Studio Brief 4 - Typewriter art | Barrie Tullett

Barrie Tullett is the author of the book Typewriter Art: A Modern Anthology. I once found this book on the trip to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. At this time i loved the Typewriter typeface and used it a lot for my book in Design principles. His book is based around the history of Typewriter art using a typewriter and not using any digital influences. Looking through this book i fell in love with the amount of styles and what you can achieve with a typewriter. 

Typewriters have fallen out of the limelight and have been replaced by technology but this is what makes it special, bringing a traditional medium back and creating art with it. I love how you can create an amazing image using only text and only using a typewriter, which makes it 100x more difficult as you can’t see where you’re placing the text in the typewriter till it comes out, so guessing and good judgment is your only option. Also most styles are expressive and have a hint of post-modern layout, which is also why i love typewriter art as I’m very fond of this style.

Hopefully i can use this style in some way, by either using just the typeface or making some kind of image or layout by combining the typeface.

Some images of his book below. 

Studio brief 2 - Final Crit

So today we had our final crit for studio brief 2. The crit style was similar to our secret 7" crit. We placed our finished books on the desk and wrote a few questions about what we wanted people walking round to answer about our books. This form of crit style is a lot better then everyone presenting due to the feedback being anonymous, therefore people can give feedback without worrying about insulting the person’s work.

The main question i wanted answers to was if my book communicated an eerie/sinister style. I had other question but this was the main one i wanted feedback for because if they agreed then what i had set out to do worked successfully.

The feedback was excellent. Everyone agreed the book gave off an eerie feel. Someone going as far as saying they "felt quite scared handling and reading the book" which was great for me to read. All the other feedback was on the same level. I had a few comments about the construction of the book about the cover being a bit floppy but i already knew this and evaluated it already.

Studio Brief 2 & 4 - Research - Expressive typography

Expressive typography is kind of style that i will be using my book for design principles. Using Type to communicate a certain message and concept is a creative and visually pleasing way to interact the user and also make your work a lot more exciting to look at. Expressive typography can be used in many different styles. It can be created in a simplistic manner or in a post-modern/ David Carson style. There is nothing better then typography conjuring an imaginative image in your mind, better then any image could do.

Below are some examples of expressive type.

Simplistic approach. Simply removing on word from 'delete' expresses this concept so clearly and effective that no other explain is needed. 

This is the kind of style I'm looking towards for my book. This post-modern style and typography together to give the words so much potential and movement. There isn't no other way to make a page more visual and real. Everything on this page shouts movement from the colour to the positioning. The poster demands attention and will get it from any passer by. The message is screaming to be read with this powerful design.

The type in this book is about slaying a dragon. The way the type has been set up represents someone who slays dragons. If you think of someone slaying a dragon, you would think of them as being strong, powerful and a leader. The typography represents all these aspects. Slab serif font, bold weight, colour black and a decrease in the leading all communicates strength and power.

The word harrowing being expressed in an eerie format. Making it's way down the page, almost as if the type has been buried alive. The texture and typeface communicates a 'harrowing' nature. 

Studio brief 2 - Concept

My book for design principles will be based on Dangerous cults. I want to communicate this subject by creating a book that is creepy/scary & eerie looking at the same time. I will mainly be focusing on the typography throughout the process. I personally feel i can experiment with typography in an expressive format. Throughout the book i will try and use imagery to it's maximum potential. By showing sensitive and explicit images to focus on the brutal killings and evil agendas the cult leaders had, will make the reading more emotional but more engaged.

The subject will focus on a number of cults, which have been and gone from the past. Cults like KKK, Peoples Temple, Heavens Gate and The Manson Family. As far as structure and layout of the pages, i am unsure at this early stage. However to visually communicate a sinister approach, having a post-modern style will be more effective than a well organised, well structured modern book.

So far i would like the stock to be thick off white stock. I would also like to experiment with paper that doesn't have straight edges on the finish. So off centred, ripped looking paper would be ideal. For the binding, i would like the method to be perfect bind or case bind. This method was chosen, as I wanted the front of my book to look like a bible. However with having a hardback cover, there needs to be a lot of pages as the book could look to flat. I can either resolve this by changing the binding method or doubling the pages to add thickness to the book.

Studio Brief 2 - Final Binding & Evaluation

Long stitch binding was the choice for my bind method. It communicated an eerie and old fashion style of binding. Originally, i wanted to case bind my book but chose long stitch binding after a few problems, due to not knowing how to case bind. The process for Long stitch binding was extremely straightforward and simple. It requires the basic tools to book bind, thread, awl, needle...etc. Before starting the binding i first brought a piece of leather, which would act as a jacket on the book. The jacket wouldn’t have anything on the front and back. This decision to not have anything on the front and back is because the book would feel more authentic and a book that appears to be lost in time, a discarded book written and made by an unknown person. All these aspects together will make the more eerie and haunting. Therefore you can’t see what the book is inside but the users suspicion will get too much to the point where they have to find out.

