The FONT SWITCH PROJECT held a collaborative class with the Kyoto University Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies on June 19, 2024. Professor Eri Ono of the Kyoto University Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies actively provides design support to researchers, including giving a lecture on the design of academic information using the "Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Research Proposal Document."
We hope that Morisawa fonts will be used in a variety of activities by all students, not just those studying design. We visited Professor Ono's "Information Design Seminar" class and spoke to Kyoto University students about fonts and layouts, which are essential for information design.
First, we asked Professor Ono about his classes.
In Professor Ono's classes, he emphasizes "organizing information" by considering what information the other person wants, rather than focusing on one's own perspective. Before the collaborative class, what were your expectations of Morisawa?
It is important to organize the information you want to convey, and visual consideration is also necessary to ensure that the information is conveyed appropriately to the other person. This class is about a company that creates text, so we will be focusing on the use of text when creating documents.You have the option to change the font from the default font in tools such as PowerPoint.I wanted the students to understand this, and I was looking forward to hearing content like this.
We also wanted them to understand that changing the font can make documents easier to understand and communicate.
In particular, for UD fonts that take universal design into consideration,From the perspective of universal designI wanted to let people know about it.
Professor Ono, who lectures on information design at various educational institutions, please tell us your impressions of taking the course.
Not only did we learn about how to use fonts, but we also learned about layout, etc., and although the lecture was short, I think it was packed with lots of tips for improving materials from a design perspective.
After the class, the students said,You can start using it tomorrow, and it's not just for presentations."The comments were very positive, and they were spot on.
The process of creating fonts was very interesting, and I learned that the fonts we use every day are made through many processes and hard work.
Seminar Overview
This seminar was divided into two parts and was aimed at students who create slides and materials for research presentations.
Part: "Morisawa's Typeface Creation"
While providing basic knowledge about fonts, we talked about the production process at Morisawa's typeface production site and the key points they pay particular attention to when creating typefaces.
Part 2: "Tips for creating effective presentation materials"
Using sample data from presentation slides, we shared font selection and layout know-how that will be useful when creating materials from the perspective of a font manufacturer.
Comments from students who attended the course
This seminar will be held atKyoto University WorkshopMany students also participated.
Kyoto University Workshop is an organization that aims to "give shape to ideas from a student's perspective" and provides practical learning about manufacturing and business through the development and sale of unique products that are unique to Kyoto University.
We asked the students at Kyoto University Workshop how they think they can use the content of this class in their own activities.
I thought I could use the tips on text layout when making product POPs and flyers.
I had thought that "readability" was an intuitive issue, but it was fascinating to learn the significance of font selection and the logic behind it through explanations such as, "Mincho fonts have thick vertical lines that make it easier for the eye to flow vertically."
In the second half of the session, we were given instruction on how to create slides, not only in terms of fonts but also in terms of color usage and layout.The information provided was eye-opening and can be immediately used not only for slides but also for POP displays for Kyoto University Workshop products and on social media, and we realized that it has broadened our enjoyment of design.
When I actually used UD fonts, I noticed many small differences. It was refreshing to see that the fonts were already set up to look beautiful without having to worry too much about the layout of the characters.
Not only were they able to apply what they learned to their own creative endeavors, but they also learned about the ingenuity of the creative works that exist in the world.
Thank you everyone. In order to convey information to others, it is important to organize the information and decide what to communicate, but I'm glad that you were able to understand the importance of font selection and layout as one way of conveying information.
It was very impressive to hear comments from student groups like Kyoto University Workshop, which operates with a unique and progressive perspective, that "fonts could be used in both creative and business activities," in addition to classes and research!I hope you will use the fonts effectively in your activities..Morisawa would also like to expand this circle even further.
I want to use Morisawa fonts
●You can use UD fonts with Office software! The product is"MORISAWA BIZ+" For detailsHere