SPECS

Tools Used: Adobe InDesign

Team Members: Anna Kolbe

Instructor: Carly Law

Course: DES 335, Type II

Timeline: 2 weeks

Due: Feb 7th

to be added to as the semester progresses and revisited

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Brainstorming Topics

The Topic: Punk Typography

Reflection:

For this assignment I tried to brainstorm tons of different topics from nordic type to political campaign typography. I struggled to find anything I was super compelled and excited to work on. I decided to instead approach the project by thinking about topics which interest me and then figuring out how type can fit into those.

I was interested in typography in music and album covers, but thought I should narrow this concept further. For inspiration, I looked through by records (most of which were passed down from my dad) and picked some of my favorites.

The Sex Pistols “Never Mind The Bollocks” especially stood out to me. I loved the type treatment, using a simple sans serif and serif at the top with extreme juxtaposition in the cutout, irregular type in the negative space of the hot pink banner.

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After doing some research, I realized the measurable impact made on graphic design by the punk style. I find punk’s visual language’s departure from the modernist’s minimal and neutral type very fascinating. In my zine I hope to dive into how punk broke typographic rules and its impact on graphic design and typography as a whole. I think the topic is especially robust as it has lots of history, but also continues to this day and has adapted over time.

I think the topic will also be especially fun to create a zine around because it has so much richness in texture and style. I need to contemplate how to pair the images and examples of punk type with my own type and figure out how they will work together.

Resources

Julia Gorton, Orphans, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, 45 poster, 1978

Julia Gorton, Orphans, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, 45 poster, 1978

Winston Smith, Bedtime for Democracy, Dead Kennedys, LP poster, 1986

Winston Smith, Bedtime for Democracy, Dead Kennedys, LP poster, 1986

Ray Lowry (designer) and Pennie Smith (photographer), London Calling, The Clash, poster, 1979

Ray Lowry (designer) and Pennie Smith (photographer), London Calling, The Clash, poster, 1979

Designer unknown, Jocko Homo / Mongoloid, Devo, 45 poster, 1978

Designer unknown, Jocko Homo / Mongoloid, Devo, 45 poster, 1978

Jamie Reid God Save The Queen Sex Pistols, 45 poster 1977

Jamie Reid God Save The Queen Sex Pistols, 45 poster 1977

Ramones Los Angeles fan club mail-out, USA, 1977. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic (Rizzoli)

Ramones Los Angeles fan club mail-out, USA, 1977. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic (Rizzoli)

Anarchy in the U.K. fanzine, UK, 1976. Photo: Ray Stevenson. Design: Jamie Reid. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

Anarchy in the U.K. fanzine, UK, 1976. Photo: Ray Stevenson. Design: Jamie Reid. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

Situationist pamphlet by David Jacobs, USA, 1973. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

Situationist pamphlet by David Jacobs, USA, 1973. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

Sex Pistols, Pretty Vacant poster, UK, 1977. Design: Jamie Reid.

Sex Pistols, Pretty Vacant poster, UK, 1977. Design: Jamie Reid.

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Flyer promoting a gig by Adam and the Ants, UK, 1977. Design: Adam Ant. Source: The Art of Punk

Flyer promoting a gig by Adam and the Ants, UK, 1977. Design: Adam Ant. Source: The Art of Punk

Poster promoting a gig by Crass, UK, 1978. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

Poster promoting a gig by Crass, UK, 1978. Source: Punk: An Aesthetic

The Desperate Bicycles, “Occupied Territory” 7-inch single, Refill, UK, 1978. Source: The Art of Punk

The Desperate Bicycles, “Occupied Territory” 7-inch single, Refill, UK, 1978. Source: The Art of Punk

Anti, I Don’t Want to Die in Your War LP, New Underground, USA, 1982, Design: Dan Phillips, Ed Colver, Gary Kail

Anti, I Don’t Want to Die in Your War LP, New Underground, USA, 1982, Design: Dan Phillips, Ed Colver, Gary Kail

Crass, The Feeding of the 5000 LP, Crass, UK, 1978. Design: Gee Vaucher. Source: The Art of Punk

Crass, The Feeding of the 5000 LP, Crass, UK, 1978. Design: Gee Vaucher. Source: The Art of Punk

Crass, Yes Sir, I Will LP (back), Crass, UK, 1983. Design: Crass. Source: The Art of Punk

Crass, Yes Sir, I Will LP (back), Crass, UK, 1983. Design: Crass. Source: The Art of Punk