Instructions
You will be allocated a specific decade of the 20th century to focus your investigation on. The information sheet must contain multiple related segments. Choose one aspect of the subject matter to make a feature. The content/copy is to be sourced and synthesised from reliable sources. Where—or if—used verbatim, the source is to be credited on your information panel. Use the State Library of Victoria identity supplied (our pretend client and exhibition venue).
The information panel must contain:
- the design of a typeface/family from that period, and
- the development of typesetting/typographic technology from the period, and
- one of the following:
- a profile of a type designer highly regarded for their work with typeface design in that era, or
- a designer, design group/studio or movement whose work in typographic-based design is well known/active or associated with that period, or
- significant/influential typographic design works from the period.
Carefully consider the relationship between these components (three in total). Any one of these segments may be the ‘feature’ of your information panel design. Each segment will be 150-300 words in length. Typically the feature will be the most wordy segment of the three. The project allows for a wide variety of images from any source. Suitable credit is to be given to images featured.
While your studio activities will introduce important information about type and typography relating to this project, it will be important to research further aspects of type and typographic design to enhance an understanding of what is possible with this project and within the broad domain of typographic design.
Assigned year: 1900
Inspo
(https://au.pinterest.com/pin/533184043366074318/)
(https://au.pinterest.com/pin/450711875181039981/)
First Topic: Frederic W. Goudy
- Goudy designed a total of 116 fonts and published 59 literary works. (Linotype, n.d)
- Goudy taught himself printing and typography while working as a bookkeeper. (Britannica, 2012)
Second Topic: Copperplate Gothic (1901)
- Goudy designed Copperplate Gothic in capitals only, since the design was intended to be used for headings and key words rather than for body text. (Wikipedia, n.d)
- It’s a wide, squarish, monotone gothic (sans serif) with the addition of small hairline serifs. These tiny serifs were reminiscent of the edges on letters that were engraved in copperplate, hence the name. (Linotype, n.d)
Third Topic: Development of the first offset press
- Ira Rubel discovered by accident in 1903
- When printing from the rubber roller, it produced a clearer image. (Jeremy Norman & Co, n.d)
Sketches:
References
Wikipedia. (n.d). Copperplate Gothic. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperplate_Gothic
Linotype. (n.d). Font Designer – Frederic W. Goudy. Retrieved from Lino Type: https://www.linotype.com/396/frederic-w-goudy.html
Britannica, T. E. (2012, Oct). Frederic W. Goudy. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederic-W-Goudy
Jeremy Norman & Co. (n.d). Ira Rubel Invents the First Offset Press. Retrieved from Jeremy Norman’s History of Information: http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=666
Type S 