New Work Magazine - A study in exquisitely edgy typography

This is from my friend and client Eric Goldstein's blog:

The burning question for those embarking on a design project,whether educated in the fine art of type, and the craft of typography, or just those on a PC with a lot of preset/populated fonts. The difference though is – how when and when NOT to manipulate the font, and just like music, letting space exist (or not) to allow for a visual rhyme or reason.

I found a great website which highlights a lot of beautiful work through publication design. The success of these pieces is the level of sensitivity, composition, style, concept and passion.

www.newworkmag.com

free fonts

Here's a link to several free fonts that are pretty well designed.

http://webdesignledger.com/freebies/the-best-free-fonts-of-2009

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kim

Type Specimen booklet: How to print your booklet correctly

By this thursday 11/19, you ALL should have your book in a printed rough draft form. It is always a good idea at this point of the book design process to print out what you have and mock up your booklet. In order to do this it is helpful to understand how to create printer spreads. Creating printer spreads from your book layout is called imposition. Here's an article from Adobe to help explain how to impose a document for booklet printing in InDesign.

http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/InDesign/5.0/help.html?content=WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-7049.html

For this Thursday, bring in a mock up of your booklet. Print your pages and tape the book together as it should be read. This will allow us to look at it together and make revisions. a lot of things can become apparent once it's printed out that you can't see just on screen. Creating a mock up now will make it easier in the end to produce your final prototype with less or no problems.

change in syllabus

I've decided to add one more project this semester. This means that the due date for your calendar has changed.

Your calendar is now due Tuesday 11/3. This gives you today and two more workdays in class next week as well as the time between class to complete this project.

The new project will be a Type Specimen booklet. I will bring in some examples for us to look at together when we begin the project.

A type specimen is a publication, often in pamphlet form, that shows the range of a particular typeface in use. Printers and typographers have produced type specimens for hundreds of years. In the digital age, type specimens have become more experimental, and they remain a crucial way to promote and explain typefaces to designers who might want to buy and use them. Your type specimen can use any "content" to display the typeface at different sizes and in different conditions. You could download content from wikipedia.com, or make your own content on any subject.

I will let you all know about the details of the Type Specimen project on 11/3.

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kim

Fotografiks review on Thursday 10/1

We will review your Fotografiks progress this Thursday, 10/1, as a class. REMEMBER, you should be showing new photos, not old ones you've taken before this class. Old photos will not be accepted. Please create a blog of your collection, editing out the weakest ones. I will show everyone how to do this in class. Email me the link to your blog by this Wednesday at 1pm, 9/30, NO LATER.

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kim

Art&Copy extra credit

To receive extra credit, go see the movie Art&Copy. It's showing at the Plaza Theater on N.Highland Ave and Ponce De Leon Ave. at 7:45pm until this Thursday night. Don't forget your student ID and you get in for $6.50.

Bring me the ticket stub along with a paper on which one of the featured ad giants in the movie has directly or indirectly influenced your life the most through advertising. The paper should be at least 300 words.

At the end of the semester I'll take your lowest grade and bring it up one letter grade or wipe out one of your absences if you have more than three.

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kim

Movie gathering cancelled

Hi everyone,
Sorry for the late notice, but it was just announced that the downtown connector has been closed until further notice due to flooding. Because travel could be a little dangerous tonight, I feel we should cancel the meet up at the movies. Stay tuned to see if we can make it another night.

AIGA Atlanta (www.aiga-atl.org) is hosting Wednesday night's showing of this movie and it may be a good time to check it out, though I won't be able to go that night.

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kim

Change in assigned reading

This morning I had said to have your new reading assignment completed by next Thursday, but we need to move that due date up. Please have your reading (pg. 112-155) done by this coming Tuesday 9/22.

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kim

more info for the grid

Many of you had questions about the grid measurements. Measuring in Picas was covered in your reading on p.36

In order for these measurements to make sense, when you set your document up you need the measurements to be in Picas, not inches

3p0 means 3 picas, 0 points

If I were to write 3p4, that means 3 picas, 4 points.

So when I refer to the top and bottom margins as (2x3p0), I'm referring to a margin of 3 picas, 0 points at the top and the bottom.

Hopefully that clears things up. We can talk more in class if you guys need.

Download the grid layout as an InDesign CS3 file here. The file is called GRD3150-grid.indd

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kim

Grid measurements

Check my addition

horizontally:
Two 3p0 margins top, bottom (2 x 3p0)
Two 1p9 gutters between the columns (2 x 1p9)
Three 7p10 wide columns (3 x 7p10)
= 33p0 page width.

vertically:
top and bottom margins (2 x 3p0)
45p0 column depth (1 x 45p0)
= 51p0 page height.

