Expressive Typography
My rationale for the design was to capture the progression of the Mariner’s chaotic journey both physically and mentally through type. The type starts off somewhat controlled and gradually becomes more erratic according to the poem. All panels have been made by hand, using both cut out and handmade lettering on A1 posters, photographed and digitised.
Type created was taken from the following stanzas:
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
And he stoppeth one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.
And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.
The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!
Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide wide sea!
And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.
Alone on a wide wide sea!
And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.
