joe
09-23-2015, 04:21 PM
If I opened a Sign School, with the intent of giving basic fundamentals of the trade, there wouldn't be complex equipment or technical data. Education of this kind remains the same in all the arts. For example a begining piano student wouldn't be any further ahead with a baby grand. Nor would the woodcarving apprentice need the best carving tools. It's cruel and ineffecient to coax the novice into purchasing expensive complex
computer programs. It wastes time and hinders proper mental development.
Understanding letter styles and their development is on the bottom rung of the ladder. That's a good place to begin. A person should know the difference between Helvetica and Folio. Although they're close visually, the net effect can be striking. The same goes for Times Roman and Goudy. The point being, this is but one of the basic fundamentals. Lets not forget about good layout or textures. And how to choose colors, for a sign, based on secondary hues followed with complementary shades or outlines.
My first assignment would be to give students a few store fronts to see how they could improve on what's there. These would be simple pencil drawings but would require letter styles that complement
the store front.
With a half dozen people working on the same assignment, lots of improvement in personal skills can be developed in a short amount of time.
Joe
computer programs. It wastes time and hinders proper mental development.
Understanding letter styles and their development is on the bottom rung of the ladder. That's a good place to begin. A person should know the difference between Helvetica and Folio. Although they're close visually, the net effect can be striking. The same goes for Times Roman and Goudy. The point being, this is but one of the basic fundamentals. Lets not forget about good layout or textures. And how to choose colors, for a sign, based on secondary hues followed with complementary shades or outlines.
My first assignment would be to give students a few store fronts to see how they could improve on what's there. These would be simple pencil drawings but would require letter styles that complement
the store front.
With a half dozen people working on the same assignment, lots of improvement in personal skills can be developed in a short amount of time.
Joe