Yana's DESN1002 Blog

In this weekly blog I will be uploading my research and interesting ideas explored in the DESN1002 lectures posted by Ari Chand.

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Week 10

In this blog post I would like to finalise my posts and also reflect on my experience during the DESN1002 course so far. I’d first like to thank Dr Ari Chand for being so passionate about the subject and presenting weekly content in an engaging manner, and Dr Chloe Killen for keeping me on top of my work and being available to bounce ideas off at practically all times. 

I learned a lot about design throughout the ages and the importance of design. I was given the opportunity to attempt at defining design with the aid of content given in class. I am more than happy with how the class dynamic has been: very open-minded, understanding and opportunistic. In my time during this course I have enjoyed learning and spending time with my peers as well as my tutors and lecturers and I always felt like I could rely on them for help and support. 

Thank you, DESN1002, Drs Ari and Chloe, and course mates.

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Week 9 Presentation A1 Peer Marking

Stiff B

What are the strong points of this presentation?

Stiff uses engaging supporting imagery and video to structure his video. He uses it in an appropriate and engaging manner. The chronological structure of his video creates an easy to follow and understand presentation. Uniquely, Stiff speaks about the moral and ethical aspects of design, which can be engaging and relatable to his audience. 

What are the weaknesses?

Stiff’s audio was inconsistent in its volume. Unfortunately, he also loses track and speaks about ideas that were not mentioned in his introduction and he pulled away from the chronological structure he has set up for himself. 

What improvements would you suggest?

Fixing the audio could potentially make the video more engaging and would eliminate the distraction from the inconsistent audio volume.

Sticking to the chronological structure may help him set out his ideas in a logical manner and an easier to digest order. Answering the question of “What is Design?” more directly is desirable.

What do you think of your presentation now you've seen others?

Our essays have a similar structure.

Any other comments?

Overall, engaging and structured response to the brief.

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Week 9 Presentation A1 Peer Marking

Carroll A

What are the strong points of this presentation?

Carroll’s presentation is engaging and educational. They achieve this by including animation and images that are relative to the content and she provides appropriate context. The animation creates an interesting way of portraying information to the viewer. Their constant and cohesive aesthetic for the video allow the viewer to be transported to the past that is being spoken about. They also incorporate drawn images she’s come up with, making it appear authentic and hand-made.

At the end of their video she asks the rhetorical of “What is Design?” and in doing so they further engage the viewer by prompting them to answer the question for themselves after they provide them information they can use to do so.

What are the weaknesses?

Some weak points of this presentation include a monotone speaker voice. Monotones can bore an audience as well as disengage from the video. A slower pace creates the same problems.

They also use type that may be effective in setting a hippie atmosphere, however they use it in body text that become hard to read, which distracts from their audio. 

What improvements would you suggest?

Carroll could improve their presentation if they spoke a little bit faster and with a less monotone voice. It would help keep their listeners engaged. A more legible type for the body would achieve a similar outcome.

What do you think of your presentation now you've seen others?

After watching Carroll’s presentation it has made me realise that my presentation could have been better with hand-drawn aspects. I also noticed that they primarily spoke about one movement while I structured by essay to focus on answering the question of what design is. Both approaches are appropriate.

Any other comments?

Overall, a well structured video essay.

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Week 9 Presentation A1 Peer Marking

Aaron Daplin

What are the strong points of this presentation?

Aaron’s video presentation possesses many characteristics that are desirable for any type of presentation, both online and in person. He keeps eye contact throughout the entire 5 minutes, which engages the viewer just as a face-to-face conversation would. He further strengthens the presentation by using a casual tone and interactive gestures as he interacts with the presentation and content showing up on screen.

Ending his video with a questionnaire engages the viewers even further as they need to think and to answer the question, which ends up with an unexpected answer. Aaron also seamlessly and appropriately interprets and incorporates quotes into his essay. He uses video and images that further his message.

What are the weaknesses?

Even though gesturing and hand movements may strengthen his presentation if used sparingly, Aaron may be subconsciously doing it a little bit too much, to the point where it become distracting.

His presentation also seems to lack strong structure, which works with his casual tone, but may not answer the brief as well.

What improvements would you suggest?

A clearer structure could help guide his listeners into understanding his ideas and points, less gesturing may help make his presentation even more engaging, and the exclusion of mouth popping noises could eliminate the chance of reader begging annoyed.

What do you think of your presentation now you've seen others?

After watching and analysing Aaron’s presentation I believe I could have and probably should have made my presentation far more interactive.