So how many lines of type do you get in each column?
If unsure of this or how to set up your grid, email me.

(From Liz Throop's typography class)

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kim

Re-cap on what's due next

1. Please have read by this Thursday 9/10, the handout DWT ch.3 reading.pdf (it's available for download, refer to previous post). To insure you've read and understood everything, there might be a pop quiz Thursday. I suggest you print it out because it's 21 pages and you may want to refer to it along the way.

The understanding of the information in this handout is crucial to the next exercise and project that is being assigned.

2. Also for this Thursday 9/10, bring your new work for the Fotografiks assignment that you have thus far for me to review. This can be in printed or digital form.

3. You all should have registered your Lynda.com accounts. I gave an assignment on Monday August 31st (posted on here) to start watching the tutorial videos I listed by this Thursday 9/10. I will be assembling a report of what videos you have watched and that will be how part of your grade is determined.

4. Text Exercise: (see downloads from previous post-Text Exercise.pdf)

DUE: Tuesday 9/15

Sketch ideas for this exercise in your sketchbook. I will review these later. You can begin working on this in class on Thursday 9/10 or sooner than that if you like.

5. Announcement Design Project (see Announcement Design.pdf from previous post)

This is your 2nd major project. Refer to the schedule on the handout.

For This Thursday 9/10, I want to see a start on 25 thumbnails. You can finish them up in class and I'll review them with you. From there we'll pick your strongest ones for you to begin designing on the computer.

Ask me in person or email me if you have any questions.

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kim

New handouts to download

Please visit www.drop.io/gsugrdka to download new assignment sheets and handouts. The files are:

DWT-ch3 reading.pdf (21 pages, I suggest printing this out)

Text Exercise.pdf

Announcement Design.pdf (Your next major project)

I'll talk more about these files in class.

I also posted a link to where all your handouts will be available at the top of the column to the right on this blog with the password, in case you forget.

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kim

Art and Copy: Monday September 21st

If you'd like to see the movie Art and Copy with the class, we will be going Monday, Sept. 21st. Show times have not been published yet, but I will announce the movie time once it is posted on the Plaza's web site.

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kim

Word semantics board layout

If you're confused about the layout of your Word Semantics project, what you'll do is set your artboard to be 13x19 (vertical layout). Then create a 12"x18" rectangle and center it on the page. Then you set up your words with the black and white version on top and color on bottom. Leave a couple inches on each side of the word, so they don't get too close to the edge of the paper. After you have put your word compositions on the board leave about an inch more space below the color version (at the bottom of the page) then you have at the top above the black and white version. Then with the 12"x18" rectangle selected, in Illustrator CS3, go to Filter in the top menu and choose Create, then crop marks. In CS4 it might be different, I think its under Effects. You can use those crop marks to trim your paper down to fit your board.

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kim

Extra Credit

As Graphic Designer's in training, you all need to be exposed to good doses of pop culture. Just such an opportunity has presented itself. A film called Art&Copy will be screening in Atlanta for a week, Sept. 18-24. This film takes an interesting perspective on "creatives", what/how inspiration is and advertising.

Film synopsis:

This is a powerful new film about advertising and inspiration… it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time -- people who've profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Exploding forth from advertising's "creative revolution" of the 1960s, these artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for "Just Do It," "I Love NY," "Where's the Beef?," "Got Milk," "Think Different," and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.

Film's web site: artandcopyfilm.com

I plan on seeing this film and I'm open to having the whole class go as a group. I know that may not work as schedules can be complicated. If you are interested in earning extra credit and showing that you are really interested in getting into the Graphic Design program, talk to me. You can either go with the group or on your own, I just need a ticket stub and a short review (3 paragraphs) and you'll have to write about the part or parts that impressed you most. And of course you're review can not be based on one that is out there online or in print, but I don't need to tell you all that, do I :)

Email me your thoughts.

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kim

Fotografiks review on 9/10

Next Thursday (9/10), I will be reviewing the progress of your Fotografiks assignment. Please bring your work for that in printed or digital form. To give you guys a little more structure, I expect to see 30 or more, good examples/photographs/samples, etc. by the end of the semester. If you have questions let me know.

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kim

Assignment: Video tutorials

DUE by September 10th

For Illustrator Novices to Beginner's:

I want you to watch these Illustrator CS3 Essential Training videos:

Sections 1-6, which covers key Illustrator concepts, creating Illustrator documents, the Illustrator interface, basic drawing, basic path editing and basic text editing.

