Robert S. Densham Papers

Panel for retrospective on Densham's work, written by Densham. Text reads: Logotypes and Hand Lettering: Drawing the figure and drawing letter forms have become closely intertwined. I enjoy the nuances of form when drawing the figure, or any subject, and I find the same enjoyment in drawing letters. Several of these logotypes have lead to my own original typeface designs. I sketch out letter form in the same way I sketch drawing subjects. The hand lettering and logotypes shown on this panel were done over the last thirty years. Many of them were originally done for packages or posters. Looking back it seems that I created special lettering for nearly every project. My acute attention to detail and knowledge of letter form created a willingness to modify letters whenever the situation arose. Some letter modifications are to make the diverse geometry of adjacent letters more compatible. In other situations I carefully created a decorative element to letters to make the word or words more eye catching and significant. Many of the word marks use of letter form modifications to symbolize a process or object related to the primary function of the organizations. Comments on the Creation of Logotypes: All of the logotypes shown on this banner were sketched in pencil. In recent years I have traced the pencil sketch in the vector drawing program Adobe Illustrator or Font Lab. All the logotypes that were done before 1990 were inked on paper by hand using various drafting tools. The majority of logotypes shown here are hand done. The hand drawing process enabled the special letter formation. The single flick of the pencil or an accidental eraser mark often suggested an idea appropriate for further development. As a package designer in the 1970s I did all my lettering by hand. Having drawn so many letters by hand, I have a distinct physical knowledge of their forms. Years of hand lettering by necessity, i.e. no computer, has turned out to be very valuable gift. This gift has made the drawing or modifying of letters second nature to me. Thanks to my Advanced Typography 430 class: In the process of assembling my work for this show I decided to trace most of my older logotypes in the vector format. I wish to thank my Advanced Typography Class for letting me integrate the tracing process in Adobe Illustrator into their first project. The knowledge of the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator and the tracing of hand-drawn lettering in its vector format is a necessary skill for the graphic designer. Twenty or so of these earlier logotypes were traced by my students with a little touchup on my part.