Typographic Errors, Typographic Messages and Typograms
Abstract
Communication comes from the word “communication” in English and French and “communicate” in Latin, meaning “to share, inform, unite.” It is the process of sharing some meanings among people through the mutual transmission of symbolic messages, which have played a role in social interactions since people started living together. Communication is essentially a social phenomenon. The elements of culture, social values and norms, social relations, social differentiations, and, in short, social structure determine the nature of communication. Therefore, communication is social; it is the transfer of social information. Signs, symbols, and words are used for communication. Writing, as a series of visual signs, is one of the most common means of communication today. However, not every written text may be understandable and clear. The reason for the diversification of typography is to make the incomprehensible understandable and the unreadable readable. Legibility ensures that the communication that is tried to be established with the end user consumer is healthy. In this sense, typographic communication should make the text readable even if it uses essential elements of art such as color, form, rhythm, balance, contrast, and composition. In terms of revealing the importance of readability, this research has tried to reveal that not every string of signs defining sounds may be correct. In this sense, it should be noted that if the text cannot be read or understood, it is defined as a typographic error and pollutes the message. This article includes common typographic errors, exemplifies them, and attempts to explain how they pollute the typographic message. The importance of readability, especially in typograms and logotypes, has been revealed, and successful examples have been given. This research reveals how important readability is as much as the original structure of designs such as typograms or logotypes. It has been exemplified and explained that the designer cannot artistically disregard readability and should not limit the message only to the meanings of the words. Typographic errors and examples of successful typographic messages have been given, reminding us that the primary goal of typography is only readability. This article also includes successful typograms designed by Bursa Uludağ University TBMYO Graphic Design program students in the typography course. It has been exemplified that the correct message can be given with the meaning of words, how words are written, deformations, and different arrangements. Typography is the design of visual features such as font, size, line spacing, and alignment of texts. Typographic elements are everywhere in our daily lives, from billboards to books, digital platforms to signs. However, the functionality and effectiveness of these designs can be significantly affected by typographic errors or deliberate typographic deformations. This article will examine typographic errors and their adverse effects on messages. Typographic errors, in general, are problems that arise due to incorrect or incomplete applications in text designs. These errors usually make the reading experience difficult, prevent the message from being understood, or contaminate the message. Especially in syntactic narrative designs known as typograms, deformations of unrecognizable letters and unreadable position changes bring typographic errors.
On the other hand, words formed by the arrangement of letters under each other, which are known to be correct and widely used, are also typographic errors because they create difficulty in reading. Sound signals, i.e., writing, convey not only the text but emotions, tone, and the essence of the message. Through conscious designs, typography can make the message more impressive and unforgettable. However, it must be free of typographic errors, the readability problem must be solved, and each letter must be easily “readable” or, at the most acceptable level, “readable.” Typography is critical in effective communication, as words make words readable. Keeping errors to a minimum and conscious design choices ensure a message is successfully conveyed. Functional and aesthetic output can be achieved with the right font, contrast, hierarchy, and design elements. Typography is a design tool and a motivated means of expression
Keywords
Tipografik Hatalar, Tipografik Mesaj ve Tipogramlar
Öz
Tipografi, metinlerin yazı tipi, boyutu, satır aralığı ve hizalanması gibi görsel özelliklerinin tasarımıdır. Günlük hayatımızda reklam panolarından kitaplara, dijital platformlardan tabelalara kadar her yerde tipografik unsurlar bulunmaktadır. İletişim ise “paylaşmak, bildirmek, birleştirmek” sözcüğünden gelmektedir. İletişim esas olarak sosyal bir olgudur ve iletişimin niteliği sosyal yapı tarafından belirlenir. Bu nedenle iletişim, toplumsaldır, toplumsal bilgilerin aktarılmasıdır. İletişim için işaretler, semboller ve sözcükler kullanılmaktadır. Görsel işaretler dizgisi olarak yazı, günümüzde en yaygın iletişim araçlarından biridir. Ancak yazılan her yazı, okunur, anlaşılır ve net olmalıdır. Çünkü okunurluk (legibility), tipografinin en önemli görevidir. Okunurluğun önemini ortaya koyması açısından bu araştırma, sesleri tanımlayan işaretlerin her dizgisinin doğru olmayabileceğini ortaya koymaya çalışmıştır. Bu anlamda yazı, okunamıyor veya anlaşılamıyor ise, tipografik hata olarak tanımlanıp, mesajı kirlettiğini belirtmek gerekir. Bu makale ile yaygın tipografik hatalara yer verilmiş, örneklendirilmiş ve tipografik mesajı nasıl kirlettiği anlatılmaya çalışılmıştır. Özellikle tipogram ve logotaypelerde okunurluğun önemini ortaya konmuş, başarılı örneklere yer verilmiştir. Bu araştırma ile, tipogram veya logotaype gibi tasarımların, özgün yapısı kadar okunurluğun da ne derece önemli olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Tasarımcının, sanatçı edasıyla okunurluğu hiçe sayamayacağı, mesajı sadece sözcüklerin anlamlarıyla sınırlamamaları gerektiği örneklendirilmiş ve açıklanmıştır. Tipografinin asıl hedefinin sadece okunurluk olduğu hatırlatılarak tipografik hatalar ve başarılı tipografik mesaj örnekleri verilmiştir. Bu makale ile Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi TBMYO Grafik Tasarım programı öğrencilerinin, tipografi dersinde tasarladıkları başarılı tipogramlara da yer verilmiştir. Doğru mesajın sadece sözcük anlamlarıyla sınırlandırılmadan, sözcüklerin yazılma şekliyle, deformasyonlar ve farklı dizilimler ile de verilebileceği örneklendirilmiştir.
Anahtar Kelimeler
