Advanced Typography | Task 1 : Exercises
21/ 04 / 2025 - 5/ 05 / 2025 (Week 1 - Week 3 )
Meerabella Charles | 0368295
Bachelor's of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Advanced Typography
Task 1 / Exercises : Typographic Systems and Type & Play
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lecture
2. Instructions
3. Exercise 1 : Typographic System
a. Research
b. Ideation
c. Final Outcome
4. Exercise 2A : Type & Play
a. Research
b. Ideation
c. Final Outcome
5. Exercise 2B : Poster
a. Research
b. Ideation
c. Final Outcome
6. Feedback
7. Reflection
8. Further Reading
1 . Lecture
Week 1 : Typographic Systems
Typographic systems are ways to arrange type (and occasionally images) in a
layout to give it structure and visual rhythm. Eight primary systems are
frequently mentioned in design:
1. Axial
-Arranges components along a single axis, which may be horizontal,
diagonal, or vertical.
prevalent in contemporary designs such as posters or brochures.
The eye is guided by clear direction.
2. Radial
-Data spreads outward from a core location.
vivacious and dynamic; frequently utilized in promotional or expressive
design.
3. Dilatational
- Expands in a circular motion from a central point.
similar to concentric circles or ripples.
4. Random
-No clear organization; seeming disorganized.
despite disarray, requires excellent visual equilibrium.
5. Grid
-Based on rows and columns with structure (modules).
encourages readability, consistency, and order.
6. Transitional
- Produces hierarchy and visual movement.
frequently blends several systems (from grid to axial, for
example).
7. Modular
- Employs standardized layout units, or modules.
Reusable and adaptable, particularly for templates.
8. Bilateral
-Arrangement that is symmetrical around a central axis.
formal and reflective framework.
Summary of lecture : Some students may find this system awkward but
as we develop and understand the system more, they will realize the creative
potential in terms of its permutations in sense of a way to arrange elements
in a specific order or combined used.
Week 2 : Typographic Composition
1) Principles of a good composition is
- emphasis
- isolation
- repetition
- symmetry
- asymmetry
- alignment
- perspective
2) Rules of third
- known as a frame that is divided 3 x 3
- known as a frame that is divided 3 x 3
- Rules of third are used as guides
- Intersecting points are used to determine the focal point
- Intersecting points also become the guide to place
informations
The approach to reading is better when the composition is well
balanced.
3) Environmental grid
it is based on the exploration of an existing structure to -adapt an
identity from existing organization using a formula to create something
unique.
4) Form and movement
- also an exploration of an existing grid system
Week 3 : Context and Creativity
What is context?
Historical context, to talk about something and good to put those in
context
Handwriting
1) Importance of handwriting
= The 1st mechanically produced letterforms that were designed to
imitate handwriting
= Handwriting have become the basis / standard of form , spacing ,
conventions (rules) that mechanical type would type and mimic
Evolution of Latin alphabets
Oldest writing system present in Southeast Asia were Indian
Script.
: Pallava = a south indian script originally used for writing
Sanskrit and Tamil.
Pallava was highly influential - the basis 4 writing systems
across Southeast Asia.
- The word Kawi comes from Sanskrit + Kavya which means (POET)
Kawi was used to contact with other kingdom so widespread in
Indonesia and Philippines.
In Malaysia , Jawi have the greater importance of
influence.
Conclusion : All system of writing have some form of
influence . History gives us context, and designers are given
opportunity to design.