Any other comments?

Overall a very well done and engaging video.

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Meta-Modernism and Decolonised Design

From this week’s lecture it caught my attention that racism and segregation is evident and present in advertisement, design and the modern/contemporary world. I decided to further investigate what effect the western culture has had on other cultures around the world of design. During my search I stumbled across Ai Weiwei, contemporary Chinese artist, political activist and designer. 

Ai Weiwei was born in Beijing in 1957 and throughout his artistic career he produced many sculptures, installations and architectural works. During his childhood he was subjected to the Chinese communistic governing/authorities and propaganda, from making it to receiving it. HIs father was a poet who was accused for being a rightist and him and his family, including Ai Weiwei, were sent to the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang and then to the north-western autonomous region of Xinjiang before being allowed to return to Beijing in 1976. He then entered an art school and began making political artworks, both about the Western impact on art and Chinese culture, and illuminating the political force the Chinese government is exercising on its people. 

Artworks that came out of Weiwei’s practice include “Sunflower Seeds” (2010), “A Han Dynasty Urn” (1999), “Remembering” (2009) (photographs are in order of the titles listed). 

“ “Sunflower Seeds” is made up of millions of small works, each apparently identical, but actually unique. However realistic they may seem, these life-sized sunflower seed husks are in fact intricately hand-crafted in porcelain... Porcelain is almost synonymous with China and, to make this work, Ai Weiwei has manipulated traditional methods of crafting what has historically been one of China’s most prized exports. Sunflower Seeds invites us to look more closely at the ‘Made in China’ phenomenon and the geo-politics of cultural and economic exchange today.” This artwork challenges the world’s perceptions of China. The sunflower symbolism emphasises the numb and thoughtless followers Mao, China’s political power, has, as sunflowers turn to the sun. 

“A Han Dynasty Urn” is an actual ancient urn series, in which Weiwei not only paints but also drops and breaks on film. The purpose of this work is to raise awareness to the Western and economically and politically powerful world about China’s erasing of its past. Old buildings and ancient artefacts are being destroyed every day in the name of creating a new, better and improved China. Weiwei’s protest is a call for action and the illumination of the USA and Europe’s impact on China and its culture. By painting the Coca Cola logo on the ancient urn he is stirring up arguments and conversations.

Last but not least, “Remembering” is the artwork that Weiwei says “made him the most dangerous person in China”. Ai Weiwei created this installation after the Sichuan earthquake collapsed school buildings and killed many children students. After the event the Chinese news covered up the tragedy and refused to name all the children who lost their lives. The installation reads the words a mourning mother said about her daughter who only enjoyed 7 years of life on this earth. “This beautiful little girl was just the same as any other: she liked to dance, to sing. But suddenly- because of the negligence of the government, the corruption in construction- there wasn’t a safe building for her to go to school in.” Angered by the governments unresponsiveness Weiwei came up with this installation in Germany, which features backpacks inspired by the ToysRUs colours writing in Chinese type. He also went around the areas of the school and collected as many names of dead children as he could from families and friends, which he posted online. However, the list did not stay online long as it was deleted and blocked by Chinese authorities.

Therefore, people from oppressed groups can both use their designs to protest the Western pressure on their culture as well as use their power to prompt change.

References:

Ai Weiwei, 2018, “Ai Weiwei: The artwork that made me the most dangerous person in China“, The Guardian, viewed 29/09/2020, URL: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/feb/15/ai-weiwei-remembering-sichuan-earthquake

John M. Cunningham, 2020, “ Ai Weiwei “, Britannica, viewed 29/09/2020, URL: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ai-Weiwei

Mary Boone Gallery, 2020, “Ai Weiwei”, Mary Boone Gallery, viewed 29/09/2020, URL:  https://www.maryboonegallery.com/artist/ai-weiwei

Tate, 2010-2011, “THE UNILEVER SERIES: AI WEIWEI: SUNFLOWER SEEDS”, Tate, viewed 29/09/2020, URL: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/unilever-series/unilever-series-ai-weiwei-sunflower-seeds

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The Design Frontier

Anthropocene

According to National Geographic’s resource library and Tyson Brown “the current epoch is called the Holocene, which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age. However, the Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic time, used to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems.” Well, if this has such a great effect on the world... what are some negative aspects and impacts of the Anthropocene. Elin Whitney-Smith has the idea that “ the most important thing that Anthropology brings to the table is the assumption that people do things that make sense. Even when it doesn't look like sense to the observer. That means that anthropologists have to find out how the thing that seems nonsensical works in that particular culture.” 

