senior paper proposal

1. Subject or title of the senior paper:

The History of Typography: Hand Lettering Rediscovered

2. Academic / educational goal of the project:

I will build on my knowledge of early typographers to compare and contrast the current trends of hand rendering type.

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill

3. How, specifically, does this project go beyond existing course projects?

Although we have had two classes based around the history of graphic design I would like to dig a little deeper and find out regarding about the history of typography. One interesting fact I have already learned is that in some editions the Gutenberg Bible has decorative colored initials were hand-lettered separately by a scribe. I also would like to include history on the different cultures and movements that influenced modern calligraphy.

4. Research necessary for the project / research currently completed: (surveys, interviews, publications, etc.)

Current trends show we have a new appreciation of skills that ancient graphic designers had to possess, hand-lettering or as they referred to it, calligraphy.  The move from all hand-rendered skills to the computer and back to the emphasis of eye catching hand-rendering letterforms is fascinating to me. I would like to research the tools/technology used, include detailed accounts about how they rendered letterforms. Individual methods, to find these out I would like to conduct interviews with modern day hand lettering artists. American Greetings has a hand-lettering department that I plan to interview as well as reading books about current artists such as Mike Perry, Linzie Hunter, Nate Williams and Louise Fili. I would also like to explore how the first typefaces were made and how that process has evolved. I plan to interview Mike Gold or Missy Froman who both have knowledge on the topic as they just created many typefaces. I intend to find out more about the differences between the varying font file types (OTF, TTF ect.) which are easier to make, and what the benefits of each are. I also would like to include the controversial topic of free typefaces, how everyone feels they need to make typeface of their handwriting but also include the opposite spectrum on how it gives the opportunity for more talented people to make fonts with fewer resources like time and money.  

Some resources I plan to use for research, among others

Megg’s History of Graphic Design

Typographic Design: Form and Communication

A History of Calligraphy

The Education of a Typographer

Typology: Type Design from the Victorian Era to the Digital Age

Émigré

5. Form of the project: Describe what the individual pieces would be: number of pieces, sizes, colors, materials, techniques, quantity.

The paper will be formatted by MLA standards along with the required bibliography, outline, works cited and cover page.

6. How will the final pieces be presented? (comped, printed, electronic, actual art, etc.)

It will be presented in printed form, an electronic form of it will also be available.