Words as Images

Much of design deals with the synthesis and juxtaposition of words and images; however, sometimes words and images can be one in the same.

Through the study of typography, the designer learns how different letterforms can embody different personalities and moods. However, in some instances, the designer pushes that subtle characterization to the extreme to the point where words resemble images, yet still retain their recognizable shapes.

Words as images is playful and attracts the audience's attention. It instantly attracts attention, because people see it as clever and as a break from the normal separation of type and images. Even in media like comics where type and images are combined, they are often separated by space or a speech bubble and are rarely part of the same form.

These are typically bistable images. Gestalt psychology tells us that we can't seen both the word and the image at the same time. This phenomenon adds interest to the design and causes the viewer to want to stare longer, which makes it very effective as a communication tool.

One disadvantage to using words as images is that readability is often sacrificed. It takes longer for the viewer to comprehend both the word and the image, which makes this technique absolutely impractical for things like highway signage. Also, when used in excess, it loses its novelty and can become obnoxious. Therefore when used in poster design is often juxtaposed with a clean readable type.

Playing with type and creating images from type can be a very useful design tool. What it lacks in readability, it makes up for in visual interest. Type working as image is the ultimate marriage of word and image