Typefaces: one i love, one i don't

To me, type is a crucial part of every design. We see it everyday, we are influenced by it, it’s everywhere around us, in the products we buy, the signs in the roads, posters, books, magazines, websites, etc. 

A design can change completely depending on the type that you select. This is why it is very important to know when to use them, and to think about what message you’re trying to convey, before selecting a typeface.

I’ve chosen a typeface that I really like (Futura) and one that I don’t like (Papyrus).

FUTURA

Futura is a geometric sans-serif typeface,  designed between 1924 and 1926 by Paul Renner, a German graphic designer, typographer, type designer, painter, and teacher. It is based on the geometrical shapes that became the representative visual elements of Bauhaus design. Renner is actually not associated with Bauhaus (1919-1933), but he used and shared many elements of this style. He believed that a mod

ern typeface should express modern models, instead of being a revival of a previous type design.

True to the time period it was created in, and its technique, Futura is derived from simple geometric forms, like near perfect circles, triangles and squares. It is based

on strokes of near-even weight, which are low in contrast (This is most visible in the almost perfectly round stroke of the letter o, but the shape is actually slightly ovoid.)

While he designed this type, Renner avoided anything that was decorative, eliminating all non-essential elements. The personality of this type can be seen as the lower

case has tall ascenders which rise above the capline, and the uppercase present proportions similar to those of classical capitals.

For me Futura is a very legible type, that can be used in many designs, it is clean and direct. But also, has weaknesses, like it is a very wide font, and takes up more space in the design than others. 

Although, it has a lot of varitations in its family that are more narrow, they don’t look the same. Futura family memebers include: Regular, Light (Oblique and Condensed), Book (Bold, and Oblique), Medium (Oblique and Condensed), Bold (Oblique andCondensed), Semibold (Italic), Extrabold (Italic and Condensed), Inline, Display, Black, amongst many others.

Also, the success of Futura inspired many other geometric sans-serif typefaces like: Kabel, Vogue, Metro, Erbar, Spartan, Twentieth Century and Century Gothic, amongst others. Also, typeface designer Adrian Frutiger recognizes Futura as one of his inspirations in designing Avenir in 1988.

Some examples of Futura:

PAPYRUS

Papyrus is a typeface designed in 1982 by Chris Costello, an American graphic designer, illustrator and web designer. It was originally hand-drawn over a period of six months with a calligraphy pen and textured paper. Also the designer used pencils, radiograph pens, white-out and French Curves.  

The designer’s inspiration was old style antique calligraphy. He was influenced a lot by Middle Eastern scriptures. His goal was to create a font that would represent what the English language would have looked like if written on papyrus paper 2000 years ago.

This typeface has a number of distinctive human touches, including rough edges, irregular curves, and high horizontal strokes in the capitals.

To me this type is very overused and became a font for the masses. Even the designer thinks that it is used excessively and not necessarily in the right way (the product or design doesn’t really go or match with the typeface). I think it is important to consider when to use it appropriately, like for giving a sensation of antique or handmade. Personally, I don’t like to use it, and I think there are more appropiate fonts that can be used, but I guess it depends on the designer.

Some examples of Papyrus:

As everything in our profession, it depends on the designer’s preferences and choices, as well as their purpose in each creation. I think Futura can be used in more applications because it’s more serious, much more legible, and can be easily integrated into many designs, on the other hand, Papyrus’ use is much more limited.

Now that the project is finished....

When I first started my project, it was very confusing and the route I was going to take in it wasn’t very clear. Once the process of sketching began, it was a little less confusing, and a few good ideas starting to evolve. So, this is my journey through the creation of an alternative energy stamp set.

I had to research two different things: alternative energy and stamp design. I decided to research the energy issue first, to get a better understanding about the subject of the project.

My research for this first part was done mostly through the Internet, finding from the most basic definitions to more complex uses of alternative energy. I researched different companies that are specialized in the matter, and what they where doing to promote alternative energy. This led me to create an extensive document, with very detailed information about these energies, types, pros and cons, and interesting facts. I also explored what was being done to promote alternative energy use, from in the graphic design world.

Parallel to this I started researching about stamps. I began my search in the Royal Mail website, looking at past stamps and their designs. I found some stamps from the UK, and in some other interesting websites I found stamps from different countries that were very helpful. This helped me have a better understanding about the norms to design a stamp; it inspired me and gave me so many ideas!

Also, we contacted via email a representative from Walsall Security Printers, which is a company that prints stamps. This person helped us, have a better understanding about the printing process of stamps and about creating an eco-friendly stamp. She also referred us to Tullis Russel, which make the paper for the stamps, and we also visited Stanley Gibbons, that is a collector’s shop, here we found out a lot more about stamps and the collectors’ world.

Once this investigation was done, I started trying to develop my idea. So I asked myself, “What do I want to say with these stamps?” “What will my message be?” “how can I design them so people are interested in them?” but most of all, “how is this product going to create awareness on the subject?”.

I came up with a few ideas, most of it revolving around the phrase “The Power of Nature”. I found that it was an area I wanted to give more emphasis to, since alternative energy comes from nature. Also, I made an extensive visual research, and this helped me to come up with some ideas of my own.

I thought that the stamps should be very appealing and eye-catching, so I explored different design ideas. First, I decided to make the stamps, typographic stamps. These stamps would express a message clearly, but at the same time be very attractive design wise.

My second idea was to repeat drawings of everyday objects we use and then have one element that is different, and this element would be related to alternative energy. This led me to a completely different approach: combine objects we use everyday and alternative energy.

So, I explored my third and final idea. Through a continuous line I would unite these everyday objects to a alternative energy source. I think it is important to create awareness in people by showing them that things they use everyday can and are powered by alternative energy. I loved this idea so much that I decided to go further with it, and with the typography idea as well. Once I decided this, they had to go through different stages of sketching to become attractive designs.

