Gratuitous Type Magazine Masthead: The Task
For this project I was tasked with creating an innovative masthead for Gratuitous Type Magazine which utilizes a typeface designed by me and two magazine covers which showcase the typeface. In creating the typeface I was to do my own visual research and discover letterforms utilized in vintage signage or editorial platforms which were created by hand and most likely not deemed official typefaces. I then was tasked with taking one of these typefaces and reinventing it to be my won. With this in mind, the overarching goal was to create a typeface which maintained a cohesive structure and was intriguing by nature.
Gratuitous Type Magazine Masthead: The Design Process
My typeface was inspired by Italian Perfume Shop signage which possessed these intricate details on the serifs of each letterform. With this, I took this as an opportunity to explore elegant and classical approaches to my typeface and, subsequently, it's corresponding magazine covers. With this, I drew inspiration from both the signage as my initial base and high-contrast typefaces commonly utilized on the covers of long-withstanding fashion magazines. I then translated these same elements into the design of my magazine covers which I strived to exude vintage and classic feelings through color and other design elements. The covers are also strictly typographic to emulate the nature of the magazine.
