How are you doing?

How are you doing?
Answering without a pen

by Rebecca Viola Lobe

This lesson’s topic is typography, or, more precisely, writing without writing material. The students are asked to express their current emotional state using objects, searching for suitable material in their environment. In the process, they engage with typography, graphics, and layout, their creativity and imagination are encouraged, and writing and typeface design are explored. Serving as preparation, works by Stefan Sagmeister are discussed in a short presentation at the beginning of the online unit. The app Padlet, which is very well suited for distance learning due to its simple handling, will be used for the final presentation of the finished works.

Based on Stefan Sagmeister’s “The Happy Film” (2016), this project aims to connect the preoccupation with extended modes of representation in graphics, typography and layout with personal expression of psychological states of mind. Sagmeister is an internationally renowned, Austrian graphic designer who has been invited to various museums (ICA Philadelphia, Design Exchange in Toronto, Chicago Cultural Center, Gâité Lyrique in Paris, Museum of Vancouver, MAK Vienna, Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, Museum für Gestaltung Zurich, Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles) with his “Happy Show” from 2012 to 2021 and has been featured and widely received at international film festivals with the accompanying film “The Happy Film”. In both exhibition and film, Sagmeister deals with his personal exploration of happiness, illustrated with graphically and visually appealing means and an interesting choice of typographical materials.

Due to the pandemic, the media repeatedly report on young people and their high psychological stress caused by restrictions and distance learning. This unit is intended to give students time and space to consider the question of their mental state and implement their answer – like Stefan Sagmeister – graphically. Their artistic responses are then uploaded as an image in the app Padlet. Padlet provides digital pinboards that can be easily designed and filled with notes and pictures. It is particularly suitable for this purpose, as only the teacher needs to register to prepare the pinboard so that the students can easily access it via link and share content that is then visible to everyone. To prevent inappropriate or hurtful commentary on the photos, the comment function can also be disabled, if necessary.

In this unit, the students are also informed about counseling services (either at school, or external ones) that they can turn to if they or people around them seek professional help. They learn how to use art as a medium for expressing personal feelings and at the same time deal with typography, graphics and layout. In addition, they are introduced to the work of Stefan Sagmeister.

  • Introduction (approx. 15 minutes)
    At the beginning of the unit, the teacher asks the students how they feel. They are invited to reflect for a moment and then write down a single word. For a minute, there is silence. The answers are not shared for the time being. Hereafter, there is a short presentation of works by Stefan Sagmeister: “Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far” and “The Happy Film” (see references). The choice of materials and typefaces will be analyzed in conversations between teacher and student.
  • Realization
    The next step is to announce the task: All students respond to the question “How are you?” with one word (possibly more). This word will be ‘laid’ using everyday objects or natural materials. The materials as well as the background can be chosen freely, but ideally should match the meaning of the word, contradict it, complement it, etc. The goal is to have the students engage with different materials and their effects, and at the same time with their own world of emotions in times of a pandemic.
  • Conclusion
    The word created is then photographed with a smartphone and uploaded to Padlet. If the class is not yet familiar with working with Padlet, this should be explained briefly (using split screen). The students leave the meeting, work on their words for the remaining time, and upload the result on the same day. The finished works are viewed and discussed together online on the next possible occasion. This virtual space allows for the sharing of emotional states. In addition, support services within the school (mentors, student counselors, school psychologists) and external counseling centers (in Austria: 147 Rat auf Draht, Frauennotruf Österreich, Türkis Rosa Lila Villa, Zara Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit, Beratungsstelle Extremismus, Rauch-Entwöhnungshilfe) are referred to.

A selection of counseling centers in Austria:

On a black background, the phrase
How are you doing? Answering without a pen

Wie geht es dir? Ungewöhnliche Typo © 2022 by Rebecca Viola Lobe is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Rebecca Viola Lobe, studies at the Department Art and Education, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

Author’s Encouragement
Students can playfully explore graphics, typography, and layout using everyday objects. Thanks to the free choice of materials and the use of the Padlet app, the concept can also be easily realized in distance learning. Creating a pinboard with Padlet is very simple and fast. Uploading photos and notes works intuitively and does not require long explanations on behalf of the teacher. The students receive a link, upload their photo and are able to view the content of the others, too.