   However, the study of anthropology allows for the realisation of issues caused by humankind and development and consciousness in making new decisions. It also has an impact on producers considering where their products end up after consumption. 

References:

Elin Whitney-Smith, 2016, Quora, “How does anthropology change the world, other than saving cultures?”, viewed 23/09/2020, URL: https://www.quora.com/How-does-anthropology-change-the-world-other-than-saving-cultures

Tyson Brown, 2019, National Geographic, “Anthropocene”, viewed 23/09/2020, URL: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/anthropocene/#:~:text=Noun,constitute%20a%20distinct%20geological%20change.

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The Design Frontier

   This week’s tutorial inspired me to research the future of design and humanity due to design. I found the SpaceX program and their design in the exploration of space and spacetravel. One day it may be necessary for humankind to leave the Earth and find or make a new living space. This process begins with tourism in space.

   Political and social issues include over-population. Even though spaceship and space knowledge and design is not developed enough to support human life in space for too long, and prices are still too high for the average consumer, space tourism is being heavily explored. SpaceX is planning on sending five tourists on a week-long trip in space in 2021. Design is extremely important in this practice. For example, it allows NASA to try out new and different variations of spacesuits having the aim to produce the most comfortable, reliable, and affordable suit.

   Therefore, the link between spacetravel and design is extremely important in solving issues, such as overpopulation and the need for new living environments.

References:

Davin Coldewey, 2019, “ NASA’s new Moon-bound spacesuit is safer, smarter and much more comfortable”, viewed 23/09/2020, URL: https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/10/nasas-new-moon-bound-spacesuit-is-safer-smarter-and-much-more-comfortable/

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Post-Modern, Post-Digital, and Post-Information "What is Postmodernism?

Charles Jencks: After all, it is fairly dead we might as well enjoy picking over the corpse.

Andrew Logan (Artist): I really don't understand what postmodernism is. I've been told many times and its been explained it me many time and I'm still bewildered... but perhaps that's part of the movement.

Malcolm Garrett (Graphic Designer): I don't think I really know too much about what postmodernism actually is. For me its primarily an architectural movement.

Robert A.M. Stern (Architect): Postmodernism was a kind of style and it was a kind of outrageous style at that.

Zhandra Rhodes (Fashion Designer): I think we're originals but it wasn't until i got spoken to by the V&A (Victoria nd Albert Museum) that I thought about anything that was postmodern.

Charles Jencks (Architect): The way I worked I described as retrievalism. The independent said "do you use the word postmodernism because it means absolutely nothing and everything?"

Malcolm Garrett: I called myself a new futurist for a while, so that's a term I would use rather than postmodernism.

Andrew Logan (Artist): Well I suppose I had a very postmodernist occurrence. I took acid. Normal things suddenly turned into something extra ordinary.

David Byrne: You may ask yourself "Well, how did I get here?"

The reason I've included these answers from an interview held by the Victoria and Albert Museum is to show how difficult defining anything in design and art is but especially postmodernism. Even though these designers gave a vague description of their thoughts and understandings of the movement/style, none of them were able to give an concise and specific definition. In fact, they did not necessarily agree on any one aspect of postmodernism, but what they obviously had a silent agreement on is the idea that none of them could give a proper definition and all of them were happy knowing they couldn't. They all seemed to be pleased by the fact that it does not want to be defined and follow a certain formula of existing.

References:

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2018, "What is Postmodernism?", viewed 30/09/2020, URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x4ntciHTXU

Victoria and Albert Museum website- https://www.vam.ac.uk/

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Images and words

In this week’s tutorial we spoke about the importance of words and images as independent mediums as well as when combined. The idea of denotation and connotation stood out to me as an interesting topic. The collective understanding of a community and its culture plays a great factor in the production of advertisements as they need to both appeal and be understood by the target market. Even though different connotations may come out of one singular image, they would all be somehow related because of the human processing of information. For example:

1. Carlsberg 

Denotation:

Words and a beer bottle on a green background.

Connotation:

“Dating two girls is not a good idea” is what the text originally says, however the beer bottle covers the “not” making it “Dating two girls is a good idea”. This is to suggest that alcohol may interfere and completely change someone’s understanding of the world. In smaller text it reads “Some things are worth trying” which directly refers to dating more than one woman but subjectively it asks the viewer of this ad to try their beer. The idea of being with more than one woman at a time may seem attractive to men, who are the predominant drinkers of this beverage. This ad makes it seem as though the fact that someone has had this beer gives them an excuse to do something that is usually frowned upon. The symbolism in this ad may cause different reactions from different people. Some may find it amusing and others offensive.

