Johnson, Linda K.

Artificial intelligence is now a way of life meaning, it is hard to find any type of technology or technological advance that isn’t assisted by or powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. From Siri on our iPhones to our computer tailored Netflix home screens to fast learning computerized and independent floor vacuums AI is everywhere you turn intruding on every aspect of daily functioning. As the pressure of said intrusion increases questions arise about whether all these advances can become crushing to humans. In some instances technology with AI components has been used to replace certain skill sets affecting the availability of employment surround jobs including, cashiers, hotel reception, customer service, taxi drivers, toll booths. And what about graphic design? Can a machine programmed with AI replace the creativity of a human spirit?
The research explores the tension between automated (artificial intelligence + machine learning) and manual, human initiated methods and practices in graphic design…
Can humans be removed from the process of graphic design? Expected outcome: No
How can the case study exploration coupled with the examination of certain considerations including ethical practices, human creativity, quality and originality demonstrate the necessity of human involvement.

Based on extensive research into the development of Roman text typefaces from the middle of the incunabula (circa 1475) to the end of the 17th Century when the second major wave of Roman text types began, this thesis will document the design and production of a text typeface using many of the developments of the period. Because the incunabula saw the bringing together of the miniscules and majuscules (upper- and lowercases) for use on a single page and because for the first time in Western history the exact same letter form could be used in many printed works at once, we have, now frozen in our visual language, letter forms conforming to set but often contradictory rules of rhythm and order, size and proportion. I will explore these rules and contradictions in the development of a typeface and will, on occasion, break them, developing rules of my own.