Design File Idea 3
Choose an infographic you find attractive or well-executed, and analyze it according to our readings on typography: choose a segment of the reading and form it into a question for the purpose of analysis as I did with DD Ch. 1 above. How does the typeface chosen show the author’s intention as well as dictate how the user responds to the infographic?
Below is an infographic for a golf iron, and is actually the brand I use for my driver, irons, hybrid, and my wedges. It is simple and the message is clear: here is the new irons, by Akira. Akira is not a very well known golf brand in the United States, and to be completely honest, a little bit ‘obscure’ or ‘mania’ to know in Japan, where it is manufactured and sold, as well as where I grew up. However, to those who know the exclusive and high quality brand, it is easily recognizable in the logo. The all-caps font in uniform height and lean appears both clean and exact, borderline robotic, while also having some curve and flavor that is unique and almost warm and inviting. The name ‘Akira’ denotes strong traditionalist and nationalist ideas of pride, quality and honor.
Of note is the manner in which the bold font and the angled lean, as well as the rounded but robotic and sharp, simplistic style of the font hints at the Gundam franchise and ultra-popular Japanese anime series. This series and franchise is considered a literature classic and contains spectacular and futuristic technology and craftsmanship of mobile armor suits that can be used in outer space and on other planets. It is thus interesting to consider how culture and even pop-culture can help lend specific ideas of craftsmanship or nationalist pride and skill, and further interesting to consider how as authors we can play into such connotations that surround fonts, because as the Helvetica Documentary clearly illustrated, fonts contain stories and connotations that can be a disadvantage, or an advantage, based on how the author utilizes the tools available to them, of which font choice is not the least.