Malapropism & Typography Mike Tully Thesis 1, Fall 2011 11.21.11, Prototypes Julia Wargaski
INITIAL CONCEPTS & PROJECT IDEAS
ADVANCEMENT & CURRENT STATUS
When I was very young, my older sister pointed
After extensive research on Speech Therapy,
out to me that I had a speech disorder. It’s
Speech Language Pathology, and Speech
called Malapropism, and it is neither severe
Disorders, I have come somewhat full circle
nor very noticeable. In fact, this condition is
back to my initial inspirations and interests.
actually extremely common and categorized as
Malapropism remains the paramount focus of
mis-speech rather than as an impediment. A
my thesis project. After prototyping various
malapropism is the accidental substitution of a
relative project concepts, I have taken the
word for a similar sounding, but incorrect, word.
most interest in relating my research to one
Since first learning about this speech condition,
of the most fundamental aspects of visual
I have taken notice of how it has affected myself
communication, typography.
and others. I recently have been conducting research My thesis concentration centers mainly around
on the fields of generative typography,
malapropism and the relative field of speech
typeface creation, lettering, and many other
therapy. I am interested in exploring the
important aspects of typographic and visual
relationships between thought process, speech,
communication. My goal is create a typeface that
speech disorders, and speech therapy. I’m
is reflective of Malapropism. I would then apply
exploring how I can apply design to communicate
this typeface to a variety of mediums including
relative information about these topics in a new
printed and digital materials. I would ideally like
form. I would like to create something that is
to maintain a more conceptual and experimental
both functional and experimental. I am seeking
approach rather than more traditional forms of
to have what I discover inform what I create, as I
typographic execution.
continue my research and experiments.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, REFERENCE & INSPIRATION Designing Type - Karen Cheng Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design - Michael Bierut Elements of Typographic Style - Robert Bringhurst
David Carson
Lettering & Type: Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces - Bruce Willen, Nolen Strals FF Beowolf & BeoSans OT - Erik van Blokland, Just van Rossum Meek FM - Rob Meek, Frank M端ller Anatomy of a Typeface - Alexander S. Lawson Various Works - David Carson Contacts Lucas Sharp, Juan Carlos Pagan, Pablo Medina, Kevin Smith, Maria Grigos, Julia Wargaski FF Beowolf & BeoSans OT
ADDITIONAL VISUAL EXPERIMENTS
fluorescent phosphorescent
pendulum podium
FEEDBACK & RESPONSES Lucas Sharp is a typographer, graphic designer,
Juan Carlos Pagan is a typographer, graphic
art director and former CD student.
designer, art director and former CD student.
Lucas’s primary suggestions for me were to
Carlos suggested I intently consider the standard
expand on the possibilities of how opentype
decision of sans-serif or serif typeface. He noted
could enhance my project. We discussed how
that while a sans-serif may seem easier, it is
it could be utilized to further communicate the
possibly more challenging than a serif typeface.
idea of malapropism with different application in mediums such as print, digital, etc.
Similarly to Lucas, he suggested I keep my typeface to one or two weights in order to focus
His purely typographic feedback was to focus on a creating a typeface with at most two weights, to ensure quality over quantity. He suggested focusing on two styles that contrasted each other greatly whether in weight, color, or other aspects. He is firmly suggestive of solving my design problems aesthetically rather than utilizing generative typography as a design method.
on maintaining quality.
FEEDBACK & RESPONSES Maria Grigos is the Undergraduate Director of
Julia Wargaski is a full-time faculty member and
the Communicative Sciences and Disorders
an Assistant Professor of CD at Parsons.
Department at New York University. Julia has seen my progress throughout the Maria’s feedback for me was less design
course of the semester. She has had a variety
focused and more topically relevant. She
of suggestions that relate to many aspects of
provided a large amount of relevant information
my project. I have received and will continue to
in regards to Speech Language Therapy, Speech
receive overall direction from her and my peers in
Disorders, and Speech Pathology. She had basic
my thesis class.
suggestions for design related choices and how they could relate to information on speech.
PROJECT OUTLOOK & FURTHER GOALS I am currently at the stage of deciding upon crucial aspects of the typeface I plan on creating. Elements such as Serif or Sans-serif, style, classification, visual weight, individual letter characteristics. I’m considering all these elements as I sketch more and begin taking my creations into FontLab to develop further. I plan to have an initial alphabet sketched out by the end of the semester so I can then begin importing, creating and structuring the letter forms in FontLab over the course of the upcoming winter break. I’m currently determining what additional material to produce including printed matter, digital components, and promotional materials. I also hope to utilize the capabilities of opentype in some manner for an additional component piece.
CURRENT INITIATIVES TO ADVANCE PROJECT I have recently begun an apprenticeship with Lucas Sharp and Juan Carlos Pagan at their newly formed type foundry, Pagan & Sharp. While helping further develop their own typefaces and projects, I will be studying and training in typographic creation and development. This will keep me surrounded with invaluable knowledge, resources, and professionals in my concentration. I will be receiving the help of Lucas in developing my typeface, both in handdrawn form and in digital form in FontLab. Relevant Links: www.paganandsharp.com www.lucassharp.com www.jcpagan.com