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Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

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Phillips (2004, 9) reminds us that “there are many design<br />

It is important to think about meaning <strong>and</strong> function in<br />

projects that could be classified as routine or on going that<br />

typography. Spiekermann et al. (1993, 54) in<strong>for</strong>m us that<br />

would not require a <strong>for</strong>mal design brief.” Thereby, a design<br />

“ever since, people have been writing things down. They<br />

brief may be as simple as drafting a short description, which<br />

have had to consider their audiences be<strong>for</strong>e they actually<br />

will assist a user group <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong> explaining the purpose of<br />

put a pen on paper.”<br />

the product you have created.<br />

The type used on a design is there<strong>for</strong>e expected to be<br />

Features of a graphic design<br />

applicable to the matter at h<strong>and</strong>. For instance, targeted<br />

In general, graphic designers compose visual artworks in<br />

audiences include people of different age groups, sex,<br />

very many ways. As an example, the design created may<br />

religion, lifestyle, culture <strong>and</strong> customs. As a graphic<br />

sometimes contain “images, texts ... to naturalise specific<br />

designer, it is essential to use—easy to read type,<br />

meanings of connotations” Barnard (2005, 38) notes.<br />

particularly when the message is written <strong>for</strong> very young<br />

As a result of that, on a basic visual or communication<br />

children.<br />

design you are more likely to find the following mysterious<br />

Fortunately, <strong>creative</strong> graphic designers today have a wide<br />

fascinations:<br />

range of type to choose from. We can underst<strong>and</strong> that from<br />

(a) the image (illustration)<br />

Galbreath's (2008, 36) assertions that “by choosing type<br />

faces <strong>and</strong> arranging then on the pages of your book: are<br />

(b) typography (relies on)<br />

the essential steps in creating an inviting <strong>and</strong> appropriate<br />

(c) a layout—to communicate or present a message<br />

atmosphere ...” that conveys positive visual messages.<br />

Fiell & Charlotte (2007) say, to get a message across “today's<br />

graphic designers have to be ever-more aware of the<br />

fast-moving currents characterised with short attention<br />

spans.” Readers today, pay less attention as a result of<br />

the tedious repetitions of in<strong>for</strong>ming messages found on<br />

streets, walls, hallways <strong>and</strong> notice boards “... which leads<br />

to a natural empathy—caused by technology.” Doubtless,<br />

then, the necessary messages that we use to officially<br />

announce visual utterances on most graphic designs<br />

calls <strong>for</strong> simplicity, clearness or clarity <strong>and</strong> it is vital to<br />

make every part of a graphic design visible, readable <strong>and</strong><br />

underst<strong>and</strong>able.<br />

A careful look at fonts, type or letters unveils two types<br />

of fonts—serif <strong>and</strong> sans serif.<br />

The serif fonts appear with<br />

detailed little extensions at the<br />

extremities of their corner ends<br />

<strong>and</strong> san serifs are regarded as<br />

San serif Serif<br />

fonts with an even (flat <strong>and</strong><br />

smooth) stroke.<br />

San serifs are good to use on headlines <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong> making bold<br />

statements because of their clean <strong>and</strong> simple appearances.<br />

Typically, the word sans comes from a French word without.<br />

(Buser 2005, 282)<br />

Typography<br />

A large number of visual communications <strong>and</strong> designs<br />

possess letters or type meant to function in specified ways.<br />

White (2002, 103) explains “typography” with this brief<br />

statement; “The root words that make up typography are<br />

typo (type) <strong>and</strong> graphy (drawing). So it means drawing with<br />

type.” Accordingly, typography is considered to be the art of<br />

Let us conclude with White's (2002, 103) view that<br />

“typography involves far more than working with abstract<br />

black shapes. In practice, typographic decisions ... should be<br />

nine out of ten times about manipulation of space around<br />

the letter <strong>for</strong>ms.” This is a revelation that must be fulfilled by<br />

designers—even when they are creating layouts. Type has<br />

got to be legible.<br />

composing or setting type in a functional arrangement. This<br />

How to use typography on a visual design<br />

may also include printing <strong>and</strong> appearance of type.<br />

Nearly all <strong>creative</strong> <strong>artists</strong> with the ability to communicate<br />

On the other h<strong>and</strong>, the word typography is associated with<br />

through writing—use typography to convey their messages<br />

meanings of words like characters, letters, type, style <strong>and</strong><br />

fonts—whenever type is set to appear on a visual design.<br />

in various outst<strong>and</strong>ing visual ways.<br />

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