The challenge of this project was to design a motion piece, between 45 seconds and 2 minutes, for a fictitious typographic festival. My options were either "Future of Type Festival 2022" or "World Type 2022." I decided to go with the first, since the future is unpredictable and exhilarating to think about. The core idea of my motion piece was to call attention to the problem of poor diversity in design, and show what a better future could look like.
Process
I began by coming up with a word list. I added words pertaining to the ideas of the future and moving forward. I then began to research current and fresh type trends that can be found today in design. Next, I researched designers that were creating new typefaces or doing future forward work. Initially, I planned to use bitmapped and outlined type to call attention to aspects of futuristic technology, such as holograms and teleportation, but my outlook and goals changed once I came across the work of Tré Seals of Vocal Type.
Seals, frustrated with the lack of diversity in design, people and idea wise, took it upon himself to add culture through typography. These activist like typefaces take inspiration from specific, political and social movements in history. Since the use of bold sans serif fonts is trending, I figured I could use Seal's typefaces to tackle this project. My idea was to use bold activist type to bring awareness to rising movements around the globe, and to show how individuals are becoming more vocal about issues. Along with Tre' Seals, I needed two other type designers who could possibly speak at this fictitious type festival. I selected Bobby C. Martin of Champions Design, and designer, typographer, and educator Saki Mafundikwa.
I then started to create a storyboard of stills that I would later turn into motion clips. In these stills, I aimed to show the movement of crowds, the ambience of a protest, and the idea of coming together, in order to make a difference. I also highlighted the issue of diversity by showing a more integrated society, with many different shades of grey. Furthermore, I included striking statements promoting the need for immediate change. Due to this project's theme of integration and representation, I decided to use a black and white aesthetic.
Throughout the motion piece, I used a bar or rule as a device to introduce statements, and to transition between slides. Although this bar changes shade, and weight, is the main element that ties the piece together.
Song wise, I used Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," due to its message, and smooth but serious spirit. Gaye highlights ills that can be seen in countless communities, and how minorities are facing inequality and hardship in urban neighborhoods. In addition, I featured appropriate clips of powerful speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
