Typographic Smorgasbord
Let us bring up a new issue within this blog. It is here that we will discuss the rapid rape of typography in the digital age. Take a look around and see all the wonderful things that are being done with type as well as the mass hoards of random typefaces strewn together forming something similar to what we like to call advertising. I was reading an article that had to do the use of type on the Internet. I believe that Internet advertising is perhaps one of the leading culprits of type misuse. They use typefaces that conflict each other and the message of the piece as well . Ebay is one example of where bad advertising can be found. Surf for a while and you are bound to find some small space with three typefaces. Blogs are also hot spots for advertising with bad typography. Where are the responsible designers? Where are these individuals getting their education. It seems a staggering number of graphic designers are given improper training in typography. Just look at some of the college websites advertising their graphic design programs. Some of them make you want to puke. It seems typography is becoming a lost art. So I now propose some questions. How has the internet effected typography, and what does that mean for the future of typography? Also with the lack of typographic awareness what can we as designers do to better this large problem at hand?
* Article (http://www.graphicarts.org/nalc/articles/type2.htm)
* Crappy art school websites (http://www.arts.usm.edu/), (http://www.finlandia.edu/artdesign.html)
posted by Nicholas VanHorn @ 2:47 PM
6 Comments:
Its true, the internet can be an ugly place, and ugly type and ugly design fester in the darkness like mold it seems. I don't think that the issue is so much where people are getting their poor typographic training, its that the people doing this work are not trained at all. As far as poorly designed websites with too many typefaces, may I present exhibit A: www.KCAD.edu
There are a lot of art schools out there, and some look more polished than others. Many of them are small, some of them have a lot of history behind them. I guess it is their choice how they choose to sell themselves. Ignorance and cost on the new students part will ultimately influence where they end up I suppose.
Should I, or any of us for that matter, be held accountable for someone else's poor design? The idea of good design to us may seem obvious, but to the general public good anything is very subjective. If the client asks for crap, and refuses your quality solution, then i guess you can turn out crap and move on, or drop the job. Unless there is some sort of design police out there (doesn't that sound like a new show for E! ?) crap is gonna continue to be churned out with expedience. I like to think that bad design is important, it makes what I do ultimately look so much better in comparison.
This is a dicey area to get into. First, one must be able to identify what one means by "good" or "bad" typography. I still continue to see a lot of bad typography in print, so why should I expect any difference on the Internet. Fact is, I probably shouldn't, but who am I to judge (thought I'd be happy to guest appear on Rex's new E! show, Design Police!).
As many of us have experienced first-hand, issues of design on the Internet result from technology and the ability to control it. This is, in a sense, the same as it is in print: If you know InDesign, does that make you a good typographer? Far from it. It's just easier to make excuses when talking about electronic typography.
I would agree that typography is becoming a lost art, not only to rapid production processes, but as well to the hand drawn trend that continues to bear down on us.
I am of the belief that we need to design by example. Good work inspires good work. Also publishing via blog or email is also a good way to open someone's eyes to things they might not see. Do that enough and people will call you a "type snob" like they do me!
Is there one actual answer? No, I don't believe so. We'll just to keep trying to do it better.
i think that most school websites are poorly designed- mostly because they are designed by people who aren't trained in visual design. anyone can do some simple html, css, and javascript, hell you can do a search on google for website design and get free code and just because something is free doesn't mean it's good think government chicken. there is also so much information that goes into school websites that they cram it all in or have a gazillion links to that information. and these people with no formal training slap shit together and they think that using more than one typeface will somehow make their website "more designy" but it makes it too busy. remember Keep it simple stupid. (k.i.s.s.)
Of course Jason gets to be in the Design Police...Sergeant Alger! And I agree with Naomi, its hard to cram so much content into something like a website and make it easily viewable and user friendly as well as designed well. But thats the challenge, that is what separates us from the pack. And ultimately, that is how we'll be able to change things through example.
I think the Rex is right. Who's to say that any of these web people had any kind of training at all in graphic or type design. I worked for a web company over the summer and these people had no idea that the things they were doing were type felonies. Anyway, I think that type may sort of maybe a lost art. I don't think many people know what good type even looks like. I mean try suggesting anything other then times roman, 12 point, double spaced, with only one space after each period to an education major and I guaran-damn-tee she wont call back. It's something that only we as designers appreciate and have an understanding of. Some have a better understanding than others, I myself rode the short bus to type camp, but I still appreciate it and envy really good work. So I guess what I'm saying is the majority of people viewing those "ads" wouldn't recognize good type if gave 'em free internet porn for a year. So in the end do we as designers want to waste our time and effort making shitty internet ads the 90% of internet browsing peoples will ignore? I would rather spend my time on good advertising and good design and let those internet designers have their little pop-ups. In the end I probably would ignore it whether or not it was designed well. I don't know that's just me. I wish it were different.
I say get rid of the frickin internet! No..ok fine keep the damn thing.
I Think that like stated, there is no simple or single answer. Internet is an open house to anyone who has a computer and a little know how. Some people may not have design education, some may, and don't put the time in, and others, just don't care. But like Rex said, it just makes good designers look even better in comparison. All we can do is design with passion and to the best of our abilities so we can keep improving and hopefully we can motivate others along the way.
Post a Comment
<< Home