Exercise: Playing with words
Create a set of typographical representations that present both the suggested word and its meaning. Start by working on paper then move on to working digitally. (Graphic Design One: p. 83)
Visual Words exercise
As suggested I started with scissors, glue and paper. I initially thought it would be quite hard to convey different meanings with a single typeface at the same point size, but once I got going the ideas seemed to flow. I think I ran out of steam towards the end and a couple of words defeated me but overall I was intrigued by how much could be done within the constraints of the exercise. It also served as a useful starting point for working digitally. The full set can be seen in the Playing with Words PDF.
I wasn’t sure if my digital skills were up to the task so I did a few sketches before I moved onto working in Illustrator and developed the ideas in terms of using different fonts and adding colour in some cases. I love words so this was a great exercise for me.
Visual Words
The exercise challenged and helped develop my Illustrator skills; while I was frustrated a couple of times in that I couldn’t get to exactly what I was aiming for, for the most part I was able to get close enough. The new Illustrator methods I learnt included:
- Using pathfinder to join shapes
- Using Object expand, creating a new layer and adding triangles with the pen tool. Then using object – divide – divide objects below – ungroup. By moving the individual elements I created shattered
- Creating outlines and using Distort envelope – make with top envelope to morph text into shapes
- Saving artboards as separate files
My family seemed to prefer squeeze and skimpy but I think my favourites are sodden, shattered and shy