2. Big Mac by McDonald’s

Denotation:

Text in a different colour on each line on a dark green background.

Connotation:

This minimalist McDonald’s advertisement is one of a series that features text that is in the colour of the ingredient it represents. For example, the “LETTUCE” is green. This assortment of words clearly depicts the order of ingredients in a Big Mac. It may bring up connotations such as, the drifting from the overly obnoxious red and yellow, therefore drifting from the usual identity of McDonald’s, which is unhealthy, greasy food. The minimalist ad allows for a new identity to be created and that is a healthier and better one, accomplished by a modern approach.

References:

Natashah Hitti, 2020, “ Minimalist McDonald's adverts feature ingredients lists but no brand name”, DeZeen, viewed 21/09/2020, URL: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/02/12/mcdonalds-advertisement-leo-burnett/

Ravi Costa, Pinterest, viewed 21/09/2020, URL: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/324751823121638134/

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Symbol to Represent ME

Denotation and Connotation

This week the concept of symbolism in visual communication was explored in depth. I decided to attempt to create a symbol that could directly and accurately represent me. Here are the denotations and connotations of my work:

Denotation- an octopus on an orange circle as a background.

Connotation- a person who needs many hands to manage the multitasking of getting everything done well and on time. As I have 2 casual jobs and part-time university I always have to juggle my tasks and sometimes do multiple at once. The octopus also represents my love for the sea and the beach. Closely linked, the orange colour further symbolises the sand and the sun of the summer setting that is the warmth of the beach. High contrast between the black and orange represent the great change and difference I went through coming to a new country and growing up. The transparency of the octopus design represents how the octopus can change colour to adapt to its environment- this is also a symbol for my resilience and ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments.

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Defining Design

The exploration of design as a multi-dimensional practice in this lecture caught my attention. The idea that design does not have one single definition and cannot be succinctly represented interested me. I decided to grab the definitions of design that were discussed and find at least one example of each to make a comparison.

Here’s what I found and what understandings I gathered:

-Design as Inspiration- My understanding of this concept is that a designer may find inspiration on their own and be prompted to produce design. This may occur due to any circumstance: their own struggle, someone else’s struggle, environmental issues, boredom, etc. Inspiration may strike while travelling, conversing, through observation, or while on the internet. 

Example:

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/05/50-problems-50-days-part-1-real-empathy-innovation/

-Design as Human Centred- This definition may be referring to a less broad take on design. It may be referencing design strictly made for human benefit, such as fashion, transport, disability services, children facilities, etc. The reason for this type of design to exist is the need for equality as well as the evolution of humankind.

Example:

https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/design-for-disabilities/

-Design as Shaping Reality- A  definition of design that may seem of greater scale as it speaks of design having a huge impact on a theory that is difficult to grasp. Such things as buildings, cities, rooms, offices and others, create the new reality of people as the natural world is left behind and quite often neglected and forgotten. This definition also encompasses AR and VR, which may become the future reality.

Examples:

https://www.startupdaily.net/2016/12/designing-digital-life-ux-designers-shaping-modern-reality/

-Design as Sustainable- Not long ago, around the time of the Industrial Revolution, the desire of some to be sustainable and caring for the environment may have been the beginning of a whole new way of design thinking. The thought of producing waste may have become undesirable prompting many to find other ways of production that would allow object to have a much longer life expectancy and recycling. 

Example:

https://www.designboom.com/design/geochanvre-mask-biocompostable-hemp-fibers-08-20-20/

-Design as Play- A more artistic and crafty approach to design, this definition may allow more designers to “creatively” express their ideas. They may find humorous, satirical or metaphorical mediums, materials and executions for their design. 

