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workshops, Helsinki Lahti 10 2002, 01





basic info
time, place, basic info
participants
themes, the groups
daily impression

the workshop-themes
01 layered type
02 screentype
03 bible type
04 shop lettering


05 carplate type
06 the fatter the better
07 the publication
order publication




layered display type  basic info : presentation half way : final presentation


Assignment
The group was asked to design a typeface which exploits the possibilities of layers. How far is it possible to go and how ornaments, patterns, colours and overlaps affect the design? 4+ layers were required to sufficiently test how they work.

Process
From the beginning the group's work was very idea-emphasized and experimental. After the initial sketching, the group decided that instead of purely working with the forms of the letters, innovative ways of using layers should be searched for. To further this, the group chose an existing typeface as one starting point. OCR-B, a monospaced typeface, was selected for its clear form.
Quite soon after the first experiments the group became interested in the character's counterforms and the surrounding space. The space was divided into overlapping areas which were placed on individual layers. Thus, with a combination of two layers the character could already be perceived. Later on the areas were allowed to partly overlap the letterform. The next step was to try different fillings within areas defined in this manner. Each member of the group made a set of layers which were then combined together. However, the group felt that this approach was putting the pictoral elements forward instead of the letterforms. After the group had made many testings with varying printed and on-screen layers, it was thought that the developing should be extended to 3D. When a series of spatial experiments had been tried, the group again felt that it was getting too far from the typedesign part of the assignment.

Final Solution
To combine the letterdesign aspect of the assignment with the many experiments, the group decided to take just one word which would then be shaped into a word-image. This way the group felt, that the possibilities of the different layers could be properly visualized. The final work includes six coloured layers and an outline layer. These layers can be mixed together and used for example three at a time. The layers are designed so that the word-image is legible even with a few of the them in use.








   picture 10 of 18



8 comments so far: read comments , please do comment
chester @ Thirstype.com -- Thursday, October 24 2002, 11:14 pm
The most successful of the layered type experiments are made from the intersections of layers; from the way that a series of forms that are not letters have been built up to reveal forms that are letters. Beautiful work.

tamye | society of typographic aficionados -- Friday, October 25 2002, 07:54 am
The evolution from the half-way presentation to the final works is significant. The fluidity and voluptuousness of some of the final letterforms emerging from the layers is really quite stunning.

Stefan Hattenbach | MAC Rhino -- Friday, October 25 2002, 12:49 pm
Experimenting is always a benefit for the strict ordinary work. Displayed are some interesting stuff. Would be fun to see this as a finalized typeface with many different weights and filling options etc.

evert bloemsma -- Friday, October 25 2002, 02:08 pm
Hallo jongens, waarschijnlijk ben ik toch te laat vanwege het tijdsverschil? Wat ik zie op de foto’s is moeilijk te "beoordelen" zo; het is meer, wat ik noem "grafisch ontwerp" en valt buiten het echte werken aan letters. Het thema van de workshop is interessant maar; De resultaten vind ik erg onsystematisch en daarom niet zo zinvol, erg decoratief in hun werking. Daarom aardig als grafisch ontwerp maar niet interessant als letterontwerp. Bijvoorbeeld bij de 'Z'; vanwaar al die kleuren en patronen?! Dat is enkele stappen te veel. Wel leuk om te zien hoor. groeten uit Holland Evert Bloemsma

Jan Middendorp -- Friday, October 25 2002, 03:31 pm
Hope I'm not too late. I'm impressed by the intelligence and analytical thinking with which you've tackled the task. It's never easy to limit oneself to one aspect of a complex problem, and you've done that admirably with each step. I guess you'd need another week, though, to put the whole thing into the melting pot again and boil up a complete layered typeface...

hugo@visionandfactory.com -- Friday, October 25 2002, 03:37 pm
Hello, Very powerful work. I am happy to see that the Finnish students/designers do like joyful colouring and forms. Do I see inspiration from the seventies? Don't stop, go on and never say: "Say" no more! Best regards Hugo Puttaert http//:www.visionandfactory.com

jacques le bailly -- Tuesday, October 29 2002, 11:30 am
Although the results look very good, from an esthetical point of view, they are –like e.bloemsma already said– more graphic than typographic. The assignment to experiment with ornaments, patterns, colours and overlaps, was taken too wordly. I kinda miss an experiment which shows a research of typographic boundaries (readability, combination of forms which result in characters, ligurating, spacial elements, etc. etc.). Reacted way too late... http://www.baronvonfonthausen.de/

Akiem -- Tuesday, October 29 2002, 11:33 am
just saw this link on typographica.




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