Giving Type Meaning: Context and Craft in Typography

This text explores the meaning of typography through the social, spatial, and temporal contexts of visual language, featuring diverse typographic works, "closer looks," and interviews with practicing artists and designers. It emphasizes the importance of cultural and social context, the use of visual, physical, and gestural space, and the impact of time on type.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

When we delve into the realm of typography, how do we discern its meaning? How is the tone of type influenced by the process of its creation, its arrangement, and the environment in which it exists? Taking into account the social, spatial, and temporal contexts of visual language, this comprehensive text serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, and professionals seeking to engage more deeply with the letterforms they utilize and encounter. Through a diverse array of typographic works, "closer looks," and insightful interviews with practicing artists and designers, Giving Type Meaning aims to shed light on the mechanisms through which we comprehend the communicative power of type.

The book encompasses a range of essential topics, including:

- The profound significance and far-reaching impact of cultural and social context across the expansive field of art and design.
- The art of utilizing visual, physical, and gestural space to convey meaning and evoke emotions.
- The ways in which time influences type, encompassing historical references, reinterpretations, and the utilization of time as a medium itself.
- A diverse array of global examples, showcasing the rich tapestry of typographic expressions. These examples include:

Lushootseed language letterforms (Lushootseed Sulad by Juliet Shen)
Arabic calligraphy and type design (Regard Each Other as Brothers by Josh Berer, Mirsaal by Rana Abou Rjeily)
American civil rights-inspired type (Martin by Tré Seals)
Italian concrete poetry (Storia Del Monumento by Mirella Bentivoglio)
Animated Chinese characters (Motion Type Project by Ting-An Ho)

By exploring these diverse examples and delving into the intricate nuances of typography, Giving Type Meaning provides a comprehensive guide for understanding the multifaceted nature of this visual language. It serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, designers, and anyone passionate about the power of typography to convey meaning and shape the world around us.

Weight: 632g
Dimension: 189 x 245 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350255838