Leather was the chosen material as it best suits a tradition style of book making. I avoided all attempts to make the book look modern or contemporary. After cutting down the leather and preparing all the holes for binding it came to the thread. It took me a while to decide what kind of thread i wanted to use. I had loads of ideas on experimentation with thread that would excel the haunting nature of my book. I knew i needed thread that was vintage and looked warned down as much as possible. After a long time searching on the Internet i came across thread that had been dyed to give it a vintage look. It was perfect and exactly what i was looking for. Then came to the binding. The binding was straightforward. It was simply an in and out movement technique. Once you reach the end you bring in the next signature and connect it all up and repeat this over and over. (I’m not the best to explain the ins and outs of long stitch).

In the end the final outcome for my book was great, there is a few thing i may have done differently, if i had access to the resources or how to do certain binding methods. First thing is, when the book is standing, the leather flaps down as it's not been glued with a hard surface. I did think about this before binding my book and knew this would be the outcome. The reason why i didn't stick the leather to mount board is the authenticity of it. I didn’t want to hide the material away. The leather material has an authentic texture and gives the book extra character. Hiding away the texture will lose creditability and the organic feel of having leather for the cover. Therefore i didn't want to hide it with a cheap piece of mount board. Also it makes for a traditional style, as the method of binding wasn't as experimental 50 years ago.

Another thing i would do differently is the binding method. Originally i would have loved to use case binding for my book but could due to me not knowing how to case bind. I would have attempted it myself, but i wasn’t close to any printing resources, so if i failed at an attempt i wouldn't have been able to give it another try until a couple days before deadline.

Lastly i would of used different paper. I explained in my development design board about the different paper that i used. The paper i used for my book was an off white colour but it doesn't look as old and vintage as i would of liked. The problem was that my whole concept was to make my book look discarded and worn down but then once you open my book you see this vibrant, colourful spreads. The other paper, which i experimented with would of been a better option but at that time i didn't use it due to the colour not being as vibrant but thinking back now, it would of gave the book a vintage look.

Overall my book communicates my concept extremely well and is a different style to your ordinary book. Hopefully, people see the book as eerie, creepy and heighten their interest to see what’s under the leather cover. If so then I've successfully done my job.

Studio Brief 2 - Final book breakdown (page-by-page)

Font cover - Simplistic looking design, letting the cross speak for it's self. Black background enhances the scary factor along with the cross and type. American typewriter as the font, gives the impression of someone applying the type hands on without any digital interference. The cross also looks hand done. I wanted the cross to look normal but slightly off putting and sinister. The paint dripping off the cross questions an ulterior motive.

Back cover - The back cover is the exact same type and layout as the font. However once you look at the cross for a while you will notice the cross is upside down. Upside down crosses are symbolic for the devil. I want the user to suddenly find this out, which will hopefully make them feel scared and to start asking themselves questions about the meaning behind why i flipped the cross. The whole reason is to communicate influence. This idea of the cult leaders hiding behind something as innocent and simple as christen values but quickly brainwashing their followers mind and turning it into some thing a lot more misguided.

Content page - Big featured image taking up the 75% of the page. I wanted an image that would be welcoming but with a twist. The image is off a group of people with their arms out in an loving way. However the group of people are clansman from the kkk, who are notorious racists and murderous. Left hand side is a column for the text showing the contents of the book. Every feature of the book is positioned in a way to strenghten my technique to make the book as creepy, scary and sinister as possible. Right hand side is a brief description of what a cult is in case the user is confused about the kind of book their about to jump into.

Introduction to new cult page - These introduction pages will have an image taking up 75% of the double page spread, similar to the contents page. Having the same format creates consistency, which makes the book a lot easier to design and allows me to quickly add and create more pages. The page is for the cult 'Peoples temple' Another important feature that i have decided for this book is to tell the truth and show exactly what these cults leaders did, it's important not to hide the reality of these evil cult leader. With this decision the book has become somewhat of a book that some people may not feel comfortable to look at but it's clear who my target audience and tone of voice is. The image is only a selected few of the innocent people of Peoples temple whom Jim Jones murdered. On the left their is a quote by Jim Jones. The quote should hopefully give the user a quick intro into the world of Jim Jones. The white column is slightly rotated to add to the sinister effect.

Information page - This spread consists of 2 columns on each Page for text. The type has been slightly rotated like the white column in the previous design, all for the same reasons. The spread has three images in a diagonal positioning. I felt the positioning of the images gave the spread a post-modern aesthetics and it goes in order from Jim Jones as an individual, then onto him as a cult leader giving speeches and finally brainwashing his leaders into believing him, which inevitably leads to their deaths. Each image is in black and white as i wanted to limit the colours to only black and white and one selected colour to enhance certain aspects if needed. In this case the selected colour of red was needed. I used the red crossed to emphasise danger and just a way of saying no to the situation. Also i wanted the cross to represents death like they've been crossed of on a register.  

