HEVETICA - Stefan Sagmeister

Sagmeister seems to feel that the text should reflect the writing and be as creative as the writing to get the meaning or message out unifying both the visual aesthetics and written word. The type should come from the concept of the work to be a seamless blend to convey the feelings of the concept.

Droppin' Caps in the Gettysburg Address

HELVETICA

I watched the whole movie last night, thought I digest what I saw and write about it today. I thought it was interesting how even though there are the 2 basic camps of the lovers and the haters and within each group the reasons for or against range from the simple to complex. Some even equate it with good and evil. It is so common that its part of the (system, establishment, ruling elite) or on the AOL side (So easy to use know wonder its number one!). It is the pinnacle of sans serif and the epitome of excessive font use.

To add my own opinion about the font. I think it is great for clarity of reading, over used and in political vernacular a necessary evil. Just like canisters in the kitchen or tools in the art box, it has its place. Too much of anything is just as bad as being deprived of the essentials. Moderation is always key.

I don't think someone could make a film with such opposing points of view about any other font, at least not for an hour and 20 minutes.

Thoughts on David Carson

Just watched a short clip on David Carson. I like the way he had ignored the rules of layout and used the power of typography to convey the real feelings of what he really thought. To me the real innovation was that he wasn't purposely trying to dismantle the "system" but inadvertently by just doing it the way he wanted. Enter the period of Grunge layout, a post punk approach to type and layout. Every word can convey a feeling and type can help communicate that feeling. I believe that part of his creative method is using the emotions of fonts to connect the reader to the emotions (or lack thereof) of the text.

Word! Word!

Web Pollution continues with more writings and ramblings. More disconnected thoughts and random mind trash to follow.