Illustration & Visual Narrative | Task 3 - Illustrated Typography Poster

|| 7/11/24 – 29/11/24 (Week 7 – Week 10)

|| Tee Zi Tong, 0366165

|| Illustration & Visual Narrative

|| Task 3: Illustrated Typography Poster 

TABLE OF CONTENT 

1. INSTRUCTIONS

2. CLASS EXERCISE 

3.TASK PROGRESSION

4. FINAL POSTER 

5. REFLECTION

6. FURTHER READING     

INSTRUCTIONS 

CLASS EXERCISE 

In this tutorial and practical session, we are followed by Mr. Hafiz in making dynamic text effects in Adobe Illustrator. He showed how easy it is to combine and overlay texts with the help of the Intertwine tool while making it look pretty intricate. Furthermore, we experimented on how gradients could be applied to text for a free-flowing color mixture. He also teaching us how to use 3D effects and appropriate material to our creations which makes a new dimension on our concept level up.

INTERTWINE 

Our exercise in class was to link text with graphic elements using the Intertwine tool found in Adobe Illustrator. Namely, to combine our names, we drew the leaf motifs with the help of the Pen tool. We also learned how to use gradients in the leaves to create a little closer to life look of the leaves within the design.

Steps to Use the Intertwine Tool:

1. Select Objects: Select at least two or more of your icons that overlap with each other on the Artboard such as your name and the leaves. Use the selection tool to combine a certain marquee with it to enclose them.
2. Activate Intertwine: Home to object > Intertwine > Make.
3. Use the Lasso Tool: Your cursor will change to the Lasso tool by default.
4. Draw a Selection: If you are doing a presentation, you can outline an area you want to adjust. Move the mouse pointer over the selection until the shape you want to resize is circled and click on the circle.
5. Finalize the Design: In Gradient tool bring the color transition into the picture and apply it to the leaves with lots of depth and vibrancy.

ENVELOPE DISTORT AND PEN TOOLS 

In class, we also introduced ourselves to bending of text and how to use the Envelope Distort tool in order to come up with creative styles of shaping our text. During practice, we did an Ableton text-based exercise based on the word: FISH; we twisted up the textual content and made it look like the body of a fish.

TASK PROGRESSIONS

REFERENCES 

CONCEPT SUMMARY / RATIONALE 

Photography

As will be seen in the remainder of this analysis, the photographic aspect of the poster design is the most prominent and carries a lot of weight concerning the tone and delivery of the message. The large, lazy cat represents sleep and rest in a concrete jungle which sets a powerful visual of an urban life. Streets with vertical intercommunicating buildings and compensated signs symbolize the noisy and intense rhythm of urban living. This juxtaposition makes me feel like I am watching a dream like seeing a cup of coffee floating above the car since most people take their coffee in cars. The position of the figure of a man calmly strolling indicates not only the size of the pattern but also helps to determine the ratio of storm to a stormless tempo. This kind of scale distortion with the use of symmetrical patterns show how much the common man must practice relaxation in the middle of the pressures of a city life.

Typography

In this poster, the use of typography was intended to enhance concentration on the photographic components. The typeface is quite high contrast for the phrases “Chill,” “Take It,” and “Easy” to give the main thought of the work. As well as the lettering of the text is quite playful, it does not will visually interfere with the composition and the general mood of the picture is quite loose, but at the same time, energetic. Typography was also used in order to mirror the dispositions of the cities and the combination of various font sizes as well as rotations creates a rhythm of the name “Chill”, and the curves of the word “Chill” accentuate movement. Emphasis on gesture was important while defining the content readability while still establishing a strong link to the design concept.

SKETCHES

PROGRESS IN ILLUSTRATOR

Fonts:

Typeface - Britannic Bold

Size - 116pt

Color - #ffffff

Opacity - 93%

Tools used:

1. Effects - Distort & Transform - Roughen 

• Size - 1% (Relative)
• Detail - 50/in
• Points - Corner 

2. Effects - Distort & Transform - Zig Zag 

• Size - 3pt (Absolute)
• Ridges per segment - 10
• Points - Corner  

3. Effects - Warp - Arc Upper 

• Horizontal 
• Bend - 40%

Fonts:

Typeface - Britannic Bold

Size - 116pt

Color - #ffffff

Opacity - 93%

Tools used:

