by vshepherd | Jul 1, 2012 | typography
Much of the feedback received pertained to the use of negative space to surround the word ONE and the ability to flip the black and white for a variety of uses. Most felt that the negative space made the logo stand out as well as the use of a simple typeface and color scheme which made the typography emotionally appropriate. This example shows a clever use of negative space in a logo for a guitar store. Visually the “T” first stood out. Looking closer I realized it was actually two guitar necks and a shape that formed the “T.” Certainly a guitar player, the target audience, would have discerned the guitar shape immediately. Mark Boulton in A List Apart, discusses the use of micro and macro white space. He references Erik Spiekermann’s redesign of The Economist, allowing for better readability through the use of whitespace. Boulton states this, “adding more whitespace to the individual characters. He then set the type slightly smaller and with more leading. All these changes added micro white space to the design. The overall result was subtle…” Macro whitespace would be space between major elements and micro whitespace – the space between characters or words. Boulton suggests that whitespace which leads the reader from element to element is considered active whitespace. Passive whitespace then is the space that allows for compositional harmony. In Typographic Design: Form and Communication, Amos Chang regarding space to define form states, “. . . it is the existence of intangible elements, the negative, in architectonic forms which makes them come alive, become human, naturally harmonize with each one another, and...
by vshepherd | Jun 25, 2012 | typography
. ONE International Organization Rally sign, welcome page for website and t-shirt for ONE International organization. A diverse grassroots organization that began when several groups found a common goal, merged together to eradicate poverty and aids around the world. [1] Bono is perhaps the most well-known spokesperson for ONE, he is also a founder. ONE first caught my attention through another form of communication – design, with its (red) campaign. Selling t-shirts, bracelets, jewelry as well as special edition Converse shoes. ONE concerns itself with advocacy and works closely with policy leaders around the world, predominantly Africa. With 3,000,000 members around the world major accomplishments have been realized. A partial list of accomplishments: •Additional 450 million for debt relief for Haiti following a devastating earthquake •provide life saving medicines to roughly 4 million Africans •create 300,000 jobs and promote exportation out of Africa [3] Issues ONE is working on: •AIDS/HIV and diseases •poverty •agriculture •debt cancellation •climate •water and sanitation •education •development assistance •trade [4] Reflection of the typography used in the organization, particularly the logo. The logo itself often reversed in a black circle is very strong. ONE is set in a bold, simple typeface. It appears to be condensed with a very narrow counter. The negative space doesn’t intrude deeply into the letterform which helps the logo standout against the black. When done in red with the parenthesis surrounding the word (one) the typography becomes a message of inclusion – we are all one nestled into the brackets. The website is very clean often one in black, white and shades of gray. The current page is...
