Articles about screen design issues do not frequently appear in traditional design publications. Many have been slow to publish anything on screen design or if they do, its often a cursory mention and light on the critical insight. In the past, Eye magazine have published some excellent material in this area, including the series of Screen Essays by Jessica Helfhand and a smattering of articles on motion graphics and film titles. However, more recently their attempts to critique contemporary web design, Online Drift (Eye, 64), has not shown the calibre of critical insight or writing that Eye is renowned for. The current issue (66) comprises a special technology section which looks promising, it even includes an article by Khoi Vinh. There is no question that there has been massive change in graphic design and typography brought about by the opportunities presented by digital media and telecommunications, and there are large numbers of designers now employed in screen based design activities (web design, motion graphics, UI and software design etc). However, publication and widespread awareness of design for screen and related issues within the traditional field is still slow. Maybe 2008 will be a watershed.

End titles seem to be replacing opening titles in terms of the opportunity for animated typographic sequences. Here is one example of the many that have emerged over the last year, yu+Co’s sequence for Enchanted. It also encompasses the ‘growth theme’ animation style that seemed to crop up everywhere last year (no pun intended!). Its an interesting development in film graphics that the titles sequences are now becoming little epilogues to the main narrative, almost like a ‘come down’ for audience after the adrenalin rush of two hours of thrilling cinema. I wonder how many people stay to watch them. Another one to file under film titles.