Thoughts On Typography
For the 2021 Typography & Print class convened by David Sargent, the final major project was to typeset a book called "Thoughts on Typography", the content of which is three essays from prominent graphic designers discussing typographical trends both in and before their time.
The Process
Prior to this class I had little experience in typesetting text in InDesign and little knowledge of typographic conventions and rules. Below is documentation of the iterative process I undertook of typesetting and designing the layout of the zine's pages as a student designer.
The First Draft
On the advice of my tutor I condensed the content of the essays to two columns per page instead of one for improved readability. I also attempted to experiment more with visual elements and large blocks of black fill to create visual interest.
This was the first mock-up spread for the zine. I started with Beatrice Ward's The Crystal Goblet, not only because it was the longest text (and therefore the most complicated to type-set) but also because it sets the mood for the rest of the zine and felt like a logical starting point.
I worked in black and white in early drafts so I could focus on balancing the weight of the textual elements across the spread.
The Second Draft
This was the first layout mock-up to be applied to all three essays in the zine. I began attempting to create visual elements in negative space behind the body text and attempted to experiment further with the arrangement of the type.
The Cover
After I had found a suitable grid-structure and master page layout for the content of the zine, I decided to move onto designing the front cover.
I knew I wanted to design a cover that nodded to both the traditional and contemporary attitudes expressed within the zine. I chose to create a cover that uses a blend compositional elements from older design movements such as Bauhaus and Cubism and the more modern trends seen in New Wave design. I also knew I wanted to incorporate a face into the book's cover using letter-forms as graphics. I created a face using a "T" and two letter "O"'s from a typeface that stylized them with a strike through the counter, making them appear more similar to eyes.
Adding Colour
After I'd designed the cover for the zine, I returned to the previous draft and continued experimenting with scale and composition while beginning to add colour to the spreads.
While I liked the light blue colour in the background, it didn't feel suitable for the content of the zine. I began another draft using a high-contrast complementary colour scheme and attempted to make it feel more like a zine for designers.
The Finished Book
This is the final layout for the zine. It features a consistent grid and an even balance between textual elements. Pull-out quotes create interest and add to the visual style of the piece through careful typeface selections. The type has been set so as to ensure the body copy is suitably readable and essay headings were designed to be at times just legible enough to create visual interest across the spread.
There is a quiet delight to the soft clicking sound of the Typographer behind the curtain, gently nudging words into the night.
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