For Illustrator Intermediate level:

If you are not at the beginner's level, I want you to watch these Illustrator CS3 One-on One, Beyond the Basics Training videos:

Sections 9, 11, 12, which covers Pathfinder operations, creating and formatting text, and gradients & gradient mesh.

I am able to create a report to see what videos you've watched and when. The completion of this assignment will be a part of your final class participation grade for the semester.

UPDATE: Presentation Boards

I have been told by the head of the Graphic Design department to ask you guys to only use 12" x 18" boards for your portfolio. So please move forward with that size for all the projects you turn in that require boards.

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kim

Word Semantics examples

Here's some examples below of what I'm looking for in your word semantics project. Notice how successful they are by just using the type to communicate the meaning of the word.

Be witty, clever and creative in your compositions. Even though you can use vector graphics, use them with reserve, let the type to do the heavy lifting.

I want to see everyone really play and experiment with how you can communicate your word/phrase with:

1. the composition

2. choice of typeface that expresses your word

3. selective use of other vector graphics (if it's NECESSARY to communicate your word)

4. use of color in the color version

Set up your document to fit the size of the final boards that you will turn in. For example if you are using 12" x 18" boards, set the size of the document/artboard to 12"x18" and add a 1/4" bleed if you have objects that you want flush against the edge of your print. Then you'll print to 13"x19" paper and will trim it down to 12"x18".

We'll talk more about the process of making your presentation boards and I'll give a demonstration next Thursday to help clarify for those of you who haven't done this before.

echo

midterm
hopscotch
space

transition

more fonts than you know what to do with

The following list presents Web sites for some of the major type foundries responsible for many of the typefaces you will be using. Visit the various foundries and examine the many services they provide, such as the availability of new typefaces, historical data, how to identify an unknown typeface, and how to purchase fonts, or in some cases download them for free.

www.adobe.com www.agfamonotype.com www.bertholdtypes.com www.bitstream.com www.chank.com www.dutchtypelibrary.com www.emigre.com www.extensis.com/suitcase/18w.html www.fontbureau.com www.fontcraft.com www.fontexplorer.com www.fontfabrik.com www.fonthaus.com www.fonthead.com www.fontpool.com www.fontshop.com www.foundrytypes.co.uk www.hollandfonts.com www.houseind.com www.identifont.com www.itcfonts.com www.linotype.com www.lineto.com www.lucasfonts.com www.luth.no www.macfonts.com www.microsoft.com/typography www.myfonts.com www.p22.com www.pampatype.com www.secretonix.pt www.stixfonts.org www.stormtype.com www.teff.nl www.typebox.com www.typofonderie.com www.typographer.com www.typonauten.de www.typophile.com www.typotheque.com www.veer.com/products/type/ www.webfxmall.com/fonts www.1001Fonts.com

Presentation Boards

We talked briefly about presentation boards today and I wanted to clarify what we talked about for the board sizes.

I suggest that your portfolio boards be trimmed to 10.75" x 16.75" or 12"x18" and that the work be mounted flush to the edges (no border like i mentioned today, it's going to look better flush). The 12"x18" format is what is used once you're in the program. So whatever you choose, just be consistent. You can choose black or white boards to mount with. Just be sure your craftsmanship is excellent.

This will take a little practice, so don't be surprised if you have to put a board together a couple times until you get it right. Be prepared for mistakes by getting extra supplies.

I'll give a demo of how to put your boards together on sept. 1st and it'll give you a chance to ask questions if you've never done this before.

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kim

Lorem Ipsum

here's a link to a web site that generates the amount of text you want in lorem ipsum. then you can just copy and paste it into your document.

http://www.lipsum.com/

Assignments from class 8/25

To download the files that I emailed today, go to:

http://drop.io/gsugrdka

password: guest

software tutorials

Check out these links to software tutorials. There are so many quality and FREE tutorials out here, that you should be immersing yourselves in them.

Here's the web site that offers a subscription service to quality video tutorials. We can use the lab fee for this class to purchase a class subscription. Let me know what you think of them:

www.lynda.com

FREE tutorials:

www.layersmagazine.com

www.adobe.com (search for tutorials and other training resources)

more to come.

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kim

Fotografiks assignment

go here to download the fotografiks assignment sheet, if for some reason you didn't get an email from me with it attached.

http://drop.io/gsugrdka

password: guest

The file name is:

GRD 3150-Fotografiks.pdf

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kim