Example:

https://www.boredpanda.com/top-33-worlds-strangest-buildings/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

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Visit Original Link

Defining Design 

Interesting quotes from readings week 4 (audio recording practice for A1)

·       “At this point what can be said is that a designer practices what is called design. This may seem like a very obvious and rather naïve point to make, but in making it, it suggests two things. Firstly, it suggests that the designer is someone who is autonomous (who has the capacity to make the decision independently). Secondly it proposes that what the designer is doing is understood by others as being a specific wat of thinking in the world.” (https://books.google.com.au/books?id=k5xWDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false)

·       “In design, the problem usually originates not in the designer’s mind but with a client; someone in need who is unable to solve the problem, or perhaps, even fully to understand it without help.” (file:///C:/Users/Yana%20Kaneva/Downloads/Bryan_Lawson_How_Designers_Think.pdf)

·       “Behind every building of distinction is an equally distinctive client, not necessarily high profile, but one who takes the time and trouble to comprehend the ideas of the architect, is supportive and enthusiastic, who is bold, willing to take risks and above all can hold his or her nerve during the inevitable crises. (Lawson 1994b) This suggests quite firmly that Michael Wilford does not just see the client as the source of the brief but as a creative partner in the process.” (file:///C:/Users/Yana%20Kaneva/Downloads/Bryan_Lawson_How_Designers_Think.pdf)

·       “It is sometimes difficult to separate design from art. The products of design are frequently seen by the public as artistic, even sometimes actually as ‘works of art’, and designers themselves are indeed also often artists. Even the drawings generated by designers to illustrate their schemes can sometimes easily be confused with works of art. Whether or not an object can rightly be described as a ‘work of art’ is a matter which lies beyond the scope of this book. What is of importance here is not the product but the process.” (file:///C:/Users/Yana%20Kaneva/Downloads/Bryan_Lawson_How_Designers_Think.pdf)

·       “Designers have far more power than they realize: their creativity fuels the most efficient (and most destructive) tools of deception in human history. The largest threat to humanity’s future just may be the consumption of more than necessary. We are caught up in an unsustainable frenzy, spurred by rapid advances in the sophistication, psychology, speed, and reach of visual lies designed to convince us we “need” more stuff than we really do. Human civilization, trending toward one global civilization, cannot afford to make even one more major global mistake. The same design that fuels mass overconsumption also holds the power to repair the world. We live in an unprecedented technological age, where we can each leave a larger legacy by propagating our best ideas than by propagating our chromosomes. Designers can be a model for other professionals for identifying one’s sphere of influence, and then embrace the responsibility that accompanies that power to help repair the world. So don’t just do good design, do good.” (http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/9780321573209/samplepages/032157320X.pdf)

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Ultimately, regardless of its area of focus or scale, our work and our mindset must take on a more ethical, critical ethos.

First Things First 2014 A Manifesto

   From the readings in Week 3 it has been brought to my attention that designers from around 55 years ago till today have been expressing their disappointment with what their industry has turned into. A corrupt business with negative impacts on the social and environmental world has just become unsatisfactory for these creative minds.

   What they chose to do was write and sign a manifesto in which they promise to refocus their priorities, in favour of more lasting, democratic forms of communication, and shift away from profit-over-people business models and the placing of corporations before individuals, toward the exploration and production of humble, meaningful work, and beneficial cultural impact.

   This sort of confidence in being able to refuse work and commissions proves the importance and growth of design from simply figuring out effective solutions to issues to an absolutely necessary industry for more complex ideas, such as aesthetics, advertisement and commercialisation, and human revolution.

   A more critical view on the manifesto allows to find issues that may occur with the promise made. Younger or beginner designers, who have just entered the business or started their own firm, may not be able to afford picking only ethical causes and products to work for.

  Reference links:

“First Things First 2014 A Manifesto”, 2014, First Things First 2014, viewed 02/09/2020, URL:  https://dpya.org/wiki/images/e/e2/First_Things_First_2014.pdf  

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 Design and Last Century/Modernism

Until now I have never fully thought about how women lived during the Second World War. We are always shown how propaganda was produced to engage men and even guilt them into fighting for their country and patriotism. How about the women? Well, apparently they were also targeted by posters from the government (mostly the American and Australian governments), which had the aim of persuading them into filling the holes men left behind in the work environment. They produced posters and film reels of glamorous women in the workplace to entice women to serve their country as part of the home-front labor force. They were called into factories and other work-places that were then empty of employees as the majority of working men joined the army. This allowed women to engage in and explore more opportunities in the business world, as so far, at least in the western world women were seen as housewives only. The role of a woman was to support her man and please him however he wanted.

Women in civilian jobs learned valuable skills.  According to Kevin Hymel, historian at the U.S. Air Force  Medical Service History Office,“With their men away, women became more self-sufficient. Many brought tools home from work and used them on their own home repairs. They took on domestic roles they never had before.”

It’s estimated that up to six million women joined the civilian work force during World War II. 

Working women on the home front faced unique challenges, too. Those with children struggled with child care and caring for a household on their own. Many had to learn to manage their finances for the first time and cope with a tight budget.

