind while designing my exhibition catalog. 

Stickers : Isaiah Carrasco | Caitlin Landingham

"This is the result of my inexplicable absence. It's been marvelous." 

These are a series of stickers printed by Isaiah Carrasco. The typeface is a knock-off of Helvetica called "Mr. Neuman". Simple, clean, easy to read makes this bold statement more empowering. The knock-off font makes the message have a subtle irony to it which I enjoy. In my designs I would probably just use the original Helvetica Neue. Actually I do. They're in the elevator at the good ol' JCM art building so check 'em out.

Japanse type

Japanese Grid Type- this type is a freehand brush type that utilizes a grid , however the type is not organized by grid restraint  but rather by centering the "whole" of the character on an axis.

The typeface is very bold , to me this indicates a serious or possibly playful nature to it, depending on the context and what its used for. I find it so interesting because the cultural difference between kanji and the greek alphabet is so vast. It's interesting to me to view them visually rather than "reading" them.
This is influencing my work a lot right now because i am focusing on type that serves a visual purpose and communicates something other than what it literally reads.

Molly Gardner 3/24

1.

2.CLASSIFY TYPE: Sans-serif, cursive, italic serif.

3. DESCRIBE OBJECT, AUDIENCE, PURPOSE: beer label, all consumers (especially alcohol consumers), and purpose is to present info and display brand.

4.HOW DOES TYPOGRAPHY ENHANCE MESSAGE?There is a good balance between the bold box and the tall white text. There is good variation that isn't too over-stimulating.

5.SPECIFICALLY EXPLAIN HOW EXAMPLE WILL INFLUENCE CREATIVE WORK: I like the use of shapes, lines, and images with the black and white scale. It is simple, yet complex and interesting enough. I will explore to a greater depth the possibilities with little color.

Source: Behind Middleton's Pub in Wimberley, Texas.  There was a table of these, and this one was pretty cool.

Type Classification: a fancy Serif, very ornate

What is it?:  This is a tap handle for Odell Brewing company's IPA.  It is a wonderfully crafted handle, to support a wonderfully crafted beer.

Analyze this piece: The type has these whimsical serifs that point outward for a very ornate and Indian feel.  The original beer was shipped from India to America, and this is their take on the beer.  The dot detail on the side matches the Indian style of printing that they do on a thin paper.

How will this influence my work?: I cannot get enough of ornate hand-types right now.  I am also looking for a typeface for a carnival inspired ice cream, and this might be it.

Hand Rendered Type

Classification: This composition contains elements of both serif and sans-serif typography. These are all hand rendered, however some are taken directly from specific typefaces, such as the Didot-looking "a."

Object/Audience: This is simply a statement that is in the early stages of a draft. The different copy is meshed together using different forms, shapes, and types of type.

Message: This is a perfect example of how type enhances the communicated message. By establishing a sort of hierarchy and placing type on different axis' with embellishment on shapes it gives a certain flow to the intended message, which is literal in this example. It gives the viewer a certain path to follow, with what are more or less "landmarks" along the way.

Influence: This is a great example of all different kinds of typefaces (from gothic to sans) working well together. Instead of working independently as different copy normally would, such as in headings, sub-headings and body copy, they work in unison, as cohesive elements which really do justice to what is being communicated. This is a great influence to pull from when one is feeling that types just don't match.

Jen Stephenson

Source: Internet
Classification: San serif block letters stacked
Description: This is a 3d design installation piece focusing on typography by Jaime Gonzalez. It spells out "Are you talking to me?" and the letters are stacked in all different levels coming out of the all at the viewer making for an interesting composition. 
Enhancement: Even though the type is san serif, the letters are altered a bit to fit certain shapes. The entire sentence is white making the viewer focus on the placement of the words. I think that it is effective in giving off a certain attitude and tone with the sentence. And for it being so squished together, readability is still well done. 
Influence: This is an reminder that sometimes simple is better. It is also a reminder that even strongly focusing on one thing such as placement and dimension and ignoring something like color and still balance each other out for a successful piece. 

kosm.ici- Sam Popham

Source: kosm.ici monograph project book by Gabriela Namie that is a starting place for an app that focuses on media and how it is viewed as entertainment only instead of an opportunity for education using the works of Marshall Mcluhan, Vilem Flusser and Pierre Levy 'studying the role of media and it's contexts'.
Object Description: A very well organized and well designed book using well planned grids and typography and color.
Typeface Description: A mixture of sans serif and serif. Sans serifs are used for titles, headings and subheadings as well as the body. Serif typefaces are used only on left hand pages of full bleed typographic illustration and in the number of the chapter.
How does it enhance message? It feels very playful and educational and extremely well organized. The sans serif feel like a good balance of formality and informality. The serifs work well as compliment.
How will it influence me? When working in my own book, I hope to create such a cohesive design of color, photography, type and organization. I would like to experiment with full bleed photography and overlapping effects over photography in my book like shown here.

