Found Type: Library Style

Found Typography Assignment: Fantasy Novels

Response to Ch 7

This chapter was really difficult for me. It was fascinating to hear about all of the old typographic machines and how they worked, but I couldn't understand it. I wanted to badly to see how they worked, and I couldn't grasp to concepts just by reading them. I wish there had been a few more realistic models, not just concept models.
I was fascinated to read about the role of photography in the development of type. I never knew that was such an effective way of capturing letters forms, but it makes perfect sense when I think about it. If it can capture something as complex as scenery, why not letter forms?
Something I was surprised by was the concept of snap on serifs from the Walker Art Center. I always categorized different serif patterns into different fonts all together, and that you had to pick the complete font you wanted to use. It is a curious idea to me to just snap on a serif. Yes, you get the illusion of different fonts, but then the contrast, weight, and base are exactly the same for all of them. It's like putting on a disguise, but you are still the same person. I am not a fan.
Reading about the digital age was very amusing to me. I realized that believing in magic is part of my everyday life. I expect my computer to do exactly as I say, even though it doesn't speak English. I expect my keyboard to transfer my kinetic energy into bits into letters. I expect my mouse to move things I cannot touch. I also have no idea how a laser jet printer works, but I expect the words I type to magically appear in ink on paper. In fact, the only typing concept I actually understand is a typewriter, which is very outdated. So is my knowledge, I guess.

Chapter 1 image responses

The main reason I chose this image from Chapter One is because it is hand rendered and includes illustration. The C taking on the form of a mouth allows the word to be seen as an image in a whole, not just letters. It conveys the message of racism, which is vicious and tearing and messy, with the expressive lines and smears.

I choose this second image of the MTV logo because it is something we all recognize right off the bat. The combination of the M and TV is something we're so used to seeing together that we even blend it into one word "MTV" not "M...TV." I like that even though this particular logo is so 80's looking, it is still used, but slightly modified. The combination of the blocky M and bubbly TV makes it identifiable and have a personality.


















This third image of "All That Jazz" reminds me of the musical "Chicago." It looks like the letters are written in lights that one would see on a Broadway sign, which goes along with the premise of the show. I also like that the letters show movement and sort of go along with the sound of the words in the song, in which "all" is held, "that" is staccato, and "jazz" trails off at the end.

Found Type Grid

My Found Type Project

I wanted the central theme behind my project to be personal to me instead of based on a time or place.  So I decided to tie together all of the albums that I love and that have shaped me through listening to them.  Then I tried to find uniting things between them to make the project more visually appealing.

Two styles

The top was my first proposal, the bottom was a revised version.  I might end up combining some of the them to give it better unity.