Design Blog - week 2

 

This week, I ended up back in a place that felt oddly familiar but also kind of refreshing: Adobe Illustrator and typography. What made it interesting is that the video I learned from this time around is one I actually watched when I first started using Illustrator last year. Back then, I remember feeling overwhelmed and only picking up bits and pieces. Revisiting it now, with more experience and patience, felt like unlocking a second layer of understanding that I didn’t have access to before.

Check out the video here!: WAYS TO ENHANCE TEXT IN ILLUSTRATOR! 

One thing that really stood out this time was how Illustrator treats type as a design element, not just words on a screen. Typography isn’t just about choosing a font, it’s about how that font behaves, how it sits in space, and how it interacts with other elements. Understanding when to keep text editable and when to convert it into outlines made a lot more sense now, especially when thinking about clean final designs versus flexible working files.
    The video also highlighted how much impact spacing choices can have on typography. Kerning, tracking, and leading might seem minor at first, but once you start paying attention, you realize how much they affect readability and mood. These tiny adjustments are the difference between type that feels rushed and type that feels intentional. It’s one of those things beginners don’t always notice right away, myself included.
    Another topic that clicked for me was using type beyond straight lines. Working with text on paths or within shapes opens up a lot of creative possibilities, especially for logos, posters, or experimental layouts. When I first started, I avoided these tools because they felt complicated. Now, they feel more like an invitation to push typography further instead of keeping it boxed in.
    The video also reinforced the importance of organization when working with text. Naming layers, grouping type elements, and keeping things structured makes the whole design process smoother. It’s not the flashiest part of Illustrator, but it’s what allows creativity to flow without things getting chaotic.

    Lastly, one of the most valuable reminders was about restraint in typography. Illustrator gives you endless options, but good design comes from knowing when to stop. Limiting font choices and effects helps the message stay clear and strong, which is something I’ve started valuing more as I grow as a designer.

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