I am planning on researching into an area of typography that is particularly interesting to me - hand rendered typography. I have noticed that it has started to become more of a trend within design, as people start to branch out from their computers and start playing with design rules. Within this research, I plan to focus on both drawn and painted type, for example areas of drawn typography, such as..
and areas of painted typography, in the form of sign painting..
as I've found a recent love for sign painting, I'd imagine my research will edge more towards the skill behind the craft and the variety of traditional methods that are put into place when painting a sign.
I want to look into the history behind sign painting and drawn typography - find out why it became important, how it became popular, and how it sits in today's design society. The history behind it will also involve areas of English history, such as the sudden demand for literacy and the Guttenburg Press - how all of this impacted the need for painted signs. Did this effect the need for hand written type though? As people found letterpress faster and easier, more effective for mass production. How the letterpress also led to structure, swiss design etc. How this effected the need for sign writers and letterers / how it affected their design styles.
Look at illuminated manuscripts - very early form of lettering.
Weingart’s quote: “What's the use of being legible when nothing inspires you to take notice of it?" How has the digital age affected the use of typography and the need for legibility vs creativity? Has hand rendered typography become much more apparent now that everyone is bored of the 'norm'?
Have a look into how designers use hand rendered typography and sign writing. How is it effecting design trends at the moment? Is it successful? Can it be used commercially? Where has it been used effectively in the industry? What are the visual qualities of it? Is it coming back into trend?
What does the future hold for letterers and sign writers??
