Studio Practice: Typeface for a professional

BRIEF

Create a bespoke typeface for a profession/creative, dead or alive, in any field other than graphic design. This could be music, fashion, sport, literature, art, etc. The typeface should have a visual identity, a personality, a tone of voice. It needs to be flexible so that it can work in a range of contexts.

Should start by discovering 5 significant and obscure pieces of information/facts. This research should inspire a type, linking to the person. From this information could create rules, grids, manipulate existing letterforms (Mueller-Brockmann), etc.

Demonstrate a deep understanding of the individual and activity. Should be considered and less obvious.

Should create:

A-Z in either upper or lowercase, 1 weight.
Rationale.
Design boards showing visual investigation and sketches.

Example: bechance, Brian Cho, British Film Institute.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/51851703/BRITISH-FILM-INSTITUTE

Uses triangle rule and grids, which can be applied to anything. Puts into context such as tickets and film trailers. Uses the triangular form of logo to structure advertising.

CLAUDE CAHUN

1894 - 1954

Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob

French photographer, writer, sculptor

Jewish family

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI03GvB6bls

http://www.sarahpucill.co.uk/films/magic-mirror/ [Sarah Pucill’s translation of Cahun’s work into film]

http://www.sarahpucill.co.uk/films/confessions-to-the-mirror/ [Another Sarah Pucill film based on Cahun]

Wikepedia:

‘political and personal’

‘a variety of personas’

Surrealism.

Mother suffered from mental illness, so Cahun was brought up by grandmother.

Attended private school then university of Paris.

Aged 18, 1912, started making photographic portraits.

‘1920s, she settled in Paris with her lifelong lesbian partner and step-sibling Marcel Moore’

‘Cahun and Moore collaborated on various written works, sculptures, photomontages and collages.’

‘Produced number of self-portraits in various guises such as aviator, dandy, doll, body builder, vamp and vampire, angel, and Japanese puppet’

Joined the Association des Écrivains et Artistes Révolutionnaires in which was a French association of revolutionary artists and writers active between 1932 and 1939. The is association ‘played a key role in introducing Soviet music to France.’

Cahun's photographic self-portraits from 1927–47 they represented themself as an androgyne, nymph, model, and soldier.

‘Became active as resistance workers and propagandists. Fervently against war, the two worked extensively in producing anti-German fliers. Many were snippets from English-to-German translations of BBC reports on the Nazis' crimes and insolence, which were pasted together to create rhythmic poems and harsh criticism. The couple then dressed up and attended many German military events in Jersey, strategically placing them in soldier's pockets, on their chairs, and in cigarette boxes for soldiers to find. Additionally, they inconspicuously crumpled up and threw their fliers into cars and windows. In many ways, Cahun and Moore's resistance efforts were not only political but artistic actions, using their creative talents to manipulate and undermine the authority which they despised. In many ways, Cahun's life's work was focused on undermining a certain authority; however, their activism posed a threat to their physical safety.’

Sentenced to death, however never carried out. Died from treatment from prison.

Did not want to be famous.

Wasn’t until 40 years after her death that her work became recognised.

Notable works

Books:

-Heroines,1925

-Aveux Non Avenus, 1930 translation - https://susandemuth.com/translations/disavowals-aveux-non-avenus-by-claude-cahun/

Film:

-Actress in Surrealist Picnic II https://vimeo.com/31440442 Claude Cahun arrive as an unexpected guest, and so begins a game involving blood and an egg.

Art:

-Self-portrait (I Am In Training Don’t Kiss Me), 1927