Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC.
This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.
The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.
Typography is essential to almost all mediums of design from print to web. All designers must study typography, and a great way to study it is to find great typographical inspiration. Most articles containing typography inspiration showcases, however, display mostly static typography. I thought it would be interesting to showcase some excellent examples of kinetic (or kinematic or dynamic) typography, typography in motion.
Despite the fact that graphic designers are most accustomed to static typography, we are exposed to kinetic typography on a daily basis. Think opening titles sequences of a television show or movie or the huge blobs of text in the last commercial you just saw.
Searching “kinetic typography” on YouTube tuns up hundreds of results; not all of which are outstanding. I scoured through them and also have a few of my favorites to share with you.
1. “Lions Roar” - The Hush Sound
A typographical motion graphic piece to one of The Hush Sound’s songs.
I'm sure a majority of designers, including myself, need music to be productive. Conversely, music needs design to be successful. Album cover art is the result of that happy marriage between music and graphic design.
Album covers, visually, may not be the most mind-blowing art out there, but it is no doubt a great executor of concept art. It's tricky, as the concept can be anything from the album's title, to a particular lyric, to something only the musician will understand. Nevertheless, album covers are yet another great source of inspiration.
I've selected 15 great inspirational album covers and categorized them into: illustration, digital composition, photo manipulation, and mixed media.
Illustration
1. Self Against City - Take it How You Want It EP
2. Circa Survive - Juturna
Gorgeous illustration. Very Nightmare Before Christmas-eque, but a bit darker.
Gorgeous illustration. Very Nightmare Before Christmas-eque, but a bit darker.
