Visual Research

Artist Inspiration.

I have researched artists and illustrators within both historical and contemporary practice, whilst researching this word and image unit. It has been useful to gain inspiration from other practitioners when generating ideas about this project to reveal the vast array of formats text can take. My research has revealed a wide range of strategies some which have interested me more than others. 

In 1960, Paul Rand produced a poster to promote IBM. He replaced the letters in the companies name with symbols which correspond to the sounds produced when the letters produced are replaced. The simplistic method used was to promote a less intimidating profile for the company. Herb Lubalin’s Rock and Roll, 1957, creates one letter from each word with an image of what that word represents. Both Ideas are simple and clear. This is a very effective way of making type interesting but it is very difficult to incorporate into text,  I have been inspired by the idea of symbols and within my project found myself representing Charlie Parker and jazz as a saxophone. Most importantly the idea of simplification has been particularly influential in my work. 

Similarly, coding, which appears to be a more contemporary format for typography is a format that has influenced my work. I have been fascinated by the logical aspect to this strategy and it has aided me to realise how a text does not even need to be presented in the format of the traditional letters. Benoit Lemoine presents this idea particularly well where he has created a typeface where the circumference of a body corresponds to individual letters. Each letter is presented as a mugshot style image. David Crow has used a similar technique but has taken a more digital approach. He has created the element of of a game within his typeface “Play.” Fragments of a female portrait have been connected to the uppercase letters and a male portrait has been connected to the lowercase letters. Thumbnail portraits can been produced when using both upper and lower case letters. The final typeface does not appear as a traditionally readable image. I really appreciate the entertaining characteristics of this idea. 

Through my research I have learnt the importance of using relevant. I believe it makes the typography seem more professional if the media is relevant, for example using a ball point pen to create type in the Bic advertisement by Reudi  Kulling in 1955. The simplicity of the idea, as with most of the concepts I have been inspired by within in my research has been a key feature which I would like to reflect within my final images.