FIGURE AND GROUND IN TYPOGRAPHY
ARTS 210 – GRAPHIC DESIGN I
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY (SUNY)
HARPUR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
By consulting the assignment template provided, students had to create 9 precise identical squares in three rows and three columns. Each square should be exactly 3” x 3.”
Inside each square. students had to create interesting black and white (figure/ground) relationship between leterforms and the negative space. Students could draw leterforms sometimes in black and sometimes in white. Students could consider drawing a hint of each letter identity and not the whole letter. Students were strongly encouraged to attempt to make individual squares designs integral part of the whole composition consisting of nine identical areas (squares). This could be achieved by manipulating leterforms and shapes (both positive and negative) inside of the individual squares giving special attention to the edges of the square area. Students had to think of the individual square edges as a continuation or extension (flow) to the next square area.
*2 Inspired by Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips
