day three: unlikely solutions to perfect solutions

So I'm trying to expand on typography's positive & negative attributes. When I came upon these crates I found a positive & negative affect on how this type was applied. Now normally, burning wood is a negative thing, but in this case, burning was the solution to create these lasting & labeling marks for a very effective purpose.

I further realized that it illustrates my happening of being in Cedar. I had never thought I would attend SUU let alone live in Cedar City because it wasn't far enough away from home & it was too cold. So I stayed away from it being an option, like wood should stay away from fire. Yet, all of the pro's for attending a university were attached to SUU. So here I am! & it has definitely been a refining experience that has & will continue to leave a lasting mark.

day 3

i started considering today the effects of time on certain mediums that letterforms are constructed out of. some materials disintegrate more rapidly than others. depending on the medium used (ink vs. paint vs. neon lights vs. metal vs. nontraditional materials), certain letterforms might disappear within a matter of days of being placed in their environment.

last semester in photography, i studied an essay called art in the age of mechanical reproduction. Specifically, the author talks about the 'aura' of a work of art. An aura would be defined as the qualities and attributes of the work attained not by the qualities inherent in the work itself, but through its environment, ownership, travels, general history, etc.

i would consider typography to be art. therefore, typography must have an aura. does some typography have more of an aura than others? yes. what gives typography an aura? i would venture that this sign has more of an aura than say, any typography for a chain fast-food restaurant. it is one of a kind, found only in one place, and has existed for far longer and more diverse conditions than that of a mass-produced chain sign.

i think that the disintegration of typography into the environment is particularly interesting in this case. it seems as though it would generate a very unique kind of aura. i believe that this could further evolve into a personal commentary of the environment, the typography in it and how i have experienced it while living here.

i will explore this idea further by creating typography that exist specifically to be integrated into its environment. i want to be environmentally responsible (no pollution), so i will explore media that will leave no mark on nature. my series of final panels could consist of evidence that these letterforms existed (most likely in the form of photographs).

leaving your mark

Okay so I'm changing my direction a bit. Instead of focusing on what people define themselves with in type, I think I might focus on the typographic 'marks' people would like to leave on cedar. If they were leaving town tonight, what would they like to make their mark on? I think I might ask people to choose a typeface they like (maybe from a list?) and have them imagine their "type contribution" to Cedar.

For example, my roommate said she would like to express that time does something different to you here. She felt that it moves slower, but her time in Cedar has changed her quite a bit.

Its a rough start, but we'll see where it goes.

Sign Posting

So I am thinking for my project I want to make a more kinetic type of illustration with type but then once again in the back of my mind I've been really wanting to work some more with some geometric fine art. At the same time though I really want to focus more on including a feeling that is Cedar City and that proves a little difficult. Anyways I am just starting out probably by observing type in the street in normal day circumstances.

License Plate

I decided to try out something different than Mexican food today. What would a license place just from Cedar City look like?? hmm....

I love Kristen Font (Day 3: Devo)

I do love Kristen font, and I am proud of it.... But I also make baby t-shirts, and it goes well with what my client's want. How I use it, is probably what Kristen font should be used for. It has a heavy stroke, and a good readability printed on a baby onesie. It is playful, and reads little girl to me.

I do not think it should be used for a full service salon & home decor stores. I wonder if I only have a problem with this because I am a font snob. The average person probably thinks it looks great. But this font reads to me, nursery colors, scissors with plastic blades, play dough, nap time, and finger paints... Not the kinda thought I want with someone cutting my hair, or design my home decor.

It's funny, with my baby onesie/t-shirt company, and my vinyl wall lettering company... I use all the over used fonts a Graphic Designer should stay away from. But kids look good in Andy, Hobo, Comic Sans, and Kristen font. People like scripture quotes in vinyl wall lettering with Papyrus font. I try and offer better solutions, but in the end this is what the client wants... They are also the very rare times, that these fonts might be a good choice. I wonder on a sign like in my picture above, if the Graphic Designer tried to offer a better font. The client just probably wanted Kristen, because they liked how it looked!

Devo

Day 3: Rising above the reputation

This is yet another example of how type can be used with neon lights. Cafe Rio probably has the newest neon sign in Cedar City. The most common neon letters are the small beer ads, and open signs in windows. This sign shows how you can use neons as a way to amplify and outline the text to make it more noticeable and yet still maintain an upscale feeling. This sign leaves the bar and gas station reputation behind.

