When I was thinking about what I would like to write about I wanted to think about an area that I struggled with and if I had a better understanding of it my work would be stronger.
In my research I have come across a theme that has provoked a lot of thought, raising a possible question to base my report on:
What makes a typeface look the way it does?
To help answer this question, I would like to look at type layout, exploring spacing such as kerning, leading. I also feel that an interesting element to this would be to explore traditional letterpress. I want to think about what it is about letter spacing that makes type work or not.
Experiment?
I have thought about a possible experiment to some how see how people react or what people think of good/ bad letter spacing to ascertain how important it is to successful design.
How do we work out the correct spacing?
I think it would be interesting to think about how good spacing is decided on or worked out. Is there a set way to do this or do individuals have their own ways of working it to personal taste.
Is everybody aware of it? I wonder if letter spacing it something that is it works well that people just take for granted or is visible to every one or just designers
Websites that I found useful:
http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/12/10-common-typography-mistakes/
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/spacing-and-kerning
http://ilovetypography.com/
Sarah
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I think non designers rarely pay attention to type, they don't look at letter spacing in a conscious way, they just choose what looks "nice". I don't think there is a correct spacing, I find it odd how film DVD covers often have very skinny hardly legible text on them with the producers name and stuff on, it is very odd cos you can barely read it and yet its on a lot of DVD/video covers bt maybe its to do with tradition.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Beowulf/beowulf_director_s_cut_dvd_back_cover_art__large_.jpg
letter spacing is rarely something I worry about with my design work personally as i tend too look at spacing of whole blocks of text rather than in between words and i rarely adjust the kerning and leading much. Its normally an after thought, once everything else is in place, i might go back an fiddle with it if i have the time.
Rachel Irwin