Think about a spot in the school where you think artwork would look incredible. Imagine your own design in that space. If you could say anything to an audience of students and teachers and administration who walk by that area, what would you say?
Take a look at some great typographic designers that you've probably heard me talk about in the past: Paula Scher & Marian Bantjes. Remember that this is a typographic mural, so type comes first, illustration comes second.
In order to make a large design that we can permanently install (and adhere) to a spot in the school, we’re going to collaborate with Fast Signs in Easton. This project will start a little like a project you would have done at the start of Graphic Design I, but beyond creating an alphabet you’ll be creating a space for your text and it will spend the rest of its life there!
I've asked our faculty and administration if any of them have a strong desire to have a text mural in or near their room. Many people have volunteered, so we'll first choose and distribute assignments. Obviously you'll be the designer and they'll be your client. That means they get to guide the project in terms of concept, but they'll rely on you to be the creative expert in the situation.
STEP 1: Meet with your client. Ask them questions that will make your job easier such as:
1. Where would you like a mural?
2. What type of mural would you like me to make?
3. Do you have specific words or colors or illustrations you'd like me to consider as I make sketches for this mural?
Continue as necessary. Remember that often the more questions you ask up front, the easier your job is later. Don't be afraid to ask dozens of questions if you want.
Also keep in mind that your client might not know everything that is possible with a project like this. If you think they might be open to doing something even more creative or interesting, talk with them about the potential for that. Remember that you can do your mural on a single wall, but you could also do something that moves around a corner or is on the riser of the steps or spills onto a window or...
STEP 2: Measure the space to the nearest square foot. (Many spaces will be trickier than my example because of windows, lockers, stairs, etc., so we’ll do this together.) You may use up to 40 square feet of space. So, for example, if you measure a rectangular space with a length of four feet and a width of ten feet, your total square footage is 40 square feet. If the area is less than 40 square feet, that's ok!
Our cost is $8 per square foot, so the cost of a mural that's approximately 40 square feet is $320.
STEP 3: Consider what you and your client want to say with your typographic mural. It should be something that you think your peers would find inspiring, interesting, or informational.
STEP 4: Begin designing by hand-lettering two contrasting fonts that match the feeling of your saying. Do several sketches, but reduce your sketches down to your favorite five of each of those two contrasting fonts.
Here are some other great examples of a designer who uses typography in a particular space--not necessarily on a wall.
STEP 5: Start thinking about the space. Make a template. (Either draw out the space and make copies or draw the space in Adobe Illustrator and print five copies.) Do five different sketches of the space with the text in that space. Allow the text to interact with that space in ways most people might not have considered!
STEP 6: Scan your drawing into the computer and digitally rework it until you’ve got it exactly as you’d like it to appear on the wall. Be sure your document size is exactly the size of your space.
STEP 7: Create both an outlined Adobe Illustrator file and a flattened pdf--both of which you’ll share with me on Google Drive and that I’ll share with Fast Signs. Once we get the printed pieces we’ll learn how to adhere them to the wall and then you’ll have a permanent display of your awesomeness right here in NAHS!
Credits:
Created with images by Chastagner Thierry - "untitled image" • Aditya Vyas - "untitled image" • mahdis mousavi - "untitled image" • Renee Fisher - "untitled image" • Jon Tyson - "untitled image" • Felipe Galvan - "untitled image"