To test these ideas, I decided to show my designs to my tutors, my family and my friends. They all really liked them, but people seemed to respond a lot more to the continuous line design, they thought the typographic design was really eye-catching and interesting, but they had a hard time reading it, and preferred the continuous line design over it.

So this led me to chose this design for my final set of stamps. It was a long and confusing journey, but it ended here, with a design I was very proud to make.

Overall I think that this entire process was a great lesson for me on how to manage my time, on how to research and how to develop a mapping process of the project. It also taught me that I need to simplify the process a little, don’t stress so much, and use the information I have to create an idea. I also think that I should focus a little more on visual investigation for the next project, don’t complicate myself so much and don’t over think everything, because some of the best ideas I had were simple, but effective.

Stamp Website

Stamp Package

Stamps!

Surprising Visits

The visits to the V&A Museum's 'Cold War' exhibition and the Design Museum's 'The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes' exhibition, were both surprisingly inspiring. Personally I liked the Alan Aldridge exhibition more.

The Cold War exhibition was really well organized, and I have to say, it was massive! I was very interested in seeing the product design style they used, but most of all I was very interested in graphic design from that era. My favorite thing were the posters, they were clean, direct, and the use of typography and color was very eye catching (and all done by hand!). It's amazing to see these things and try to imagine what was happening in that particular moment in time. I think the designers and artists were living in a new era, a time where creation and innovation were valued differently. These were the bases for our current designs, and I find that it is very important to really appreciate this, and their creations at the time. It was a very impressive and eye-opening experience.

I loved the Alan Aldridge exhibition, although I don't necessarily love ALL of his work, I found it completely different and actually quite inspiring. I really liked the way the exhibition was built, and the way they presented his sketches as well as his finished designs. I found most of his illustrations very interesting; the simpler ones, were actually the ones I liked the most. These illustrations were a reminder to me as a designer, that I shouldn't be afraid to use big blocks of bold color, and that sometimeswe complicate ourselves so much, and try to fit in our designs lots of elements, we deviate from our objective: delivering a clear message. 

Alan Aldridge is a very inspiring artist, and simply a very original and innovative person, what I think all designers should be. The fact that so many influential and famous artists/singer/performers wanted him to be a part of his projects, shows how distinct and well produced his work was. I think, like the artists in the Cold War exhibition, Alan Aldridge, helped define an artistic era, where a new culture was born; and he was a very big part of this, presenting himself through one of the most important aspects in that moment: music (and many others of course!). Lots of his work, not only inspired me and gave me a different perspective on how to approach my RSA project, but also in my idea for my collection project.

Also, it inspired me as a designer, to not be afraid to take risks, and do things differently, because, I think this is when you find yourself out of your comfort zone, and creating different, innovative and great designs!

A little over 100 words about my project...

Outline and Objectives

• Create awareness about alternative energies.

• Create a message that is easy to understand and memorable

• Make it easier for people to relate to alternative energies using things/objects they are familiar with

My concept will hopefully make people realize that alternative energy is being used to power everyday objects.

My target audience is very broad, from young to old people, and stamp collectors as well as general public. I want them to be more conscious about the subject, and be responsive to my message, as well as get more informed about it.

Design Elements

I have three ideas that I'm actually developing before I decide which one will be my final (which one has more impact?). 

• The first idea is the repetition of everyday elements people use, and one element would be different, it   would be an object from an alternative energy source. Beneath it will be a message presenting different facts about each energy source (one per stamp). 

• The second idea is to present again everyday objects in a continuous line design, and relate them to a source of renewable energy.

• The third idea, is to present the different kinds of sources in a graphic way that would be very appealing, using typography.

The visual style of all the designs will be very uncomplicated. All three ideas have completely different styles, ranging from colorful and simple objects to black bold lines (in the second idea) with few color. It's personality should be cheerful and positive and in a very direct tone of voice.

Schedule to meet deadlines

• Nov 10th-16th: sketch the most I can of the three ideas, to see if each one can be successfully developed into 6 stamps.

• Nov 17th-23rd: choose one of the ideas and develop it properly, start sketching the package for the stamps, and other materials I consider would be useful.(Website?)

• Nov 24th-30th: stamp design should be finished, and the other materials should be in final stages or finished as well.

• Dec 1st-4th: everything should be checked and finished. This week will hopefully be dedicated to printing and mounting the designs.

Printing Eco-Friendly Stamps, is it possible??

Today, one of the stamp printers we contacted called and was actually very nice and willing to help. She works at Walsall Security Printers. She basically said that printing stamps in eco-friendly paper is a very big issue now. They have been trying to print in different papers, like seaweed paper, but haven't had any success with them, because they have problems with the coating of the stamp.

She said they mostly use water-based inks, which are better and less harmful for the environment. Also, she was kind enough to email a Environmental Report that was made for them, unfortunately, it is confidential, so I can't print it or pass it around, but some of the most important things I will mention.

- Basically self-adhesive paper isn't very recyclable, though some labels are launching eco-friendly schemes to recycle it.

- Also, it says that in the future it may be possible to produce a self-adhesive liner that is worth recycling but a replacement for the silicone layer will need to be developed, and also the graphic design in each stamp should be revised to reduce the ink consumption in the prints.

Apparently this is a very big issue in the printing process of the stamps, but they still haven't found a way to print a excellent quality stamp thats very eco-friendly, the one thing that is reassuring, is that they are investigating and running trials on the printing process of the stamps to try to resolve the issue. It seems that they have to develop too many  things (paper, lining, coating, inks. etc) so maybe this is why its taking soo long, and we still don't have eco-friendly stamps.