Before taking this typography course, I never really knew much about the topic of Typography. As the semester has gone by, I have grown a true appreciation for the art of type. As a communication major, I now truly find it fascinating how letters can be formed, designed in presented in such diverse ways all with a purpose to communicate.
When thinking about what location’s typography I wanted to study for this project, I didn’t have to think much. I chose Jamaica because it is the most special place to me.
It is the country I was born, and where generations of my family are from. It is what I represent.
Without a doubt, there are many regions of the world that have stunning- yet underrepresented typography. This book is focused on Jamaica, but I believe the entire Caribbean has iconic and beautiful typography that needs to be showcased.
Collecting specimens for this project was more difficult than I originally imagined. Driving around Jamaica, I have always seen such beautiful hand crafted typography on shops, on signs, buildings, walls… But when looking on Google street view there is not much to see. There are very little places in Jamaica that are using street view technology, many of the specimens I was able to collect were from pictures that were uploaded to Google from visitors of certain locations or pictures that I took myself.
I felt this was not an adequate representation of Jamaican typography with just using Google specimens or my own pictures, so I decided to connect with some of the Jamaican artists who are responsible for creating this typography, and they have graciously given me permission to showcase some of their work in this project.
I encourage everyone to travel to Jamaica (one day) and see the beautiful typography for themselves. This book would contain endless specimens if it were possible for me to capture them all.
About the Author: Asha Dalling
I am a senior communications major with a focus in strategic communication and minors in graphic design and music at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, now living in Davie, Florida, I am dedicated to promoting Caribbean culture within my new community. I have a strong appreciation for art in all forms and hope to one day go on to create art that combines all of my diverse interests and uses the skills that I have learned in my time here at NSU.
View the Project:
Wander Type: JamRock