How 'bout them Cowboys | Andrea Johnson

This is a Cowboys pendant I've had hanging in my bedroom since around September. The Dallas Cowboys are pretty much a lost cause, and I am aware of that, but my love for them will never die.

Both typefaces on this pendant are sans serif. The one on the top is a script font.

The purpose of this pendant is simply to help someone express their pride and fandom of the Cowboys, so the purpose of the typography is to stand out and represent the team and their city.

The thing that stands out about this arrangement of type is the contrast between the 'Dallas' and 'Cowboys.' Although the 'Dallas' is script, it still has an edge to it, and it represents the city life of Dallas. The bold weight of the 'Cowboys' represents the strength and the solidity of the team that the Cowboys (should) have.

This will influence my work in the future because of its contrast. Contrast is a great solution for two word titles, and it can also work for larger, more intricate situations.

Bareknuckle Pickups

Source: scan of cover that came with my guitar pickups
Typeface classification: Script
Description: Bareknuckle Pickups are a guitar pickup company from England making versatile pickups for modern guitarists. They're logo features an old style bareknuckle boxer and their name in a classic script typeface.
How it enhances the message: The typeface enhances the image out of pure necessity I believe; the name alone harkens back to early boxing and the image of the fighter places it in a time where I would imagine script or very ornate typefaces would have been used for posters for a fight.
Influence: The typeface encourages to think of cultural and time considerations when using a particular typeface to add believability or accuracy to an image along with being visually pleasing.

Stacked

Classification: slab-serif

What is it?: This appears to be a 'type as texture' type project. While you can understand the message, there is an aesthetically appealing way in which this design was created. The way the colors were incorporated works because of the analogous color scheme, and it works wonderfully against the dark background. It seems to stand out, but not in such a way as the letters look separate from the background, rather that they are coming out of the background.

The typography is arranged in such a way that the rag on the right and left looks interesting as a shape (perhaps a building to hold the elevator?), and this method balances well in this piece. The subtle repetition of the typography in the background makes a great texture.

Influence: This is another great example of stacking type on top of each other, which I have always loved as a style. The texture of the text was done in such a way that might be interesting for future projects, as I usually just give the type a color. Using typography as a texture is also something I haven't tried before, and hope to try sometime soon.

Nectar

This is my current protein powder bottle, and the typeface featured is a type of graffiti text. I'm not a fan of the packaging, the typeface, or the Syntrax logo for that matter. Syntrax is the company that produces this specific brand of whey protein. Although the logo in this particular image is pretty small the typeface featured in it is a serif. The serifs on the S and the X are extremely extended and then further warped to look as if ripped. The arms and legs of the letterforms are shortened and lengthened at will, for what seems no apparent reason, and the paring of it with graffiti letters makes even less sense to me. They've also added a sans serif to the mix to further describe the flavor of the product, but it is not it any way simplistic. It is more bubbled and fat than most sans serifs, and it has a drop shadow. Not my fav. for sure...

Cracker Barrel_Casey Sturm

Source: Cracker Barrel to-go cup
Classification: San serif block letter, cursive
Description: Both are classic types used simply for decoration on the to-go cups. Different words that are descriptive of the restaurant are scattered across the cup in these two font styles.
Enhancement: Both types are classic which suits the Cracker Barrel style. Simple, and reminiscent of home grown, country living.
Influence: This example is a reminder that sometimes simple, home grown type choices are the right ones.

Salty

Type Classification:  san-serif , heavy block type

What is it?: its packaging for salt and its awesome
Message: I think its a futuristic approach to packaging for salt. the colors are similiar but its fun.
How will this influence my work?:I like the layout of the type, it will influence me because they had fun with such a simple product.

Hand type

Source: online type site

Type Classification: Hand Drawn , serif and san-serif , detailed script as well as heavy block type

What is it?: a very cheesy graphic that utilizes a variety of different typeface all drawn by hand , although i don't really appreciate the "idea" of the image i do like the variety in hand drawn type
Message: I think the message is enhanced because the type goes very well with the "aesthetic" of the piece , the nautical feel calls on early 19th and 20th century design and computers would not have been used to make it. 
How will this influence my work?: I am very interested in hand drawn work , especially as it relates to type , i appreciate the aesthetic of early 20th century sign painting as well as early labels , i like the variation in the type because it seems to have more of a "feel " to it. It will influence me by allowing me to see the degree to which type can change the desired feel of something.

the evil dead - sean

Source: personal movie collection
Typeface classification: Typeface appears to be an altered sans-serif
Description: the typeface for the evil dead movie has seen a couple of different iterations, this one is one of my favorites though over the other versions, and the newer evil dead remake even features an homage to this one though slightly altered
How it enhances the message: the letters individually all fit into each other in a strange, tense way and it creates an interesting composition.
Influence: the way the type is set is a cool way to look at playing with making the type a bit of a puzzle and would be fun to play with