Saturday, 12 November 2016

Kerning, Grids and Rebranding

Kerning and Tracking


Kerning is the spacing in between two letter forms, this can be altered and changed in design to be able to convey different visual meanings; this is why it is used a lot in branding, and it is recognisable when looking at brands which use different kerning on the same logotype for their brand. Tracking is similar to kerning although it is the spacing in between letters in a larger piece of text for example in a paragraph or sentence, changing the density of its visual appearance.

Grids


Grids within graphic design are often driven by the concept of ‘the golden ratio’ which is a ratio valued at 1:1.618 (phi). It is often used in the construction of letter forms to give them the look of ‘beautiful’ typography, through the use of margins and stroke composition. It is also used in other industry’s such as construction to ensure the structurally soundness of a building. Apple have supposedly used it in their design for the Apple logo, but have always denied it. Vignelli believed that grids were the basis of graphic design, giving pieces of design a grid offers a sense of rationalisation; which in design terms visually holds consistency and a solid structure in a variation of works.

Rebranding



All of these features are something to consider when a brand is underway, a rebrand can totally re-identify a brand in the industry thus changing their position. Many companies currently are looking to their heritage to rebrand their companies, therefore showing consumers they have not lost their original brand values. This is an idea which support Vignelli’s view on rebranding, which were that a corporate brands identity is based around the brand values itself not just a logo, therefore to change their position there should change their values not their branding. This may be due to at the time his design, which had been around for centuries, for American airlines never changed; as he believed there was never anything wrong with it, an opinion the company must have shared.

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OUGD603 - Statement of Intent

I am a graphic designer with a great interest into branding and visual identity, using a mix of modern and traditional styles in a sophisti...