Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
TYPOGRAPHIC DESIGN PROCESS: CASE STUDY
Ludd: a typographic expedition
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Bent paper clips informed the original
iteration of the Ludd typeface.
Ned Drew's self-initiated project began as a simple response to
his dissatisfaction with the current design of U.S. currency. It
grew, however, into an elaborate and multifaceted investigation
incorporating various typographic and image studies as well as
letterpress printing. Ultimately this process led to the creation of
the typeface Ludd—an allusion to Ned Ludd, the symbolic leader of
the Luddites, an early-nineteenth-century movement that protested
the social and economic changes spurred by the new technology of
the Industrial Revolution. Far from decrying technology in design,
however, Drew's eponym invokes an attempt to balance the tension
between the digital and letterpress technology that influenced the
typeface's creation.
of a system of modular numerals for currency that works together with
different weights and proportions. Bending a paper clip created unique
shapes and letterforms (Fig.
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). Using these shapes/letterforms
and a grid, a progressive sequence was developed (Fig.
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). The
proportions were then refined by maneuvering the basic units found in
the simple structure.
Objects and images Drew had collected and his memory of the
design of other significant items formally expanded the previous
structural investigations. These disparate, eclectic objects and
observations manifested themselves in the overall look and feel of
this system (Fig.
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). The roundness and soft forms of the early
1960s Volkswagen Bug, the graceful organic curves of human anatomy,
and the beautifully refined proportions and elegant simplicity of the
Japanese national flag were all inspirations. Additionally, Univers,
with its extended family and system of organization, the construction
and geometric strokes and fragments of Futura, and the curvilinear
elegance found in the ball terminals of Bodoni's namesake typeface all
informed the design.
Inspiration
Everyday life often provides subtle but pivotal motivation for creation.
A simple object or observation may facilitate a long journey of
discovery and creation. For this project, a paper clip, with its curves,
efficient proportions, and minimal form, was a catalyst in the creation
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A grid brought unity to early letterforms.
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Samples of objects that further inspired the
Ludd typeface.
