Design Context: March 2013

In order to refine the initial ideas we had for 'The Brief History Of...' brief before we began the design process, our Context of Practice studio session enabled us to receive feedback on the 'concept proposal' we had created in preparation and give feedback to other member's of the group on there ideas and proposal.

- My Concept Proposal

Although I had a strong idea for the concept and form for my publication, I had difficulty on deciding on a target audience that was not too general. I therefore found the crit extremely useful as I was able to receive input from other member's of the group on a more specific target audience and how best to appeal to them.

- Peer Feedback Form

Through our final outcomes for the 'Theory into Practice' brief, we are asked to demonstrate an awareness of;

Context - The aesthetic, cultural, historical, technological, social, political or other contexts relevant to individual subject disciplines
Synthesis - The relationship between the theoretical and practical contexts of their own subject discipline
Analysis - The ability to analyse and evaluate ideas from a range of primary and secondary sources
Research - The capacity for undertaking practical and theoretical research that demonstrates an awareness of critical, effective and testable processes
Communication - The individual opinions in written, visual, oral and other appropriate forms

I therefore began the design process by producing a spider diagram which discussed each of these criteria and their relevance to the subject I had chosen for my publication, this enabled me to chose and refine the content of my publication.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Context

The history of type - The origins; Dates; It's usage

The different classifications of type - Humanist; Old Style; Transitional; Modern; Slab Serif; Sans Serif; Decorative; Script; Black letter
Development of type

Factors of Typography; Readability; Legibility; Kerning; Tracking

From the research and information that I gathered relating to the context of the anatomy of type I was then able create a range of possible layouts for the pages of my publication.

Synthesis

Vertical, full-length stroke in upright characters. Definition: The stem is the main, usually vertical stroke of a letterform. Also Known As: stroke A main or heavy stroke of a letter.

The horizontal stroke in letters. Also referred to as Crossbar. Definition: The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase A and H is a bar. The horizontal or sloping stroke enclosing the bottom of the eye of an e is also a bar.

The end of a stroke that does not include a serif. Definition: In typography, the terminal is a type of curve. Many sources consider a terminal to be just the end (straight or curved) of any stroke that doesn’t include a serif (which can include serif fonts, such as the little stroke at the end.

Teardrop Terminal - The tear-dropped ends of strokes in letters of some typefaces.

The open space in a fully or partly closed area within a letter. Definition: In typography, the enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) of some letters such as d, o, and s is the counter. The term counter may sometimes be used to refer only to closed space, while partially.

Open Counter - The partially open space within a character that is open on one end.

A small stroke extending from the upper-right side of the bowl of lowercase g; also appears in the angled or curved lowercase r. Definition: Typically found on the lower case g, an ear is a decorative flourish usually on the upper right side of the bowl.

The fully closed, rounded part of a letter. Definition: In typography, the curved part of the character that encloses the circular or curved parts (counter) of some letters such as d, b, o, D, and B is the bowl. Some sources call any parts of a letter enclosing a space a bowl, including both parts.

Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase ‘e’. Definition: Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase e. Also Known As: counter.

Shoulder - The curved stroke aiming downward from a stem. The curve at the beginning of a leg of a character, such as in an “m.”

A descending stroke, often decorative. Definition: In typography, the descending, often decorative stroke on the letter Q or the descending, often curved diagonal stroke on K or R is the tail. The descender on g, j, p, q, and y are also called tails. The back, last, lower, or inferior part of something.

Spur - A small projection off a main stroke.

Short, descending portion of a letter. Definition: The lower, down sloping stroke of the K and k is called a leg. The same stroke on R as well as the tail of a Q is sometimes also called a leg. Also Known As: tail A branch or part of an object or system.

Serif - A stroke added as a stop to the beginning and end of the main strokes of a character. Definition: In typography, a serif is the little extra stroke found at the end of main vertical and horizontal strokes of some letterforms. Serifs fall into various groups and can be generally described as hairline (hair), square.

Bilateral Serifs - A serif extending to both sides of a main stroke. They are reflexive

The enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline of a double-story g. Definition: In a double-storey g, the loop is the enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline that is connected to the bowl by a link. The enclosed or partially enclosed extenders on cursive p, b, l.