Essay
Barthes on the Ballpoint
Question
. How the invention of the ballpoint impacted the graphic design?
. Did ballpoint pen hinder our creativity?
The writing in relation to the creativity freedom of the hand expressive.
How is the writing related to the graphic design?
does the expressive form of the hand whilst writing relate to the aesthetic of the design we see today?
Computer have made it easier for designers to stay away form the messy look. Design mostly gives about this clean and tidy type of feel. On the other hand, handwriting is all about the freedom of your hand. It can be messy but you feel connected to it.
Writers like to get themselves involve in the writing and feel one with it. They can pour everything on the paper. Raw emotions/ ideas. Using pen also requires this elegance which computers doesn't provide.
Different types of pen brings out different styles. It depends on the mood of the writer, whether he wants the heaviness or the lightness while writing. Each of the styles have their own purposes.
Barthes isn't fond of the ballpoint and also towards who use it.
Ballpoint was developed as a cleaner and reliable version of quill and fountain pens.It is worlds most used writing pen and has inspired art and graphic design.
Barthes may dislike because of its simplicity and how not much effort is put while writing it. Theres is no sense of writing with it for Barthes. Its just straightforward plain. Unlike ballpoint pen, quill and fountain pen requires some what skill to use it effectively. There is a certain type of way to handle it and write with it.
With fountain pen you can do very much other than just writing. It can create many strokes depending upon the speed and directions of the writer. Whereas, the ballpoint pen can only do one thing which is simply write in a one(normal way). Its more expressive.
Ballpoints writing tends to be more simple
http://courses.washington.edu/art479/media/universal_principles1.pdf
In this link it talks about how the design is preferred more in a way aesthetic way. People prefer it and also find it easier to use. The experiments have already been undertaken and proven that people find aesthetic design having and easy usability. People pick based on the aesthetic design, they have higher probability than non aesthetic design. Its playing a major role on how design is changing. Even though functionality may not be the best, people tend to be tolerate towards it. We perceive that it provides us with easier way of using, helps us think creatively.
http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/emotion_design_at.html
This article also supports how aesthetics are a first choice. We are attracted to attractive things and theres that. We genetically are made to go towards beautiful things.
characteristics of ballpoint pen
sources
different use of fountain pen
fountain pens sales rising
ballpoint pen might be overruling the fountain pen but it is definitely getting peoples attention. With fountain pen there is so many ways of transforming your writing whereas ballpoint has no such ways and is pretty dull. Maybe people are finding that theres so much possibility with it or they just want to experience the old ways of writing.
