To introduce the meaning of typography composition, we should step back a bit. Since the alphabet was created much has occurred. Nowadays thanks to a valuable evolution that took place in the nineteenth century, typography is finally seen as a form of art.
There’s a science behind kerning, leading, serifs, point size, line length, tracking and more. Typography is everywhere and we’ve realized there is so much we can do with it.
It still covers communication skills indeed, but it holds now a visual appeal. Type fonts are shapes, forms that flow inside a chosen layout that have the power to stimulate messages and feelings.
During world war II the political manifestos were filled with letter fonts and brief sentences to shout an information in the most specific and straightforward way. When the war was finally over, and for all the nineteenth century, people reacted positively to those kinds of propagandas by giving it a more optimistic feel. It was about communicating with forms, colors and shapes overall. This is when typography began to be considered as art. It decisively start influencing the world of art and design.
We could go now on and on mentioning famous typography designers as Neville Brody or Paula Scher, two of the biggest influencers of new typography and graphic design, but let’s give space to handcrafted creativity!
Design a layout using strictly letter fonts, type faces or related shapes. Keep in mind to divulgate a message or brand. Try to focus on the semiotics of the chosen symbol, and put yourself in the shoes of the viewer: is the message still clear or the shapes and forms cover it? Use whatever medium you prefer.