The Importance of Design and Typography in Exterior Metal Lettering
Typography is the manipulation and strategic use of stylistic lettering to convey ideas and aesthetics.
In short, it is the science and art of forming words.
Size, basic letterform, color, glyphs, and letter accents are all a part of typography.
So too is the condensation, extension, and juxtaposition of lettering.
As calligraphy gave personality to handwriting, typography emerged as way to give distinction to metal type.
Today, it includes not just metal type from printing machines but also digital fonts created by computer software.
A typed word may just look like a series of letters to laypeople, but to typographers they are crafty blends of baselines, stems, counters, descenders, serifs and ascenders.
These terms describe how the lines and spaces that form letters are artfully used to decide how big or small, cramped or spacey, bold or tame lettering appears.
Typography is not a robotic process, even if it's done by computerized printing systems.
With the millions of lettering styles and combinations possible, typography involves choice, imagination and creativity.
New fonts and clever ways of using letters are created daily, making typography an ever-changing art.
Credit the first printing press and its creator Johann Gutenberg for establishing the practice of typography in 1450, with distinctive 15th century letter strokes and classical typeface.
The classical era of typography ended in the early 1700s as a typeface called "old style" came into vogue.
However, by the mid-1700s the transitional era of typography was established, with an Englishman named John Baskerville popularizing what came to be known as "transitional typeface" -- a highly elegant and sophisticated letterform.
Most modern word processing software pay homage to Baskerville by offering a Baskerville font selection.
Most of the 1800s was distinguished by the modern era of typography, with was characterized by a variety of serif and sans serif typeface styles.
The invention of lithography during this era made these styles flourish.
The modern era of typography, propelled by the futurist art movement, stretches from the late 1800s to roughly 1961, when the present and contemporary age of typography began.
All eras of typography continue to influence modern-day designers who often combine styles in free form.
Due to its ability to persuade, trigger emotion and subliminally transmit ideas, typography is often used for display and advertising.
The ability to transform letters through special types allows advertising to be customized for different audiences and purposes.
Not only can manufacturers seduce customers to buy products by providing pleasing type in an appealing color, but they can also align themselves to social causes through the arrangement of type.
Companies can merge type with or superimpose type over universal socio-cultural symbols, such as peace signs, snakes, doves or other icons.
Often, letters are cleverly morphed to mimic those icons for special marketing impact.
In terms of emotion, typography has the ability to distinguish certain types or fonts as comical, stern, scary or threatening.
This is useful in marketing because it means typography used for Halloween advertising campaigns can be vastly different from those used to promote comic strips and amusement parks.
Political campaign typography can convey gravitas while ads designed to entice children can be more whimsical with its letter stems and serifs.
The adage of "form follows function" is especially true in typography.
A good typographer knows that while any word can be written millions of ways, only a few forms will effectively serve the purpose, audience and desired impact and function of an advertising message.
Beyond catering to clients and customers, typography in advertising helps businesses and organizations because it is a form of branding.
Businesses and organizations take great pride in being associated with certain letterforms, fonts, and symbols.
These typographical selections become a part of their brand.
Customers come to expect certain packages and cans to have a consistent form of letters and type.
Typography has become so closely associated with branding, that many audiences can recognize a company's product from afar when only the style of lettering and not they actual words can be distinguished.
Branding is handled by marketing departments, most of which create strict guidelines for what fonts, points, and colors designers are allowed to use on letterheads, logos, signage and buildings.
Even colleges and universities have strict rules on how the name of the school can appear on sweatshirts, caps, billboards, buildings and other souvenirs.
Such strict typography codes of conduct ensure what colleges and businesses refer to as "visual identity.
" Many colleges, design schools and universities offer Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in typography.
Typography credentials are useful for trades ranging from graphic designer to marketing executive.
In short, it is the science and art of forming words.
Size, basic letterform, color, glyphs, and letter accents are all a part of typography.
So too is the condensation, extension, and juxtaposition of lettering.
As calligraphy gave personality to handwriting, typography emerged as way to give distinction to metal type.
Today, it includes not just metal type from printing machines but also digital fonts created by computer software.
A typed word may just look like a series of letters to laypeople, but to typographers they are crafty blends of baselines, stems, counters, descenders, serifs and ascenders.
These terms describe how the lines and spaces that form letters are artfully used to decide how big or small, cramped or spacey, bold or tame lettering appears.
Typography is not a robotic process, even if it's done by computerized printing systems.
With the millions of lettering styles and combinations possible, typography involves choice, imagination and creativity.
New fonts and clever ways of using letters are created daily, making typography an ever-changing art.
Credit the first printing press and its creator Johann Gutenberg for establishing the practice of typography in 1450, with distinctive 15th century letter strokes and classical typeface.
The classical era of typography ended in the early 1700s as a typeface called "old style" came into vogue.
However, by the mid-1700s the transitional era of typography was established, with an Englishman named John Baskerville popularizing what came to be known as "transitional typeface" -- a highly elegant and sophisticated letterform.
Most modern word processing software pay homage to Baskerville by offering a Baskerville font selection.
Most of the 1800s was distinguished by the modern era of typography, with was characterized by a variety of serif and sans serif typeface styles.
The invention of lithography during this era made these styles flourish.
The modern era of typography, propelled by the futurist art movement, stretches from the late 1800s to roughly 1961, when the present and contemporary age of typography began.
All eras of typography continue to influence modern-day designers who often combine styles in free form.
Due to its ability to persuade, trigger emotion and subliminally transmit ideas, typography is often used for display and advertising.
The ability to transform letters through special types allows advertising to be customized for different audiences and purposes.
Not only can manufacturers seduce customers to buy products by providing pleasing type in an appealing color, but they can also align themselves to social causes through the arrangement of type.
Companies can merge type with or superimpose type over universal socio-cultural symbols, such as peace signs, snakes, doves or other icons.
Often, letters are cleverly morphed to mimic those icons for special marketing impact.
In terms of emotion, typography has the ability to distinguish certain types or fonts as comical, stern, scary or threatening.
This is useful in marketing because it means typography used for Halloween advertising campaigns can be vastly different from those used to promote comic strips and amusement parks.
Political campaign typography can convey gravitas while ads designed to entice children can be more whimsical with its letter stems and serifs.
The adage of "form follows function" is especially true in typography.
A good typographer knows that while any word can be written millions of ways, only a few forms will effectively serve the purpose, audience and desired impact and function of an advertising message.
Beyond catering to clients and customers, typography in advertising helps businesses and organizations because it is a form of branding.
Businesses and organizations take great pride in being associated with certain letterforms, fonts, and symbols.
These typographical selections become a part of their brand.
Customers come to expect certain packages and cans to have a consistent form of letters and type.
Typography has become so closely associated with branding, that many audiences can recognize a company's product from afar when only the style of lettering and not they actual words can be distinguished.
Branding is handled by marketing departments, most of which create strict guidelines for what fonts, points, and colors designers are allowed to use on letterheads, logos, signage and buildings.
Even colleges and universities have strict rules on how the name of the school can appear on sweatshirts, caps, billboards, buildings and other souvenirs.
Such strict typography codes of conduct ensure what colleges and businesses refer to as "visual identity.
" Many colleges, design schools and universities offer Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in typography.
Typography credentials are useful for trades ranging from graphic designer to marketing executive.