Information page - Expressionist page. With this double page spread I wanted to show just how many people where killed by Jim Jones and to give an perspective on the amount. I decided to list all the names of the people who where killed and spread them across the whole double page. I hoped this would put things into perspective and to get the audience to think about the 914 people without any other distractions on the page. I also decided to have the whole spread in a bold thick red colour. The red would come across striking, sudden and unexpected due to all the previous pages being black and white. Red also represents blood, danger and just a negative feeling in general.

Introduction to new cult page - Similar layout and grid set up for the previous intro page. Image on this page is off a UFO to represent the cult. The cult of heavens gate believed in UFOs and aliens. This image fitted perfectly, with the cults agendas while still fitting the concept of a scary nature. Quote is positioned in the same place, the quote again quickly sums up how bizarre their thinking was.

Information page - same set up as other information page. Same 2 column layout and slightly rotated text. Marshall Applewhite was the leader of heavens gate and was perceived as slightly weird due to his thoughts and opinions about life. With this double page spread i wanted to get across the weirdness of the cult. When the cult members committed suicide they wore brand new Nike trainers. I wanted to focus on this feature and incorporate it within the design. Nike's slogan "just do it" would visually sum up my concept and message. The "Just do it" font was in a sans serif typeface to make it more readable and strong. Just in case no one under stood the slogan, i added in Nike's logo. I didn't want the spread to look like i was making fun of the cults history, I also wanted people to see that people actually gave their life for something, which is so foreign to us outsiders but to many was their whole life. With this in mind i added a photo off the member who committed suicide in their beds just to bring home the realisation of the end result.

Expressionist page - As I've already mentioned Heavens gate believe in aliens in UFO coming to earth and collecting them. laying round with this idea with type. Essentially the design starts off from the continuation of information from the previous page. At around 30% down the page the text starts to get blocked and interrupted by aliens. Text becomes blocked by black rectangles and the typeface changes into an alien typeface. Once it changed the text becomes thicker and the existing grids becomes disrupted and broken.

Intro to cult page - same grid and layout as the other intro pages apart from the image and quote as they would relate to the new cult. Moving onto the Manson family, i wanted to show his members and not only Charles Manson. As most people only link Charles Manson to the cult and end up forgetting the fact that there were others who done all the murdering for Charles Manson. Same black and white image to again keep with the consistency across the book.

Information page - Post modern layout, sticking with the off-centred, slightly rotated type and imagery. To show that Charles Manson wasn't the only member, i wanted to add in the faces off all who took part in the killings of innocent people in the name of Helter Skelter. Simple layout but effective as the mug shots will capture the users eye along with the creepy image of Charles Manson.

Expressionist page - just to show how weird and creepy Charles Manson is, i dedicated a whole double page spread with just his face. I want the user to flick to this page and to be scared and creeped out by the face expression and the sinister swastika symbol located on his head. Even though there is no text, i still think the visual semiotics still links in with the scary nature of the overall book.

Intro to new cult - again still the same format and consistency that's been Incorporated throughout the whole book. KKK is the final cult in the book. I knew i could play around with many ideas with this cult, due to how well known they are across the world, also KKK fits perfectly with the creepy and scary persona, I'm trying to represent. The image is off a ceremony for the KKK member in which they are dressed in there tradition Klansman outfit. The burning cross in the middle perfectly sums up the visual concept.

Klu Klux Klan is probably the most outdated cult still in existence today, they are most know for their disregard against black people. Being racist and even lynching black people are only the hand full of stuff they have done. My idea for this double page spread and the next spread was to create a segregation of white and black. For this spread everything from is in a light colour and is very clean looking, text is a light grey and background also to show as much whiteness as possible. The text is still visible to read at pleasure but everything is in complete contrast to the next pace.

This would be the 'black' side of the page. However the contrast is dramatic. Mostly everything is black and the design it's self is a bit busy. Using a hard hitting image of black people being lynched will visually transmit discomfort back to the user. I want the user to look at the image and feel slightly guilty that humans could ever be that cruel to other humans just because of the colour of their skin. Another main feature on this page is the scribbled out text. The reason for this is to show that nobody (The kkk) cares about black people or what they have to say. Hopefully the page comes across in the right manner and people can understand the segregation, if not its still a good talking point.

Final Word - This page will essentially sum up the whole book with one quote. The quote is by Jim Jones the cult leader of Peoples Temple. I tried to find the creepiest and scary quote which sums up the obsessive, controlling and illusive nature of cults and how they suck you in and take over your mind.

Images below show the grid systems in action just to give a sense of how they all worked and the different grids for the different layouts.

Content page grid.

Introduction page grid.

Information page grid.