2. Instructions
Exercise 1 : Typographic System
Task 1 : 8 typographic systems
( Axial , Radial , Dilatational , Random , Grid , Modular, Transitional ,
Bilateral )
Inspiration and sketches
Headings option given:
1. All Ripped Up: Punk Influences on Design
2. The ABC's of Bauhaus Design Theory
3. Russian Constructivism and Graphic Design
Open Public Lectures:
June 24, 2021
Lew Pik Svonn, 9AM-10AM
Ezrena Mohd., 10AM-11AM
Suzy Sulaiman, 11AM-12PM
June 25, 2021
Lim Whay Yin, 9AM-10AM
Fahmi Reza, 10AM-11AM
Manish Acharia, 11AM-12PM
Axial
Font used : Futura bold & book
Radial
Font used : Janson Text LT Std
Baskerville : Semi bold
Futura Std : Book
Dilatational
Font used : Futura medium
Baskerville : Semi bold
Futura Std : Book
ITC New Baskerville Std : Roman
Grid
Font used :Univers LT Std 67 Bold Condensed
Futura medium
Futura condensed
Random
Font used :Futura
Univers LT Std 67 Bold Condensed
Modular
Font used : Univers LT Std 67 Bold Condensed
Futura
Transitional
Font used : Futura bold and condensed
Bilateral
Font used : Bodoni 72 Book Italic
Futura Std bold & book
4. Exercise 2A : Type and Play
Mr. Vinod asked us to choose a manmade or nature image and analyze it then
extract 5 letters from the image then modify it and make a movie poster.
4.1 Research
after trying to dissect the letters from 3 images from the above, i proceeded
with image 1 as it was more clear and had more letters to extract
extracted letters from the image.
b. Ideation
extracted original letters
reference font and refining progress
final letters in jpeg
individual letters in pdf
Finalized letters in pdf
5. Exercise 2B : Poster
We are tasked to create a movie poster using the letters we make.
5.1 Research
I chose some inspiration from Pinterest for my poster look.
movie poster reference from pinterest
5.2 Ideation
images used as background in my poster
making of movie poster
5.3 Final Outcome
movie poster jpeg
movie poster pdf
6. Feedback
Week 1
General Feedback: Briefing on whole module , introduction to task 1 .
Specific Feedback : none
Week 2
General Feedback : Dont use too much graphic , add margins and column
Specific Feedback : always have the grid and rulers as guides. Composition is very important
Week 3
General Feedback : absent
Specific Feedback : absent
Week 4
General Feedback : Add margins to the movie poster and names for actors are too long
Specific Feedback : Make the cast's names smaller on the poster. Decrease the size of the title.
7. Reflection
Experiences
As I started this task, at first I thought it is an easy task but as i dwelled in deeper, I noticed there are many things beyond ,just designing. I gained a lot of knowledge through the lecture videos given. I payed more attention on the layout itself. After completing exercise 1 , as I moved on to making the movie poster , I begun to research a lot on fonts, information, size and much more. The end product was really satisfying as I changed my poster last minute and it turned out good.
Observation
I noticed Mr. Vinod thinks very critically. We often look at the surface only but upon researching I got to know there are more to learn.
Findings
Upon completing these two tasks, I think our creativity is all based on how much we want to explore and there is no limit in exploring. The more you learn, the better you are. After watching Mr. Vinod's lecture, i gained a deep understanding in typography.
8. Further Reading
1) 
I learned about seven different typographic layout systems from this essay, which affect how we view and navigate material in addition to providing visual structure. Every system offers a different method of directing the viewer's eye and generating emotion, from the rigid order of grids to the expressive flow of radial or dilatational layouts. After providing them some thought, I saw how deliberate layout decisions may give a design a sense of balance, movement, or even disruption. All in all, it gave me an entirely fresh perspective on typography as a tool for design effect and storytelling, rather than merely letter arrangement.
Typographic systems by Kimberly Elam
I now have a better knowledge of how structured layout systems improve visual communication in design after reading Kimberly Elam's Typographic Systems. Eight fundamental systems—axial, radial, dilatational, random, grid, modular, transitional, and bilateral—were presented in the book; each provided a distinct method for arranging type and information. The fact that deliberate structure is still used in even the most experimental layouts, such as the random or transitional systems, really caught my attention. This made me rethink my belief that symmetry or rigid grids are the only components of good design.
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