Class Exercise #1 - Ransom Note

Overview
Type conveys emotions and elicits reactions. Some typefaces are soothing while others seem to energize. This exercise introduces the design student to the wide world of fonts and their unique qualities. Choosing a typeface for a specific message will either enhance or diminish the intended communication. Think about each character you work with in terms of your design objective. Avoid letters from logos, such as the McDonald’s “M” or the Kellogg’s “K.”

Objectives
•    To introduce skills in recognizing letterforms.
•    To understand the emotive value of type.

Specifications & Materials
Trim white copy paper to 8 x 10 inches. Compose in horizontal format. Use a glue stick to adhere the characters. (Old magazines, glue stick, white copy paper, x-acto (for trimming) and/or scissors)

Process

1. Create a list of words that describe you –list at least 25 descriptive words before moving on to the next step. For example, my list might include passionate, sleepy, open-minded, or hyper.
2. Pick 2 words from your list that you feel best match your description AND would be fun to illustrate typographically.
3. Go through old magazines and cut out as many different letters as possible (i.e., different in face, size, color, styles, etc.) Find letters that spell out your selected words. However, do so with the intention of finding letters that match your intended communication. For “hyper,” you would find letters that convey motion, movement, and energy.
4. With your letters selected, sketch out some ideas as to how you will arrange your composition. Think about how the characters relate to one another, to the baseline, and to the page as a whole.
5. Glue your letters to your page (both words on 1 page and Remember your craftsmanship!) Again, think about how your letters work with each other, with the page, and with your intended meaning.
6. Analyze your letter and composition choices. Go through each letter and be prepared to explain why you selected it and what it says about you. For example, “The S in subdued is flat and has a thin stroke, which keeps it from overpowering other letters.”
7. Pin up work. We will discuss the exercise as a group at the end of class today.

Here are some examples of the exercise: http://www.designingwithtype.com/5/ransom.php

Please note that you are NOT writing an entire sentence like most of the examples above. You will simply compose your 2 selected words. If you would like, you can use background textures / patterns / colors to add to your composition but NO litteral imagery (i.e., my dog, a book you like to read, etc.)