Studio Brief 2 - Typeface part 14 (evaluation)

Overall, I feel that my typeface works well to reflect my adjective ‘grand’ and is directly inspired by the art deco movement I am focusing it upon. The contrasting stroke widths and decorative elements add a sense of excessiveness and allow the typeface to be used successfully as a display typeface. In addition to this, the use of uppercase letters give the type a sense
of power and regality - characteristics I was aiming to portray. I have used the proportions of Helvetica to base my type on, but by repeating strokes as well as making bowls circular and breaking up the letterforms I feel I have successfully portrayed the Art Deco style. In contrast to Vignelli’s ideals about type being neutral and un expressive, Grand Deco is predominately 
used as a decorative typeface - expressing luxury and extravagance. 
One thing I have noticed about my typeface is that it looks sleek and composed when placed into a word/ sentence but when arranged in an alphabet the typeface looks a tad disjointed and gappy. It doesn't flow as well as I'd like and if I were to further my project I would like to find a way to fix this.

I have laid out my type specimen in a more modern way using lots of negative space. The layout contrasts well to the style of the typeface, and I have done this in this way to let the typeface speak for itself as it were. I have printed the type specimen in a dark red/brown, which to me is classic, has a sense of regality and reminds me of red carpets and big, grand staircases. I think the contrast between the dark red and white of the specimen makes the type pop and draws the eye.

If I was to further develop this project I would love to experiment with foil blocking the type to add a further sense of grandeur. I could apply this to my type specimen - in which case I would love to print this on matte black paper to contrast the gold or silver foil.

If I were to redo this project or add anything to it, I would have added more development into the making of my typeface. I found it difficult to keep up with time in this project as I became stuck before starting afresh with research and this hindered me in terms of time. I also found it difficult to create type at first in Illustrator as it was an activity I had never undertaken before.

I feel that in this project overall I have worked well. My research in particular has influenced my design decisions more than I thought it would and allowed me to create a well informed and successful typeface which reflects my adjective. I am happy with my final typeface and specimen.