Daft Punk Typography: Word & Image

Word and image interact together in many visual designs. In many works, words and images are juxtaposed on the same plane to communicate a message. The image of a work is used to explain the text, while the text also explains the image. In this case, words and images have purpose when the other is present. In other cases, words and images are integrated together - images are made to look like words or words are made to look like images.

For the past week of studying for midterms, typing up papers, and catching up on readings for class, I've been resorting to two things: the internet and the music of Daft Punk as a getaway from school work. While looking through people's work on Deviant Art, I stumbled upon this image.

(Image taken from deviantart.com)

I admit, I'm a Daft fanatic. Because I'm also a typography fanatic, this image just blew my mind out. Created by James Fleuraime (deviant art user name fleuraime), this typographic image titled "Technologic - Daft Punk" shows a portrait of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo wearing his famous helmet. Fleuraime integrates the words of the lyrics of Daft Punk's songs into the image of de Homem-Christo. With the use of various sizes of text, different colors, placement of type, etc., the portrait successfully establishes unity throughout the image. Through our gestalt perception, we initially see the portrait of de Homem-Christo as a whole, then eventually notice the individual lyrics of Daft Punk. The placement of type also established continuity in the portrait, where the line of type shows the borders of the portrait as well.