Speculatype (eBook)

A Transformative Approach to the Perception, Understanding and Creation of Latin Letterforms

Barry Spencer (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2017
256 Seiten
Barry Spencer Design (Verlag)
978-0-6480842-1-1 (ISBN)

Infos

It is not commonplace to engage in a line of questioning that provokes a creative response that departs from the foundations of the Latin letterforms and their history. However, it's by taking something as implicitly known as the Latin letterforms and applying a completely new interpretation to their creation, perception and understanding that I contribute new knowledge to the field of typographic research.Based in creative and reflective practice, this research focuses on the transformation of my perception and understanding of letterforms, through my constant interaction with compositions and shapes that deviate from those expected in the Latin alphabet. Embracing a bricolage of research methodologies, theories and concepts, this thesis presents nine of my typeface designs and documents the ways that I have been inspired and influenced by each exploration, as well as the reflective observations and discussions that have transformed how I engage in the act of creating letterforms.Deviating from the usual models of typographic research through its novel approach to the investigation, this study employs an open and speculative perspective towards letterforms and separates them from not only contexts and influences such as language, history, reading and print, but most importantly, any expectations of form. I argue that the associated "baggage" that can extend into the design of their forms due to these environments and the minimal tinkering with the strokes and shapes of the Latin letterforms will potentially lead to a creative "dead end". The reasons for this are that it enables an investigation of letterforms from an experimental and speculative viewpoint and that these investigations present little to no limitations from which to create.First and foremost, this is not a study about fonts, nor a study about alphabet, language or printing history, as many other authors have already comprehensively covered each of these topics. This thesis explores the letterforms of our alphabet, not as a problem-solving project, but instead as like a scientific lab experiment or an artistic body of work and from a position that enables creativity through open thought and investigation with the potential to extend into innovation and unknown possibilities.

Inhalt

Chapter 01: IntroductionChapter 02: Background
2.1 Definitions
2.2 History
2.3 Current StatusChapter 03: Literature review
3.1 History and Origins
3.2 Introduction, Basics and Form
3.3 Creation, Artists, Designers and Visual Examples
3.4 Essays, Articles and Theses
3.5 Psychology, Philosophy, Theories, Methodologies, Inspiration and the UnknownChapter 04: Methodology
4.1 Theoretical positions, framework and approach
4.2 Reflective Practice
4.3 Case studies and design
4.4 A note on the importance of unexpected inspiration to the research and discussion
SummaryChapter 05: Early Experimentation/What makes a letter?
5.1 The components of letters
5.2 The creation of a letter
5.3 The similarity of letterforms
5.4 The removal of detail
5.5 Creation case study 1: Missing Typeface
5.6 The addition of detail
5.7 Creation case study 2: Sayit Typeface
5.8 The reorganisation of components
5.9 Creation case study 3: Fathom Typeface
5.10 The graphic boundaries of current letterforms
SummaryChapter 06: Honours Study/Understanding through context
6.1 The idea of legibility
6.2 The idea of readability
6.3 The context of a word
6.4 Understanding and perception case study 1: Blank typeface
6.5 The context of sentences and paragraphs
6.6 Understanding and perception case study 2: Scintilla typeface
6.7 The understanding and perceptual boundaries of applying alternate letter shapes or inserting new letterforms
6.8 Understanding and perception case study 3: Hiero typeface
SummaryChapter 07: PhD Research Outcomes of further exploration
7.1 The perception of letterforms
7.2 Typeface outcome case study 1: Amble typeface
7.3 The understanding of new letterforms
7.4 Typeface outcome case study 2: Ahara typeface
7.5 The potential of new letterforms
7.6 Typeface outcome case study 3: Sandy typeface
SummaryChapter 08: Conclusion
8.1 The research questions
8.2 Reflections on transformation (Part A)
8.3 Reflections on transformation (Part B)
8.4 Observational discoveries
8.5 Altered perceptions
8.6 Limitations & Future Directions
8.7 Potential application of methodology
8.8 Further ReflectionAppendix A
Appendix B
References

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.6.2017
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Freizeit / Hobby ► Kreatives Gestalten
• Schlagworte: Alphabet • Creative • Creativity • Design • Experimental • Latin • Letterforms • Letters • perception • speculative • Thesis • Transformation • Transformative • Trial and Error • Type • type design • Typographic • typography
• ISBN-10: 0-6480842-1-3 / 0648084213
• ISBN-13: 978-0-6480842-1-1 / 9780648084211