GRA 340 Milestone One: Celebrity, Typeface, and Historical Information

12416Overview
The art of typography goes beyond simply arranging text to make it readable. Selecting the perfect typeface and the optimal point size, kerning the text, and adjusting the spacing between lines all help convey the intended message to the audience. A typeface can enhance a word, causing the viewer to instantly, and even subconsciously, experience a mood. Possessing the ability to choose the right typeface and arrange it in a meaningful and appealing way is a skill that every designer should master.

For the final project, you will design a portrait of your chosen celebrity, artist, or historical figure, using only words and a single typeface. You will also provide a rationale for how the typeface and words you chose represent your subject. The words that make up the shape of the portrait will be a description of the person you choose, using lyrics, movie titles, personality traits, accomplishments, quotes, and so forth. You will apply the basic elements and principles of design in order to create a sense of dimension and shape.

You will choose a typeface that reflects the personality of your chosen subject and sets the tone for the image design. You will also write a rationale to explain why you chose the typeface and how it fits the subject’s personality. Lastly, you will describe the characteristics and provide historical information about the typeface.

Prompt
Begin by choosing a typeface that you feel represents the personality of the celebrity, artist, or historical figure you selected last week as your subject. Important: You will be using this typeface to later construct a typographic portrait of the figure you selected, so choose a typeface that will be easy to work with.
Next, write a paragraph or two rationalizing why you chose the typeface and how it fits the subject’s personality.
Lastly, using three resources, describe the characteristics and historic information of the typeface.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
Choose a typeface that represents the personality of the celebrity, artist, or historical figure you selected as your subject.
Write a one-to-two paragraph rationale to explain why you chose the typeface and how it fits the subject’s personality.
Describe the characteristics of the typeface you chose, including its physical attributes and category (e.g., sans serif, serif, decorative).
Provide historical information about the typeface you chose, including author, year of release, and era in which it belongs.