Chapter 5 Reflection- Nalezny

I think my favorite part of this chapter was when it said that the negative space is what makes the design come alive and become human. I have never thought of a letter as being human, but in a way, I can see it. Tilting the T in figure 5-4, and the spacing in 5-5, make the letters look like they’re moving or falling off the page.  The structure of a page that provides movement for the viewer is so much more interesting than looking at a normal page with text.

 This idea of life can also be related to figures 5-38 to 5-46. The dot arrangements are showing the differing weights and sizes of the text. I thought of it as a sort of skeleton for the design. It’s the structure that holds the piece together, just as our skeleton/bones hold us up. I think my favorite arrangement is where the heavier font is in the center, surrounded by the lighter font on the sides. It breaks up the page and also makes it easier to read. On the other hand, slanting the letters in the middle (5-42a) I don’t like as much. I don’t think it looks as professional or organized.  I like to see movement in the letter forms, but too much can be distracting and take away from what the artist is trying to portray. Viewing a design as if it is a living thing gives so much character to an otherwise lifeless thing.