Design has played a significant role in the shaping of women in society and their input in the workforce. It has had a great social impact on the expectations on women and how their lives should play out. Therefore, I have learned that design and visual communication, such as propaganda, have had an imprint on many aspects of the world, including war, culture, feminism, patriotism and many other.

Reference links:

Anette McDermott 2018, “ How World War II Empowered Women”, History, viewed 26/08/2020, URL: http://vintagescientist.blogspot.com/2010/04/women-wwii-propaganda.html

Beth, 2010, “ Women WWII Propaganda”, Vintage Scientist, viewed 26/08/2020, URL: https://www.history.com/news/how-world-war-ii-empowered-women

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A few of Bass' most famous movie intros and title sequences from 1955 to 1995

If you have a little bit of time definitely have a look at this video as it is super interesting to see the formation of a new idea and its execution.

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Design and Last Century/Modernism

This week I was inspired to dig deeper into a couple of different topics as the lecture was content heavy and quite engaging exploring design in the 20th century. 

One of the men who caught my attention was Saul Bass and his kinetic movie introduction credits. Being one of the first people to incorporate movement into the first minutes of the film, he quickly gathered followers and movie/art enthusiasts. His work included Otto Preminger's The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959), Vertigo (1958), working with John Whitney, and Psycho (1960), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), The Age of Innocence (1993) and Casino (1995), and others. 

Using interacting shapes and type Bass would "try to reach for a simple, visual phrase that tells you what the picture is all about and evokes the essence of the story". His unique and innovative style allowed him to continue work for over 40 years and opening up a completely new medium for exploration by himself, his audience and clients, and other designers.

What hooked me even more into his story and contribution was hearing about an interview in which when asked how he came up with the kinetic type and shapes moving in time, he explained with the question of “why not make it move?”. This fascinating confidence and relaxed behaviour just further prove the success of his experimentation with design.

Experimental design in history has led to what design is today, and even though it has a loose definition, design may be considered as experimental innovation in the arts, effectiveness of products, advertisement and other similar aspects. 

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Overview of Visual Communication Design History

Design in communication and lettering has intrigued me since the last lecture. I wanted to further investigate the design of alphabets. Since I am Bulgarian I decided to go back to year 5 history and revisit Cyril and Methodius.

They were two brothers, Byzantine Christian and missionaries. The Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets are the oldest known Slavic alphabets, and were created by the two brothers and their students, to translate the Gospels and liturgical books into the Salvic languages.  The early Cyrillic alphabet was developed in the First Bulgarian Empire and later finalized and spread by disciples Kliment and Naum in the Ohrid and Preslav schools of Tsar Boris l of Bulgaria as a simplification of the Glagolitic alphabet which more closely resembled the Greek alphabet. It was produced to give the country its own type and identity. It also became a more legible and recognisable letter system. The First Bulgarian Empire under Tsar Simeon the Great developed Cyrillic from the Greek letters in the 890s as a more suitable script for church books.  Cyrillic and Glagolitic were used for the Church Slavonic language. Hence expressions such as "И” is the tenth Cyrillic letter" typically refer to the order of the Church Slavonic alphabet; not every Cyrillic alphabet uses every letter available in the script (people would have sounded different even though they were using alphabets constructed from the same script).  The Cyrillic script came to dominate Glagolitic in the 12th century. The literature produced in the Old Bulgarian language soon spread north and became the lingua franca of the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Over the course of the following millennium, Cyrillic adapted to changes in spoken language, developed regional variations to suit the features of national languages.

I have found it extremely interesting to investigate how an alphabet can be written and how long the process they take. I have also found it engaging to read about how the same script can be used multiple times to generate different alphabets for different nationalities, which would allow them to have their own identity and differences in the sound of their languages.

Design has been really important in the forming of cultures and type.

Reference links:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica,“ Saints Cyril and Methodius “, Britannica, viewed: 20/08/2020, URL: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saints-Cyril-and-Methodius

Wikipedia, 2020,“Cyrillic script”, Wikipedia, viewed 20/08?2020, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrillic_script

Wikipedia, 2020, “Early Cyrillic Alphabet”, Wikipedia, viewed 20/08/2020, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Cyrillic_alphabet#:~:text=The%20Early%20Cyrillic%20alphabet%20is,South%20East%20and%20Central%20Europe.

Wikipedia, 2020, “Saint Cyril and Methodius”, Wikipedia, viewed 20/08/2020, URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Cyril_and_Methodius#Invention_of_the_Glagolitic_and_Cyrillic_alphabets