Rachel Mercer

Design Portfolio
Fall 2005 - Fall 2007

Typography 1
Fall 2007
Instructor: John Kane

Introduces letterforms in visual communication. Studies
typography as form and explores visual principles affecting
organization and access of typographic information. Studied
the use of the typographic grid and issues of hierarchy and
legibility through assigned projects, readings, and lectures.
Includes the historical evolution of typefaces and their clas-
sification as a rational system. Guided in the application of
typography as the basis of graphic design.

Assignment: Form & Counterform

Objective: Accentuate differences between the different
typefaces through magnification.

The different compositions allow for the viewer to take note

of the angles of the serifs, the contrast between the form
and counterform. This allows for the viewer to aquire a
palpable sense of the letterform’s unique characteristics. The
number two is notable because it loses it’s identity as individ-
ual elements are magnified and the context is nonexistant.
Assignment: Word Play
Objective: Create typographic equivalents for words
These various wordplays which are illustrated either through
various shifts in type weight, size, and position on the page
(this all being done in Akzidenz Grotesk). The examples
above all express some quality of the nouns they display.
Assignment: Word Play ( cont. )
Objective: Create typographic equivalents for words
These continued studies illustrate the verbs and adjectives
through reinforced imagery. For example, ‘fill’ actually fills it’s
frame. ‘Smile’ attempts to reinforce the idea of a smile by
uprighting the ‘e’ and copying the dots of the ‘i’ to create an
idea of eyes.
 Assignment: Dynamic Type

Genesis Objective: Make sentences expres-

sive while either supporting or subvert-
ing the message

These excerpts from the Declaration of

the Rights of Man ( the French Consti-
tution equivalent ) have been altered by
changing the size, weight or position
of the type in order to either support or
subvert the message.

11.
The free communication of ideas and opinions
is one of the most precious of the rights of man.
Every citizen may, accordingly,
speak, write, and print with freedom,

Chapter 1: The Creation but shall be responsible for such

abuses of this freedom
1, 2: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. as shall be defined by law.
And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon
the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the
3: face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and
4: there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good:
5: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God
called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And
6: there was evening and there was morning, one day. And
God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the wa-
7: ters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God
made the firmament, and divided the waters which were
4

Assignment: Typesetting
Objective: Create an ideal, readable layout

These continued studies illustrate the verbs and adjectives

through reinforced imagery. For example, ‘fill’ actually fills it’s
frame. ‘Smile’ attempts to reinforce the idea of a smile by
uprighting the ‘e’ and copying the dots of the ‘i’ to create an
idea of eyes.
Intro to Digital Tools
Spring 2007
Instructor: Justin Novick

Extended study of visual problem solving by utelizing the
computer as a tool for design and image making. Attended
weekly classes and labs in the electronic studios which
allowed investigation into the medium’s potential, limitations,
and relationship to other media. Issues of sequencing,
transformation, and motion through time and space which
were emphasized, coupled with further examination of their
relevance in relation to a broad spectrum of applications
and disciplines.
Assignment: Kandinsky
Objective: Recreate an original Kandinsky using Adobe
Illustrator, utelizing either gradients or transparencies.

Original Painting pictured above, recreation below.

Assignment: Photoshop
Objective: Illustrate the idea of two
adjectives using original photohraphs

Top: Illustrates the word “Luminous”,

originally a photograph of a lamp with
unlight lightbulbs, on a rainy day

Bottom: Illustrates the word “retreat”,

original photograph of tree in the after-
noon, simulated birds and lightsource.

Assignment: Brisk
Objective: Start out using a portion of the original Kan-
dinsky illustration, and animate the objects to create a 35
second film using flash which expresses the word “Brisk”.

Still frames from the first 20 seconds of the reel.

 Self-Generated
Fall 2005 - Fall 2006
Randomly Inspired

I’d never before really been exposed to Photoshop, so I

set off on a quest to learn, typically going off of sketches
from my sketchbook, and randomly combining them with
obscure music lyrics.

Assignment: Brisk ( cont’d )

Objective: Start out using a portion of the original Kan-
dinsky illustration, and animate the objects to create a 35
second film using flash which expresses the word “Brisk”.
 Top: “Indiependent”

Imaginary posters for dance parties

that I secretly wish existed. “I n d i
epend e nt” is purposefully misspelled
to accentuate the e’s. Another original
sketchbook drawing, retraced and
slightly deconstructed.

Bottom: “Incriminating Photographs”

Expanded idea of making incriminating

photographs of pandas. Multiple lay-
ers, done in Photoshop CS2.

“hello sunshine, come into my life.”

Super Furry Animals

Font: Cooper
Method: Two layers of texture in the background, with
added filtered effects. Combined with an original sketch,
retraced using photoshop.
Top: “Rainbows” Top: “Oh Snap”

Pseudo art poster for an imaginary
Japanese band called “New Rainbow”.
I don’t actually speak Japanese, my
former art teacher did. Drawings were
inspired by my friend’s photography
Okay, so I thought I was being “punny”.
Drawing based off of a photopgraph
that I took. I don’t remember the font.
Bottom: “I live in a Wasteland”

Bottom: “Steps to my Disaster” Composition entirely based off of

stock photos and fonts. Which I found
“take my life, break my heart” somewhere about the interwebs.
A Perfect Kiss
The girls and the heart are based off
of stock photography traces. The boy
in the background is a friend who was
good enough to pose for me.
Top Left: “Doctor Doctor” Top Left: “Biodegradable Hands”
I did this in like half an hour. Entirely hand drawn fonts. Yes, I Experimentation with found textures, an attempt to make it
know I spelled “doctor” incorrectly feel very natrual.

Top Right: “Whispers” Top Right: “In and Out”

I just wanted to be hip and with it. Period.
Bottom Left: “Say Hello to the Angels”
Started out with just the tree, from my sketchbook and kind
of just deviated from there. My first ever example of limiting
my color palette.
Bottom Right: “You think you’re ugly”
I don’t even remember what it says.
Further experimentation with natural textures. Self portrait
superimposed, originally from sketchbook.
Bottom Left: “everytime i see your face in the clouds, i
feel no violence.” Silverchair
Bottom Right: “White Lines”
Lyrics from the Alekz Johnson song, gosh that’s embar-
ressing to admit.
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Top: E-Broadcasts for various Companies via ACMP

Bottom: Print advertisements for clients via ACMP.

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