Typographic Pattern (WRAP Magazine) Spreads and Cover

Project Brief

Type as Pattern: This project is meant to focus on the “form” of type. Pay attention to details in shape and curve. Consider typographic joinery and whitespace.   Project Brief: WRAP Magazine is a celebration of illustration, design and creative culture, putting the spotlight on some of the best artists from around the world. Each issue includes five double-sided sheets of wrapping paper. You are asked to create typographic patterns that can be featured in WRAP magazine. You will create 2 two-page spreads in WRAP magazine that includes your patterns. Additionally, you will create a cover for the magazine.   You are also asked to include a headline and body copy on at least one of your spreads. No more than 3 typefaces should be used for this project.   See examples of the actual publication at http://www.wrapmagazine.com

Learning Objectives

Project Goal: Explore typographic detail and pattern.     Consider: the shape of letterforms pattern hierarchy color modular grids rhythm symmetry repetition scale

Deliverables

Print of Cover (12.25" x 16.5") & Spreads, PDF of pattern (Best), Photographs of spread and covers, and a process book that includes exercises (such as combining a Letter and a Glyph)

Readings/Resources

In addition the main project, we did some exercises based on Rob Carter's "Typographic Design, Form, and Communication" book and work – specifically the exercise where you combine a letter and a number.      Exercise Brief: Combine a letter from the english alphabet with a number. Explore the scale, proportion, weight, and shape relationships between the two different signs.     Exercise Goal: Objectives of this exercise include introducing letterform drawing and drafting skills, using typographic joinery to unify the two distinct forms into a visual gestalt, and understanding the variety of spatial relationships that can exist among characters.   Deliverables: 6x6 square printed with hairline black border on letter-sized paper.

Reflections

Emphasis for this project is on exploration of typographic form and noticing the subtle details of type (such as how the organic forms of Garamond can work together). I show students some tricks in Illustrator, and this project is generally a success. I've also done extensions of this where I have students animate their final design, so it is a less print-based project.   In the most recent time that I've used this project, I extended it by having the students animate one spread.