1. Effects - Distort & Transform - Roughen 

• Size - 1% (Relative)
• Detail - 50/in
• Points - Corner 

2. Effects - Distort & Transform - Zig Zag 

• Size - 3pt (Absolute)
• Ridges per segment - 10
• Points - Corner  

3. Effects - Warp - Arc Lower 

• Horizontal 
• Bend - 40%

Fonts:

Typeface - Britannic Bold

Size - 116pt

Color - #616264

Opacity - 79%

Tools used:

1. Effects - Warp - Arc Lower 

• Horizontal 
• Bend - 52%

2. Effects - Distort & Transform - Free Distort 

3. Effects - Blur - Gaussian Blur 

• Radius - 2.8 pixels

 

Fonts:

Typeface - Brush Script MT Italic

Size - 102.5pt

Color - #ffffff

Opacity - 100%

Tools used:

1. Window - Appearance - Add new stroke - Add new effect - Path - Offset path 

• Offset - 3pt
• Joins - Miters
• Miter limit - 4

2. Window - Appearance - Add new stroke - Add new effect - Pathfinder - Add

Fonts:

Typeface - Britannic Bold

Size - 33pt

Color - #ffffff

Opacity - 100% 

Tools used: 

1. Right click - Create outline 

2. Window - Symbol - drag the words into Symbol frame

3. Ellipse Tool - draw a circle

4. Effect - 3D and Materials - 3D (Classic) - Extrude & Bevel 

     

5. Effect - 3D and Materials - 3D (Classic) - Extrude & Bevel - Map Art

    

Tools used: 

1. Pen tool - trace shadow's shape 

2. Color - #616264

3. Effect - Blur - Gaussian Blur 

• Radius - 2.8 pixels

4. Opacity - 58%

 FINAL POSTER 

 REFLECTIONS

EXPERIENCE

This was my favorite assignment because of the way it addressed knowledge from two different modules, namely the DPI and the IVN where students were to design a “Quote of the Day”. I found that when both modules of skills overlapped it was easier but also more difficult at the same time. It forced me to apply and improve my skills in working with Adobe applications while trying the tools and effects I used for the first time.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the assignment was the exploration of elements such as gradients, 3D materials, warping/mesh and pen tool as learned in IVN. I extend my appreciation to my lecturers who encouraged me to seek feedback on how I could improve my work and how I could make the design more effective as well as adding other important details. In this process, while I experienced rather a lot of academic pressure, I was able to learn a variety of things such as how to explore new techniques on the scope of my imagination and come up with new strategies freely.

The toughest part of the work was probably time management. Quite importantly, it took a considerably long time than I had initially anticipated, that I nearly FAIL this assignment. This underlined the need to have a good temporal structure, perhaps even a timeline that would outline when exactly to do technical work and when it is time to brainstorm creatively.

OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS

Although working on this project, I came to understand that composition is the most crucial aspect of design. Every detail thought through is the basis for creating a successful poster because everything should fit into an idea. This is why my work was consistently weak in terms of composition as I didn’t spend enough time sketching and finalizing the ideas during the planning stage. This has helped me to realized that balance and the organization of objects within the design requires adequate and meticulous planning.

Also, I realized that typography is a crucial aspect of poster design together with the poster content. There is no exaggeration when it is said that words are not only used but also expressed in specific styles. Decorative fonts also can add more emotions to the composition and attract people’s attention to the poster. I also noted how use of colors and effects are capable to set a certain tone on the poster and being a good fit with typography and images used.

This assignment helped me to identify areas that I need to improve on, for instance, time management, planning and getting inspiration. However, it also helped me to strengthen the concepts of design principles and forced me to use creative tools and methods. On the whole, this has been quite an enriching endeavor, and I definitely hope to turn in better performance and grow as a designer.

FURTHER READINGS

"Graphic Design: The New Basics" by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips

Source: Princeton Architectural Press

As such, the current book is an ideal reference for anyone who wants to acquire the fundamental concepts of graphic design applied in mastering the creation of meaningful and aesthetically appealing graphics such as the ‘Quote of the Day’ poster as highlighted above. This is according to Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips who explain that key concepts in poster design include balance, contrast, rhythm, and hierarchy – concepts that are necessary when overlaying text and image among others.

Klaas and his team successfully explain the relation between the text, shape, and space, which these layouts offer to designers while working interactively. The book also outlines the principle of pushing change, challenging the designers to search for the better tools and methods which could improve them.

This resource is especially effective for learning how to improve the composition and typography; Here there are important theoretical concepts and tangible examples for optimizing the design. Specifically, it provides a complete roadmap for learning and analyzing technical and theoretical aspects of graphic design.