Cotton- Ch1,3,6 reflection

            Chapter 1 was a very interesting chapter. It was cool to see the evolution that type has gone through as we have come into the modern age, the first couple examples especially because I never really thought about hieroglyphics as a typeface until reading this chapter. It interesting to see the type that was commonly seen in medieval and renaissance times and the way these trends have changed as time has gone on. To see the type not only in English but in Italian and other languages was very cool to see, especially in practical uses like advertisements and posters. The turn of the century type is very different in that it combines the type with very flowery designs. Then to see the 1920s designs and how minimal and geometric they are was such a stark contrast in just a matter of 2 decades. As time has gone on it appears that design has become much more abstract and the type has gone from hand drawn to very modern and basic and now it appears that there is this push to return to organic and hand drawn letter forms.

Chapter 3 addresses a lot of issues in design and looks deeper into aspects of design that most people don’t really evaluate before they start putting a piece together. It talks about the significance of using single words in design and how the orientation and use of negative space can create a dynamic design and still remain very minimalist. The use of line examples were great for showing how one can break up info while still keeping it legible and showing a general hierarchy while still making a visually pleasing design. The conversation between the 2 people in example 15 is so different and interesting. Columns and margins are also talked about showing how information can be broken up and sorted as to not confuse the viewer.

Chapter 6 shows us the typographic message that posters and signs and designs are all trying to say to us as we look at them. They are not just this 2 dimensional thing that you just look at and are forgotten. Instead they are powerful messages that let the viewer interpret the meaning as well as stand alone on its own and convey its own story as the designer intended. The relation between form and the mind are discussed and how a simple effect can convey an array of emotions based human experience. Visual substitution is also shown and how effective it can be within design and humor it can add to a piece as shown in example 12. Visual exaggeration can also add a very unique detail to design especially when it mimics the product it is selling as seen in example 22.