“95% of the information on the web is written language. It is only logical to say that a web designer should get good training in the main discipline of shaping written information, in other words: Typography.”
- Oliver Reichenstein
In class, we began to learn about typography and its importance in interaction design. Typography is defined as “the style and appearance of printed matter”. Typography is incredibly important in Interaction Design as a great deal and in many cases, the entirety of many applications and websites is comprised of text which is used to communicate information to a user. Thus, it is important that an interaction designers utilises all the features of typography to produce information which is legible and reflects the content’s purpose.
(left) “Advanced Typography” Willi Kunz (1974) (right) “NR4” Wolfgang Weingart
As the Second World War came to a bloody close in April 1945, the international community was horrified to learn of the atrocities committed throughout the deadly conflict. It is estimated over 17 million people were killed during the war, millions of whom were victim to religious and ethnic genocide. The United Nations was founded in April of 1945 by 51 countries (as of 2021, there are 193 nations a part of the U.N.) as an intergovernmental organisation, committed to preserving the newly found global peace and continuing to promote social progress worldwide. One of their first acts as an organisation was the decision to create a document that would outline an individuals “basic rights and fundamental freedoms; affirming their universal character as inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all human beings“. After two years of deliberations by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Drafting Committee, a final document was brought before the U.N. On 10th December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was accepted by the General Assembly of the U.N. in Paris, France. The document is a foundational text in the history of human rights and is considered the first of its kind having been supported by a majority of nations. It consists of 30 articles which outline an individuals rights and freedoms including: the right to freedom from torture; the right to free speech; the right to seek asylum; and the right to education. The document also promotes an individuals economic, health and cultural rights. The Universal Declaration is not a treaty, so it does not directly create legal obligations for countries. However, it is an expression of the fundamental values which are shared by all members of the international community and has influenced dozens of treaties and statutes that have been written into law since.
(above) A group of children read the poster released across all UN nations listing the Declaration’s terms (1957)
I decided to begin my design research by reading “Collection Selections: 10 Pivotal Political Posters“, an article posted by the San Francisco MoMA and authored by the museum’s associate curator of architecture and design, Jospeh Becker. This is a relevant and interesting examination of design throughout history which has presented information and encouraged action amongst the masses towards social justice, as the Declaration was also created to achieve. One design featured which I found particularly successful in delivering its political message in an interesting and thought-provoking way is Lorraine Schneider’s “Prime” (1967).
Design and Typography in Political Posters (1)
Following my initial research, which provided both context on the Declaration and also the role design has played in politics and social justice, I decided that I would base my design on Article 14 of the Declaration.
Article 14 states that: