Blog (wednesday aug 25 questions)

1. define weight - is the overall thickness of the strokes, in relation to their height. Weight varies the voice of the text, heavier weight causes more dominace of that text over the lighter weighted words. Weight is changed to enhance rhythm or emphasize particular words

2. define width - how wide the letterforms in a typeface are in relation to their height. Width is based on a square dimension of the letter.

3. define style - serif and san serif ( lines on the end of a font), they typeface's historical classification and the visual idiosyncrasies related to its historical context, and lastly specific form-variations that the designer has imposed on the letters (ex. neutral or stylized)

4. Type is measured in points on a computer and printing is measured in picas

5. Point is is the smallest unit of measure, also referred to as a dot grapheme ( 1/72 of an inch, .35 mm,)

6. Pica is made up of 12 points

7. 6 picas to an inch

8. 6 inches tall

9. 6 picas

10. 12 points

11.X-height is the are between the baseline and the mean line in a typeface - half way of on capital letters and where the lowercase letters end

12. Cap height - the top of the capital letter above the baseline

13. Leading - the space vertically between lines of text

*VISC 204 Assignment 1*

Excited to get started with this project! Although it seems intense I feel it will greatly better my skills of taking a single object and portraying it in many different ways! My animal is a beaver and I have already tried to explore many options with how I can resemble such a creature! I still need time and lots of thought until the final icon is selected excited to work on sketching and get the project going!

Project One ~ typography 1~

1. Define the word "grid"~ can be loose and organic, or they can be rigorous and mechanical~ a grid is a closed system with margins and a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines and spatial zones that help in the layout of your design and allow for the design to be evenly divided.
2. a) Why do we (designers) use a grid? ~ Using a grid permits a designer to lay out enormous amounts of information in a small and spatially even atmosphere.
b) What are the benefits and functions of a grid? ~The benefits of working with a grid are clarity, efficiency, economy, and continuity, a grid introduces systematic order to a layout, and helps distinguish specific types of information and eases a user's navigation through them.
3. What is a modular grid? ~A modular grid consists of a grid structure with columns and modules to which boxes are formed and in-between each module there are spatial zones and flowlines. The modules also create margins to which the design is formatted.
4.a) Margins ~ the negative space between the edge of the format and the content inside, and can be used to focus the direction or create spatial formality throughout the composition.
b) Columns ~ are vertical alignments that create horizontal divisions between the margins, there is no set number to columns and sometimes the columns do not have to be the same in size.
c) Grid Modules ~ are individual units of space separated by regular intervals that when repeated create columns and rows on the composition.
d) Flowlines ~ are alignments that break the space into horizontal bands, and also help the eye flow throughout the composition and impose more breaks for texts and images
e) Gutter ~ the gutter separates the modules and enhances the space and focus on the text and images in the modules
5. Define Hierarchy ~The level of importance the designer assigns to each part of the test, and is important to help the eye rank what is supposed to be seen first, second, ect.
6. Define Typographic color ~ it is similar to chromatic color HOWEVER it does not relate with chroma instead it relates to the change of light and dark, thick and thin, and each occupies its own different space to create the illusionary look of a darker color for the more space it occupies.
7. What are ways to achieve a clear hierarchy? ~1) Spatial organization - grouping related items together, or aligning them along an axis. 2) Shifting a specific item out of normal alignment calls attention to the item. 3) Scale- the change in size and bold to roman family font type. 4) Smaller elements recede and larger elements advance. 5) Changing the typographic color and weight will appear greater or least important depending on making the type bold or condensed.

Sophomore year!

What an exciting time to get to jump on in to Graphic Design! Excited to recieve new tools under my belt and to be able to be one step closer to starting my career. However I still have a long journey ahead before my career begins! So I am going to quit wasting time and put all my effort into my classes this fall of 2010! Start out strong, finish strong, and stay strong in the middle! A great formula to the semester! Welcome sophomore year! Let's get it done one day at a time!