Just as music has rhythm, so to does typography. Good type has soul, feeling, emotion, beat, tempo. Type can be happy or sad, meaningful or silly, disturbing or inspirational. A good song effects you in some way, so should good typography. It can be fast paced or slow paced, upbeat or melancholy. Learning to understand the rhythm of type is essential to a graphic designer.
You will each be given a song. There are many styles available. Listen to the lyrics.
Your task is to interpret the feel of the song using ONLY typography. It can have visual meaning, but this must be accomplished with type. Using only lyrics from the song, typeset and choose typefaces that seem fitting. Use as much of the lyrics as is necessary to achieve the feeling you wish to convey. You may use no more than two (2) typefaces. You may use multiple weights and variations of the same typeface, i.e. italics, small caps, etc. Use letterspacing, leading, point size freely to help convey the message. The basic rules of typography such as horizontal scale, baseline, alignment, etc. are of no concern for this assignment. BE CREATIVE. Think of yourself as a visual conductor.
There are no color limitations on this assignment.
OBJECTIVES
• to increase your ability as a planner and form giver
• to develop an awareness of the relationship between design and meaning
• to increase and improve the quality idea generation (quality & quantity)
• to increase conceptual skills
• to increase your understanding and appreciation for the subtleties of typography
PROCESS
You will be required to maintain thorough documentation of your process throughout this and all assignments in this class. Keep a collection of everything pertaining to this project (project sheet, research, sketches, thumbnails, copies, etc.) and bring it to each class meeting. This collection will be turned in at the completion of this assignment and will be part of your final grade.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
• one 11″x17″ print
• one process notebook
PRESENTATION
• The finished print will be mounted on a 15″ x 20″ Black board
THE CONTENT:
ANSEL ADAMS
AMERICAN MASTER
Selections from the David H. Arrington Collection
AUGUST 14–JANUARY 17
“My world has been a world too few people are lucky enough to live in – one of peace and beauty. I believe in beauty. I believe in stones and water, air and soil, people and their future.” – Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS | HIS LIFE
Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. His family came to California from New England, after migrating from Ireland in the early 1700s. Adams was known as a hyperactive and sickly child with few friends. Adams taught himself the piano, which would become his early passion.
In 1916, following a trip to Yosemite National Park, he also began experimenting with photography. Between 1929 and 1942, Adams’ work and reputation developed. Adams expanded his repertoire, focusing on detailed close-ups as well as large forms, from mountains to factories. During this period, Adams joined photographers Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans in their commitment to affecting social and political change through art. Adams’ first cause was the protection of wilderness areas, including Yosemite.
ENVIROMENTALIST AND PRESERVATIONIST
Ansel Adams loved nature and was very involved in the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is an environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the Scottish-born American conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president.
The club was one of the first large-scale environmental preservation organizations in the world, and currently engages in lobbying politicians to promote green policies.
Find out more – http://www.sierraclub.org/
THE DAVID H. ARRINGTON COLLECTION
David H. Arrington is a native Texan, born and raised in the South Dallas community of Oak Cliff. Reared by educators, his father was a principal with the Dallas ISD and his mother was a teacher at Kimball High School. David attended Texas Tech University and earned a finance degree in 1983.
After graduating from Tech, David’s interest for the oil and gas industry led him to the Permian Basin. He moved to Midland in 1984 and began a career as an independent oil producer.
David has been married for 22 years to his wife, Shelley, also an educator. He is a devoted father of five and upholds an active role in his community. David enjoys fly fishing and names many of his wells after trout flies. He also enjoys photography and jokes that he is, “a photographer trapped in an oilman’s body.”
David has been a collector of Ansel Adams since 1993 and has aggregated the largest privately owned collection with over 600 photographs. His collection has grown more from passion than intent. He has shared his collection with the public through a series of exhibitions at museums in the United States and several other countries. He also showcases Adams’ work in his corporate offices located in Midland, Texas.
With education in his blood, David enjoys accompanying the photographs on tour and teaching and speaking on Ansel Adams’ talent and creativity.
Upcoming Exhibitions | Museum Hours | Museum Directions
