Type 2 (due March 24)

On the Good.is website I mainly focused on watching the videos (what can I say - I'm lazy). My favorites were the "Transparency" series which is " A video exploration of the data that surrounds us." I especialy loved the "State of the Planet." Since all of the videos are just conveying a bunch of statistics, you would expect them to be pretty boring, but they are actually interesting. I liked how each video is stylistically different from the others.

Stop Stealing Sheep & figure out how type works chapter sumeries:

1: Type is everywhere
We all use type to communicate whether it is for street signs, advertizements, forms, or books. Since type is absolutely everywhere, it must be important. And since it is everywhere and important, we should do our best to make sure it is "good" type. Everyone has a chance to use type to improve their communication skils.

2: What is type?
The forms of type have changed in style since it was invented, but fundamentally it reamians the same: a way to communicate. Type has often been influenced by cultural aesthetic choices as well as by technology (hammer and chisel, brush, pen, typewriter, printers, deisplay screens, etc.).

3: Looking at type
Type is obviously not all the same. The ways the letterforms look and are formed has an impact on the way the viewer understands the message.

4: Type with a purpose
Some typefaces are more appropriate in conveying certain messages than others.

5: Type builds character
It's important for the designer to know the ins and outs of his/her concept so an appropriate tone can be created within the design.

6: Types of type
The letterforms of different typefaces are unique. Being able to identify and classify the differences helps the designer by making his/her job easier as well as by creating an effective design.

7: How it works
Adjusting the kerning and the leading in type can help the reader of a design. What is appropriate in a short block of text might be overwhelming and overly strenuous in a longer section.

8: Putting it to work
Just as certain typefaces and letterspacing might work well in some situations, but not in others, the layout is heavily reliant on what the main purpose of the design is meant to be.

9: There is no bad type
Type has evolved over centuries and greatly depended on what was popular at the time. Typefaces that may seem "ugly" or outdated to us now were perfectly legitimate. Use these sometimes unpopular typefaces to your advantage.