A Man Named Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper is famous for designing motion picture title sequences with about 150 of them under his belt. The title sequence for the movie Se7en (Seven) is one of his best works and how he gained critical acclaim. He can also be credited for the beginning sequences in the films Donnie Darko, Dawn of the Dead, and The Island of Dr. Moreau and for the television shows The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. By using scenes from a film and implementing text, a designer can give the viewer some background on they can interpret and predict what they are about to watch.

The words in Se7en's title sequence are in a hand written font because it is a reflection of the serial killer's emotions because he kept a journal to reflect on the murders he committed. Cooper uses typography so that it is a component of the story that is being told. The typography represents the main character writing in his journal.

As for my motion graphics project, I will go with Cooper's methods of putting text in front of everything else. I want my text to reflect what message I am trying to convey. Timing and sound are a key component to this, which I have not quite figured out how I am going to use them. I am not using very many colors in my project, for the most part black and white.

Helvetica: An Eye Opener

Helvetica is a film about typography and graphic design. The film explores the background history of the font Helvetica and the two gentlemen who created it. Their intentions for creating Helvetica was that they wanted to make a font in which each letter was in sync with each letter.

Each letter in Helvetica uses horizontal and vertical straight lines and the same curves to represent each letter in the alphabet. It is very clear to read and is one of the most used sans-serif type faces. The film features testimonials from various graphic designers, some who are avid supporters of Helvetica and some who are not.

The film shows words you see everyday including advertisements, logos, warning signs, etc. Since watching the film, I cannot look at a logo without taking a deeper look at the letters used on everyday objects. I notice the shapes of letters in more detail and take the time to appreciate them.

Most people use it without thinking about it because it is everywhere, even though some designers find it dull and boring. It is used so frequently because it is a safe, neutral choice and gets the designers point across very clearly. The letters are used so much, they almost go unnoticed, but convey their message effectively. It is commonly mistaken for the font type Arial.