The vocabulary list is here
The printable PDF is here
Type Safari booklet or poster of New York’s Urban, Ephemeral Vernacular
While walking around the city, always pay attention and hunt for exciting colors, images, abstract shapes (counter shapes too), patterns, typography, or other textural details.
Collect those pictures. New York City has too many unique textures, smells, and cracks. Each neighborhood or street has a vernacular of its own urban fabric. As a conscious observer, you should stay aware to ensure that the objects are authentic because imposters can fool us and make a mockery of the originals.
#parsonstypesafari
examples I took (mostly type): https://dastner.com/vernaculartypography
Collect at least 12 samples of:
color
pictorial form
abstract form
pattern
typography
texture
Take it back inside to work. Make visual form out of at least 30 examples and combine them into a large-scale composition. Vary the sizes to let the viewer’s eyes wander and form connections while giving clues of where we are, or even embed a message or statement.
Does it represent where you reside in some way? What might that mean to you? Does it represent where you reside in some way? What might that mean to you?
Tools: Compose it using sketches, printouts, collages, photocopies, or anything that can be tactile*** (avoid going straight to the computer). To experience composition and layout in real, it might be easier to print out some of the elements and arrange them by hand, then take a picture to bring it back to the computer.
These examples are from an older website that I designed in Flash. I redrew houses on Broadway, a Tokyo street, doors, and “space invaders” graffiti sightings in NYC, my roof… Your project will be a printed-out poster portfolio piece, not a website—unless you are good at coding.
*The language or dialect spoken by ordinary people in a particular country or region.
**Things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time. like stickers, graffiti, construction site
***Touchable, material, physical object