So i spent a considerable amount of time driving around the vast expanse known as cedar city. it was difficult to find any artificially weathered text. Sadly most of it was naturally weathered which will be the next leg of this project, ill try to get maybe one more "artificial" but thats about it. And hopefully i can get a camera that is half decent. I didn't post this in my last one but part of my study is what the connotation is with each use of the type. Its interesting to me that my first type sample was attempting to be charming while the second was trying to look rugged and dirty. Todays post was the shirt of the lovely Jose. I beleive its part of a trend which happens to be grungy but is altogether aiming at being trendy. Three very different themes for similar text treatments. the end.

Mexican Anyone? (Day 3)

For 50cents more you can go MACHO.

Here is another example that I found at Del Taco. Just like on the letters put up on the sign at Alberto's I am sure that these labels were made and put up by an employee of the establishment who's typical job is frying up tasty churros and not so much laying out type. Call me a nerd but I enjoy seeing design and type done in this manner, it feels more human. It is easier to connect/relate with on a personal level, and therefore in a way more approachable.

Day 3:

So after talking to Jay, I have decided to try some different ideas. Cedar has always seemed to have an older small town feel. It definitely has a rich history. One of my favorite stories is about why the road are so wide. It has something to do with the fact that horses and buggies had to be able to turn around. It made me think of how old this town actually is.

Some of the older buildings have interesting fonts that were used on their signs. I really like the font on the Lunt Motor Co. It has a 50's feel to it. I thought it would to fun to go around looking for similar style in town.

Day 3: Jade Gelskey

Day 3: Eat Steak

Day 3:

So after talking with Jay I am for sure going to continue my research and keep going with this project. I have decided to work with my idea and create signs identical to these but with my substituted words relating to unhealthy eating and obesity in the typography's place.

I think it will be a challenge but I plan to work it until it looks good. I am thinking about doing the first panel as an image similar to this but with the words edited. I have not figured out exactly what the text will be but that is my goal to get done in the next day or so. Tomorrows post should have a little more direction.

On a side note: on the sign above there is a bit of a disclaimer. They try and give a tip about healthy eating but make mention of the fact that it is still "Not a low-calorie food". Hmm confusing advertising much? Plus who reads that paragraph at the bottom besides some one doing a project on advertising from these places. Lets hope to many people don't go on the "Drive-Thru Diet"....

A Font in a Hard Place

I was making a deposit at the bank, waiting for the cars to move forward, when i spied the following photo op. Here's this sign tucked away from street and surrounded by large buildings on both sides. You wouldn't have known it was there unless you were looking for it. Which raises an interesting question: How do you know it's there to begin with if you don't know where something is in the first place?

So far typography through my searching has showed that it can be disrupted by nature and now removed from the public eye.

A is for adams

I decided it would be a fun challenge to go around Cedar City looking for interesting letters

in alphabetical order. Here is one such finding. Does anyone recognize this sign?

Type at the Park

For this post, I might be pushing it a little but I think the concept works. The sketch and the photo are from Park Discovery. The park was donated by volunteers and sponsors, each of whom had their names carved into various parts of the park.

The playful imperfections in the letters mesh well with the aesthetics of a playground.The type is probably not a formal font, but I think it serves the same purpose as the type in my last two posts. I think this type can also function on a historical level in a similar way to my other posts. The park is obviously not very old, but I'm willing to bet it will be around for a while and the names inscribed in wood will still be there to give credit to the volunteers who made the park. In a way it simply says, "I was here, and I did my part."

Keep it real,
Dan Gill

Gem 3

Here in Cedar City we have Design gems all over the place that have great typography and design. As Designer I believe it is our duty to go and find these places in Cedar City so that so that we can be expose to them. My new theme is to search for the new hidden design gems in Cedar City. Here is one of the gems that I have found today at the Ceder City Liquor store. Oddly enough most design awards go towards designers that design alcohol beverages.

derrick day 2

while i was walking around cedar, i took this picture and decided to put some kind of type that would emphasis all the snow that cedar has to offer and put that into the project that i am working on.

Day 3

It's amazing how when you start looking for letters they begin appearing everywhere. In this case the sidewalk was starting to say something.