Words

Modify a series of 10 words, one per 6″x6″ page, to expressive their meaning typographically.

Read & Respond
To The Design and the Play by Paul Rand

Process
Using Illustrator make a 6″x6″ file and start your word at 60 points. Go to the the “Type” menu and select “Create Outlines.” Ungroup the letters and begin working with them. Start with one change to communicate the word (scale, rotate, position). If you need more then try two changes (scale and rotate, or move two letters). Use three changes only if you feel you have to. Using the fewest possible graphic moves, try to express the word with the typography. You will be evaluated on how you can express the word with as little difference as possible.

Composition
You are encouraged to place the words in different locations in the square. Where does the word communicate its idea the best? The words should be primarily on the same baseline at the same size. You will choose to change the position, scale and rotation of selected letters to express them.

You will work ten  words:

  • three from LIST 1 onomatopoeia (1 random, two you choose)
  • three from LIST 2 (1 random, two you choose)
  • four other words (LIST 3) that you feel have expressive potential

Acceptable Typefaces
You may use any typeface you want for any of your words as long as it is one of these five:

  • 2 words Garamond
  • 2 words Baskerville
  • 2 words Century
  • 2 words Bodoni
  • 2 words Helvetica

Be prepared to explain why you chose to do which word in which typeface.

Onomatopoeia
An onomatopoeic word (grrrrrr, rat-a-tat-tat; a word or sound that sounds like the thing or action denoted) will be used in a syntactic typographic exploration. How can scale, repetition, balance, symmetry, rhythm communicate the sound?

LIST 1: Onomatopoeia / one random / two you choose

  1. Thud
  2. Ping
  3. Twang
  4. Splash
  5. Kerplunk
  6. Sizzle
  7. Hiccup
  8. Clang
  9. Slurp
  10. Gurgle
  11. Creak
  12. Whirr

LIST 2: Non-Onomatopoeic Words / one random / two you choose

  1. fright
  2. silence
  3. revolve
  4. separate
  5. isolation
  6. tension
  7. energize
  8. rhythm
  9. radiant
  10. sorrow
  11. malign
  12. uneasy
  13. caffeine
  14. conflict
  15. scattered
  16. wander
  17. clumsy
  18. cheerful
  19. wicked
  20. whimsical
  21. haunted
  22. suck
  23. magnetic
  24. clingy

LIST 3: Other Words Not in the Above Lists / choose four words of your own
Choose four other words of 5 letters or more that you feel have expressive potential. Choose these words carefully. Try not to be too abstract. Is there something about those words that suggest visual solutions?

Format
6” x 6” trimmed precisely (you will be graded on the craft of cuts and precise measurement)

Color
Black and White

Due Tuesday September 30
PRINTED: your 5 best words printed and trimmed
DIGITAL: three versions of each of your 10 words  — 30 compositions in a single PDF

Due Thursday October 2
PRINTED: Print the best composition for each word (10 total) trimmed and ready to hand in a manila envelope.
DIGITAL: five versions of each words of each of your 10 words – 50 compositions in a single PDF