The representation of Type
I was reading my new June 2007 issue of HOW and came across an article: "Ideas at Hand." In it, they took the HOW logo, gave it different personalities, and then attempted to represent it somehow without the use of a computer. They used fabric to create the letters H-O-W, they used bubble wrap dipped in paint, they used mustard and yarn... In the article they quote Akiem Helming: "Going manual should have a reason, an idea. Type is not only a vehicle for letter information anymore but information itself; an object. As you read the letters, you see the material, you experience the surrounding, you see the construction, the way it's built. If you work manually, your work will also get more human."
The latter half of that quote really caught my attention. It is in many ways the opposite of what I was referring to in my blog "The Day the Yearbook Died." In that blog I spoke of how so many schools are now turning to online yearbooks and how I thought that was sad because online representation makes me feel so much more removed. This idea of manually creating type and abandoning the computer could bring design back to life. It is one simple way that we can hold on to the natural tangible aspect of design and that makes me happy. :)
Comments
I like "If you work manually, your work will also get more human."
I think this is so true. Just thinking about what we did last night in a mere matter of hours is amazing. We are, after all, all craftsmen (Kristin, you said this the other day) and we crave the hadnmade. I think at times it is difficult to embrace doing something quickly and "roughly" (although I would argue that what we produced last night was much better than 'rough') because we are so used to technology and its ability to perfect the craft for us. I think it's appropriate for us to return to our roots and use our hands to create something beautiful and meaningful. Embrace it! :)
Posted by: ange | April 20, 2007 10:32 AM