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One Step Beyond
In design, type can be more than mere words on a page. Used properly, it can be
an effective tool to enhance a communications message. When designer Matt Ralph
envisioned an educational brochure for Antioch College, he wanted to use type as a
way to reinforce the feeling of experiencing the college and its students firsthand.
“The college is an interesting place. They have different kinds of programs and
courses that support the students’ interest and commitment to social and environ-
mental issues,” says Ralph. “Rather than design a book that is organized by
departments, I decided to design it as a random walk-through. I wanted the type
to reinforce that by changing quite a bit as you go through the book. In some places
the type would be simple and quiet and a little more reflective, while in other places
it would become a more playful and exuberant, and in others it would get big, bold,
and loud.” Ralph chose to use type as a way to bring out the variety and diversity
of the small town college. As you look at each spread, you are introduced to a
new aspect of the school and its unique student body.
Type can also be an expressive, almost pictorial, element used to give visual impact
to a page. In a promotional brochure for illustrator Rick Sealock, designer Ken Bessie
used type in a highly visual way. “I thought a lot about how I wanted the reader to
perceive the type,” recalls Bessie. “I went with an asymmetrical type layout because
Rick’s illustrations are so colorful and aggressive.” Bessie’s painterly use of type
brought variety and spontaneity to each spread. “I wanted to do something a little
bit different on every page. I’d put a lowercase letter in a full cap word, change the
color for one letter, jump the baseline, and use different point sizes and leading in
the same text block,” details Bessie. “When words repeated or when punctuation
was used, I really wanted the reader to get a sense of the emphasis on these words.
I wanted the piece to be typographically fun to read.” Through his inventive and
playful use of type, Bessie was able to tell a visual story while also highlighting
the illustrator’s whimsical work.
By far, the most important aspect of type is that it be legible to ensure that the
communications is clearly disseminated. “You have to think about your audience,”
concludes Ralph. “Once the information is readable and understandable, you can
go off and be more expressive and playful. I like work that blends the two.”
The Graphic Use of Typography
Graphic Design That Works
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