Major Research Project

 I wanted to explore current Hebrew letterforms through the medium of print. One of my key practices in finding out answers is to explore through screenprint methods. I have become accustomed to this method of communication through its materiality nature and the systematic response it takes to generate imagery.  Screenshot image taken from wip presentation However, it is important to explore first ways to create such imagery digitally to test before the next stages of processing the screens. This allowed me to generate different modular letterforms using grid systems, this has been part of my ongoing research to understand letterforms from the modularity perspective.  I wanted to consider different compositions to test out via screen printing, so I created the imagery first via Illustrator to see how they may look. The idea was to explore Latin and Hebrew letterforms within their alphabets.  To add further context to these prints, I wanted to communicate the value of...

As part of my ongoing development within my studies, I was advised to present to my lecturers and colleagues a work in progress to share my current direction within my research. This was an important part as a form of check-in to see how well I am doing and what I am planning on developing next within my studies whilst tackling my current research question(s),  To what extent do calligraphic traditions of the Hebrew and Latin alphabets influence and shape the systematic forms within typographic design?  What insights do these offer for contemporary design and methodologies today?  To what extent do calligraphic traditions of the Hebrew  and Latin alphabets influence and shape the systematic forms within typographic design?  What insights do these offer for contemporary design and methodologies today? I found myself contemplating on these questions, and asking myself do they make sense to me still in the direction I feel that I am going down? Is it tim...

From the feedback given within my crit session looking at my work in progress presentation, it was advised to explore the following: Parameters in Design Visual Kingship/Visual consistency Explore the Bauhaus typography / letterforms typography through the lens of semiotics / how we read type It was advised to create a framework to outline what I want to explore next and see where this will take me. further notes on this and to consider exploring are: What it the value of Typography? What is the value of letterform design? What is the value of Hebrew to me? How can I help people to understand the value of different letterforms ie, Hebrew, Latin, Cyrillic? Have I finished exploring hebrew typography?  Is it time to explore other languages and alphabets to explore next? Where there languages and alphabets that where a head of its time by using a systematic approach, example would be the bauhaus and Herbert Bayer. Explore books that show different alphabets and their systematic approa...

I decided it would be a good idea to arrange for me to have a 1 to 1 tutorial with my lecturer and course leader Dan, this is because I always benefit from these sessions in my own personal development. This was a great opportunity to talk about where I am currently within my research and development.  It was good to share my thoughts and what I have been wrestling with regarding where I should be and if what I am looking at and responding to is correct at the master level within research.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Dan that I am in a good position in my research and how I have responded to my own enquiries within my journey. Looking at Hebrew typography and letterforms has actually brought me to a place where I have explored how to write the Alef-bet to then adapt this within a co...

So I have been working through FVS online course and have been enjoying it so far. I have now reached lesson 4 which is titled Form Follows Tool, this is informed by the work of Gerrit Noordzij, a Dutch typographer, type designer and author (2nd April 1931 - 17th March 2022). His  teachings of letters and calligraphy at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 1960, created motivation for him to make type available to his students. What I found interesting in discovering was that "he identified the stroke of the pen as the central idea in the making of letter forms, (Wikipedia, 2023). A quote from  Noordzij talking about typography,  https://www.typeroom.eu/in-memoriam-gerrit-noordzij-1931-2022 This quote resonated with me, when I think of typography I think of letters creating a sense of visual harmony on the page. Type becomes a visual form to guide readers and design aesthetics. This becomes an interesting topic to explore further.