Chapter 1 Reflection

     The book Typographic Design: Form and Communication provides an incredibly vast and comprehensive understanding of the elements of typography, and how it has come to be one of the most unique forms of communication. It began with immersing me into the rich history of the written word, with providing me with an understandable timeline and context for the subject at hand.
       To be honest, I haven't been exposed to such an extensive timeline of events that has molded typographic design into what it is today. In particular, I found the inclusion of important events in history on timeline to be a helpful bit of context for what was going on at the time. It allowed me to take a step back and consider how niche this form of communication was and how far we've come to popularize it today.  The photo on the right is a clear example of a small bit of context that allows the reader to begin to grasp how truly old the graphic arts are and their inspiring evolution.

     It was also warming to see the inclusion of Helvetica on the timeline, as it is one of my favorite typefaces. It's classic sans-serif style (a term that was made clearer to me in the beginning pages of this book) has always stuck out to me as a classic. It's beautiful when italicized, or even when bolded. This typeface never fails to capture nuance in it's blunt, squarer terminals that generally stand out to the viewer.

Overall, I felt that this beginning portion was helpful. It gave me context, and some stability. Knowing and understanding pieces of past brilliant minds only serves as a benefit. It made me excited for what was to come in the book.