Notes from Portfolio Workshop with Sean Bacon

We really have to thank portfolio alumni Sean Bacon for coming to portfolio class and jump-starting the 2010 portfolios. These tips and notes are from our session with Sean and might be useful to logo/packaging students as well.

Printing: Suggest indigo printing at Blend but the maximum format is 11 by 17 [this includes bleeds]. If you want a larger size go with digital printing at Blend.
For your own printer at home: Prixma Pro 9000
Check on the ink costs first [upkeep]
If you are printing at home…start looking for inkjet paper. There is heavy competition for paper so plan ahead.

printmorespendless.com They have good deals on print cartridges.

SELECTING YOUR FONTS

Started with type specimen sheets-looked at it large, small and different orientations. Look for contrast between the two and unity like they belong together. Mixing type-Look at things like the letter a [are they both a double story a-they should be] look at the g [look at structural elements in both]. You might start out with one font you absolutely know you want and then go after the pairing.

You might want to just use Univers for the whole job.
There is body copy and everything else so establish a system [use one font for body copy and the other font for everything else]. Avoid display type in general. You don’t want the type to be more showy than the words-you want them to read your words.

Indices are good place to mix the two fonts. Example: Project description [one font] and name [the other font].


Like the Bauhaus you can put that grid in a smaller area.

The 30 typefaces for a lifetime by Rockport.
Classic fonts like Gil Sans Frutiger, Bembo, Garamond, Bodoni, Univers, Futura, Helvetica etc.

Great font book resources:
Adobe Type Library, ITC Library,
Free Font Index 1 [Buy this book]-they are not the workhorse fonts but great resource for projects.
Sudtipos [Alejandro Paul-a font designer from Argentina] check out this work
Exljbris Foundry [some serious fonts for free!]
FontBook [book of typefaces] expensive but wow.

Example Meta and Meta serif designed by Eric Spiekermann were designed to be put together.

Selecting typography
Sean used Stratum and Egyptienne

Suggest using workhorse fonts-a family with lots of options. You most likely will mix serif and sans serif. Look at the weights, sizes and styles you get, look at the form-purchase the font [it is your identity-invest in the craft-your promo materials everything]. If you don’t buy the font then use something that everyone knows like Universe or use something more obscure that is well drawn-be very careful. Many of the free fonts are not workhorse and are not kerned properly so you set yourself up for failure. Of course if you are mixing two fonts the key rule is contrast.