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Mitchell, I (2022) Common.otf. Ian Mitchell.
Full text not available from this repository. Please see publisher or open access link below:Abstract
Traditional modernist san serif typefaces such as Akzidenz Grotesk, Helvetica, Univers and Arial by their very nature share a lot of visual characteristics and are often hard to distinguish from each other – especially for the untrained eye. Desspite, these differences being well explained and presented in typographic publications and manual, the ability to spot which typeface is which, can remain a signifier of a graphic designer’s credentials. Common.otf is a meta-hybrid typeface that directly quotes glyphs from these four common sans serif typefaces. It aims to: 1. Test how the subtle variations in the visual characteristics of each typeface come together when large bodies of text are set in this mix of glyphs. What are the optical effect? Is it legible? Is there an aesthetic quality? If so, what tone of voice is created, and by implication what purpose can the typeface serve? 2. Discover whether the results – the typeface and the derived typography – could have a pedagogic use, by revealing the difference and similarities of the original typefaces whilst they appear seamlessly mixed together in texts. 3. Explore the copyright implications of the typeface produced. Copyright has been a constant concern for digital type design, and mix culture more broadly. The typeface designed is entirely comprised of other typeface’s outlines. They have been copied and pasted from their original font file into a type design software to generate the new hybrid typeface. This is generally considered illegal – especially if the resulting typeface is published or distributed. How would/could such a typeface be “published”? The practice based research utilises a feature of OpenType font design technology that allows multiple variations of the same glyph to be embedded in the one font and then displayed semi-randomly when text is set using the font in standard design software. The aims of the research are embedded in the resultant typeface, Common.otf, and furthered on a project website displaying sourced content, typeset using the Common.otf font, loosely exploring the intersection of type design, copy(right), free parties and cultural value of things that are considered “common”.
| Item Type: | Other |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Type design; Copyright; San serif typefaces |
| Subjects: | N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR |
| Divisions: | Art & Design |
| Publisher: | Ian Mitchell |
| Related URLs: | |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Mar 2023 15:12 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2023 15:12 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19202 |
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