After completing a series of studies on Grid Systems, we came to the point in our Typography class where it was finally time to design a Type Specimen. We were assigned to create a 4 panel mailer surrounding the history of the typeface and its designer, as well as a poster design on the backside displaying the typeface’s usage in a selected quote or text.

The aim of the assignment was to broaden our knowledge of typeface design, understand what comprises a Type Specimen, and further practice using grid-systems in a 4-panel format that asks for 4 individual compositions as well as 1 full composition that the four compose. We were also asked to focus on the history, previous usages, and mood portrayed by the selected typeface while designing our mailer and poster design.

I was interested by the accent on geometry that is utilized by the Rockwell typeface. Upon researching usages of Rockwell, I began to notice the possibilities of using the strong squared serifs as continued lines and geometric forms, and chose to progress with the concept of outer-space in the context of the hit 1960’s animated series The Jetsons. I was inspired by old imagery of flying cars, flight trails, and retro-futurism. I wanted to embrace the cheeky nature of the show while maintaining clear-cut lines and edges. I approached this idea by exploring possibilities of how Rockwell’s serifs and glyphs could be used to evoke a retro style. To continue the light-hearted nature of the mailer, I chose a simple quote from the show: Traffic is thicker than a cloud of meteors today. I wanted the mailer to be cheerful and playful, yet also streamlined.