Personals Project

I'm working on a very difficult project now--at least it's difficult for me as a rookie typographer. It's a very challenging (but fun) first assignment for graduate typography.

We had to chose two contrasting personals ads, then pick two typefaces that best represent the two "characters," Male and Female. Using only those fonts and no color or greyscale, we have to do a series of 10"x10" squares of the two fonts/personals meeting, first with just the letters M and F, then with the whole personals ads meeting. My male (Caslon font):

23 year old SWM, 6'3, 235 lbs, decent build, brown hair, brown eyes with goatee. Looking for a F who is affectionate, loves to snuggle, kiss & be affectionate in public & private. If you have kids that is great. I am very passionate & compassionate & you should be too. Please no head games because I just got out of a bad relationship.

My "female" (TriplexLight font):

Very feminine, submissive, bi-WM cross dresser, tall, long legs, slender, loves dressing up. ISO a couple w/a dominant partner or a dominant M or F for frequent get togethers. I love role play, spanking, light bondage. I can entertain at my home or travel.

It's difficult because it seems like type has a limited set of "moves" that can be combined in many different ways to form a whole. In a way, it reminds me of chess, looking at patterns of form and counterform.

Originally posted on Monday, September 13, 2004