Study Task 3 - Blackletter in Graphic Design Brief

Blackletter in Graphic Design Brief

Study Task 3 

Presenting a objective word as a subjective word 

design a pictogram and sign system for a hospital that uses a blackletter typeface as its foundation
Design arrows and 3 chosen pictograms. 

blackletter = starting point, must be contemporary aesthetic.

designs should embrace the possibilities offered by the alternative system.

purpose:

way finding systems = aesthetically aligned to notions of clarity and consciousness. 

san serif typeface and well-defined formal layout = dominant approach.

change the aesthetic to see what happens.

Start by hand - onto computer, etc. 

Blackletter:

Volk - german

mainly used in 1930 by hitler in nazi germany - seen as the nations typeface - fracture

1941 - blackletter was changed to the juddenlettern 

5 visual characteristics:

1. sharp, straight, angular lines - all curves made up of sharp straight lines. consequences = breaking when drawing the thin lines 
2. high contrast between stroke widths - uppercase/lowercase, between the angles. David Rudnick
3. Compression - highly compressed letterform, tall and narrow
4. sharp and ornamental finials ( terminal of a letter which tapers), decorative ornamental flourishes. 
5. bitting - two letters that have bowls in them - share the joining stroke. 

Contemporary - avoid cliche:

• David Rudnick 
• Raf Rennie
• Eric Hue