Project. Word Form and Function

Purpose. To discover how the expression of the meaning of a word can be enhanced by letterform and letterspacing alterations and by composition in the visual field.

Assignment. Select two words. Choose a typeface that seems appropriate for the expression of some aspect of the character of each word. Modify the words in a way that enhances their meaning. Consider the possibilities of altering the shapes of the letterforms or varying the letterspacing in the word without compromising the legibility or integrity of the word form. The project must be rendered by hand, and the time should be divided equally between design and production.

Format. 15 x 15 inches (38 X 38 centimeters)

Time. 6 hours

Susan Colberg MVA, MGDC, Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Alberta, Canada, teaches typography, information design, the practice of graphic design, and book arts. She has won national and international awards for her work in the areas of book publication and visual identity design for institutions and scholarly publishing houses in Canada and the U.S.A. She is past-President of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, Alberta Chapter. Her thesis was concerned with the development of teaching aids for reading-disabled children.

www.ualberta.ca/artdesign

Return to top