Introduction
The following paragraph came from my thesis Abstract, when I was studying Art Direction in National Taiwan Normal University. My graduation works are in two parts: (1) A 173 paged research paper. (2) An Exhibition: a series of 18 posters (each size 70X100cm). I have made some of them in special print in Pantone color.
Master of Art (Specialized in Art Direction)Thesis Paper
Topic: “Memory of Taiwan: The Application of Deconstruction on Lettering Posters”, 173 paged research paper.
Advising professor: Leo Lin
Abstract
Ancient people tied knots to keep records; later these symbols evolved into written characters for education and other purposes. Written characters function not only to deliver messages, but also as records of contemporary cultures. Through researches and studies, we are able to acquire these characters’ background information. Written characters can be categorized into two systems: spelling alphabets and individual meaningful Chinese characters. Over thousands of years’ development, each country has gone through its own racial, cultural and political experience; thus, written characters with distinct features have been formed. For instance, Chinese characters are individual meaningful characters, also called ‘pictograph’. Pictographs, commonly used in Asia, have great aesthetic and historical values among strokes.
The current study focuses on the application of deconstruction on lettering posters. After analyzing the AGI graphic designers’ poster works, this study adopts ten methods: ‘distort’, ‘twist’, ‘slice’, ‘displacement’, ‘disperse’, ‘geometry incomplete’, ‘organic incomplete’, ‘stacking up’, ‘stacking down’, and ‘illusion’. With these ten methods, posters can present themselves in movement and motionless ways. Not only do these methods enrich posters’ typography, but also achieve creative poster design.
The poster work in the current study is named as ‘Memory of Taiwan’. Usingdeconstructive elements, the poster conveys the incomplete and fragmentary images in Taiwan in the past. In order to cherish the distinctive features on this beautiful island, the poster applies Taiwanese traditional arts and crafts as the materials. In conclusion, using more than two kinds of deconstructive methods on Chinese characters can make posters’ visual effects more powerful and insightful.
Keywords: Chinese characters, lettering, typography, Deconstruction, poster design
Exhibition and Gallery
Memory of Taiwan, Elly Lin Solo Exhibition
10th Macau Design Biennial- the Special Exhibition Gallery of the Handover Gifts Museum of Macau
