Task Three: Formats and Typography as expression

The Elements of Typographic Style: Shaping the Page by Robert Bringhurst

Bringhurst talks about the importance of page proportion and why it is necessary for the reader, comparing page proportions to musical intervals 

Type In Use

What type of typographic system is being used and what is the designer trying to do with it?

All the type seems to have the same hierarchy. The footer, however, is in all caps but the size of the type appears to be the same, as to not detract or distract from the main body of type but to be an informant of what is on the page when flipping through the magazine.

 

How many typefaces are used and what are they being used to denote?

One typeface is being used for the body of text in this article, but the header and the small bit beforehand are in a serif typeface, whereas the body of the text is in a san serif typeface. The typeface changes through the whole publication but tends to stick to the same two typefaces. What I have noticed with the use of the serif and san serif typeface is when there is some poetry or prose it tends to be the serif typeface and then when its an interview or more factual information it tends to be a san serif typeface that is used, the title tends to be the opposite of what the body of type is. I think this is meant to signify a change of tone in what is being read, signally to the reader that what is going to be read is more factual and placed more in reality than the prose that is being read.

 

Is there evidence of a grid being used?

There is evidence of a grid being used, as the columns are structured in such a way that shaped the image into a sort of frame.

 

What size do you think the type is?

I think the type is 12-13pt. 

 

Do you think this is the correct size? Is it legible?

I think the type is the correct size as it is easy to read, its also very clear and very legible. The leading and word-spacing seem close together but of clear space doesn't make the text feel trapped and close together as the line length changes making it easy to follow but also exciting the eye and changing the path as you read down. This helps you interact with the photograph more as it in a way leaves to process the image along with the text. 

 

 

Is the use of typography suitable for the type of publication and why?

The magazine is set into two columns, it read fluently because of this as the type fit within these two columns really well and isn't too large that it distracting.

 

Is the test justified, range left, range right or centred? How are paragraphs split up?

The text is justified range left. The paragraphs are slept by an indentation.

 

Do all the line of text-align with each other?

Not all lines of text have the same alignment.

 

What colours are used within the design? 

There are no colours used in the design, the type is black, the image is black and white and the paper is a very light cream. 

 

What type of paper is the publication printed on?

From what I could gather the paper is printed on matte un-coated paper.

 

Overall, how successful do you think the layout is?

I think that the layout is really successful, it easy to read without it being plain or boring. The article has character and expresses the essence of the article through the layout that has been chosen. 

 

Is the layout consistent throughout the whole publication?

Throughout the whole magazine, it alternates between different typefaces sizes, the number of columns differ too, swapping between two and three. When there are two columns it tends to use a san-serif typeface however when there are three columns a serif typeface is used. Sometimes this is really consistent but sometimes it changes on two examples I found.

 

Is the layout typical for this type of publication?

I think this is a very typical layout for this style of publication, as magazines tend to have multiple columns. Although her simplistic, it's the small details, such as type size and layout that make it a pleasure to read. The layout is simple yet exciting, luring me to read but also making it easy to pick up where I left off because each page is so memorable in its design.

Formats of text that interest me

  • coffee table book 
  • zine 
  • broadsheet newspaper
  • tabloid newspaper 
  • anthology 

coffee table books

zines

anthology

tabloid newspaper

broadsheet newspapers