Historical and Anatomical Analysis of Bitmap Fonts on the Compact Disc Package
Presenter: Perry Gotis
Mentor: Katherine Heater, Visual Arts
RAC 230 | Noon – 12:15 p.m.
Bitmap fonts were digitally developed from 1984 for the Macintosh, to brand design for music artists in the 1990’s to 2000’s following afterwards. How have bitmap fonts applied to album packaging design, and what can the typographic anatomy of bitmap fonts prepare for font creation? The creative project incorporates research from Typography III that repurposes Mariposa Display, a customized font made in FontStruct that was workshopped and designed after the markings of a monarch butterfly. This project assembles a compact disc jewel case album mockup that dissect the anatomy of Zuzana Licko’s bitmap fonts (Totally Gothic, Lo-Res, Modula Sans and Modula Serif), applied to four different album covers as main and secondary formats, as well as adapts their anatomical font features to Mariposa Display’s typeface anatomy. The narrative analyzes the transition of bitmap fonts from computer to album design, and explores the importance of accessibility and visual structure within bitmap fonts as main and secondary typography. Additionally, the compact disc packaging’s brand guidelines explain the creative process with typeface approaches, color swatches, and visual identity within the packaging layout. The illustrations and typography are constructed using Mariposa Display with Licko’s fonts, which highlight the font’s visual flexibility for referential purposes.
URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:
URCAD.umbc.edu