workshop series: sketching type in motion
I’ve led the sketching typography in motion workshop with high school students, junior-level undergrads, and first-year masters students. I’ve based the workshop on the pedagogy of Denise Gonzales Crisp, who envisioned tools for typography. Arriving at this workshop with designed pages which resulted from a previous 2-dimensional typography workshop, students have reading material to explore in the 3-dimensional realm. Moving from the familiar 2D plane to a 3D and 4D (motion-based) arena is the goal of this project.
Students begin by building a 3D grid using art straws, basic white paper straws, to which they will affix their printed ephemera. They then compose text directly on the dimensional grid. I ask students to create several different compositions to investigate a broader range of possible hierarchies. Students iterate by capturing images as they compose using a camera, gif builder, video, scanner, etc. Throughout the process, students are encouraged to adjust the dimensional grid with more levels of hierarchy and increasingly complex compositions. Upon completing the image capturing, students manipulate final photographs and videos to increase contrast, change scale, crop, etc.
I ask students to explore a wide range of typographic ideas. I look for iteration trials to evolve in response to previous iterations to build sets of trials. I explain to students that there should be a running story through the imagery of their work as they respond to what they’ve created throughout the workshop. Finally, I ask students to use technology and software to transform the 3D material imaginatively, both the still photography and the motion captures. Students report finding this workshop engaging and the resulting work surprising.
I most recently led this workshop to the junior-level undergrad Graphic Design students at NC State University. The students expanded these motion “sketches” into a series of screen vignettes. Students began by storyboarding a typographic narrative before designing a series of 8-second clips which exploited dimensional space and time.