Playing with Type: 50 graphic experiments for exploring typographic design principles

✍ Scribed by Lara McCormick

• Publisher: Rockport Publishers
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 193
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Playing with Type is a hands-on, playful approach to learning type application and principles. This engaging guide begins with an introduction to the philosophy of learning through the process of play. Along with a series of experimental design projects with an emphasis on type, the author provides designers with a “toolkit” of ideas and skills developed through the process of play. The awareness and sensitivity to type styles, forms, and type choices gained through these visual experiments will increase the designer’s confidence in their personal and professional work. This book can be used in the classroom or independently, and readers can go directly to exercises that appeal to them.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 2
Dedication......Page 3
Contents......Page 5
Introduction......Page 7
Type primer......Page 8
Glossary of type terms......Page 9
Letter and wordplay......Page 11
1 Ransom Note......Page 12
2 Type as Image......Page 15
3 Type as Pattern and Texture......Page 18
4 Typographic Pictures......Page 21
5 Expressive Type......Page 23
6 Descriptive Word Pairs......Page 26
7 Drop Caps......Page 28
8 Ampersands......Page 31
9 Lucky Numbers......Page 35
10 Manipulating Type......Page 38
11 Ligature Monogram......Page 40
Project-based play......Page 43
12 Homage to an Influential Typographer......Page 44
13 Bauhaus Grid......Page 47
14 All in the Family......Page 50
15 Mixing Typefaces......Page 52
16 Adding Flourishes......Page 56
17 Script for Special Occasions......Page 59
18 Using Found Type......Page 62
19 Captivating Headlines......Page 66
20 Type-Driven Logo......Page 68
21 Branding with Type......Page 70
22 Type in Motion......Page 74
23 Six Word Story......Page 76
Alphabet play......Page 81
24 Modular Type......Page 82
25 Handwriting......Page 85
26 Opposites Attract......Page 88
27 3-D Type......Page 90
28 Found Letters in the Environment......Page 94
29 ABCs......Page 95
30 Type Specimen Poster......Page 98
Lettering play......Page 103
31 Hand Lettering 101......Page 104
32 Pen-Written Origins of the Lowercase......Page 108
33 Script Practice......Page 112
34 Chalkboard Type......Page 114
35 Signage, Part 1: Appreciation......Page 117
36 Signage, Part 2: Letter Revival......Page 120
37 Photo-Lettering......Page 125
Playing with context and application......Page 129
38 Text in the City......Page 130
39 Type Constructions, Part 1......Page 136
40 Type Constructions, Part 2......Page 141
41 Talking Objects......Page 146
42 Food + Type......Page 150
43 Helvetica Recontextualized......Page 154
44 Giant Cross-Stitch Type......Page 158
45 Daily Reminders......Page 162
Playing with type with friends......Page 165
46 Fence Messaging......Page 166
47 Love Letter......Page 170
48 Betterpress......Page 173
49 Light Up Your Type......Page 175
50 Optimistic Words......Page 178
Resources......Page 183
Contributors......Page 184
F......Page 187
L......Page 188
S......Page 189
Y......Page 190
Acknowledgments......Page 191
About the Author......Page 192