I went with a simple serif typeface in the end, so that it is easy to read and brings a touch of classiness to the sticker – sans serif looked more basic and since the other designs are sans serif I thought it would add some variation to my designs. I used the layer mask to cut a circle out of it and then experimented with various typefaces for the ‘T&GC’. Using the pen tool I created some organic shapes and filled them with the freeform gradient for a bright and almost 3D effect. Idea 3: I decided to go for the classic circle shape for this sticker. Experimenting with idea 2 Experimenting for idea 2 Design 2 I then experimented with different compositions of the pen using the transform tool, but I settled with just one pen drawing a line as it was the clearest and allowed for a fair amount of white space, stopping the sticker looking crowded. I changed the colour of ‘typography’ so that the words could be differentiated. I reduced the leading quite significantly to make the text appear as one unit and because it allows the text to be bigger within the same dimensions. I typed out ‘Typography and Graphic Communication’ and then experimented with typefaces, leading and tracking. Idea 2: For idea 2 I wanted to try a simpler design based on type. Initial idea Arranging letters Experimenting with gradient fill on idea 1 Layer masking Design 1 This is my favourite design as I think it represents the content of the podcast well without spelling it out, and when seen from far away still works. I then went in with the white arrow tool to clean some stray points up. This worked but I still didn’t think the shape was clear enough, so I image traced and then expanded a photo of a light bulb so that I could place this over the top.
I then tried drawing the shape of the lightbulb with the pen tool and using it creating a layer mask with it. I didn’t think this was very successful as the letters looked awkwardly squashed and the amount of white space was too much for the lightbulb shape to be clear enough. I began by typing out letters, converting them to outlines and then trying to warp the letters into a lightbulb shape. I knew that I wanted to include letters or type of some sort as the podcast talks about type. Idea 1: For my first design I decided to use a lightbulb to show the generation of ideas by graphic designers, as that is most likely the podcast’s target audience.