Typography - Task 3: Type Design and Communication

It differs from graphic production like drawing and handwriting, it is a fixed set of alphanumeric characters with specific characteristics to be used repetitively. In the lecture class, Mr. Vinod emphasises that we must fix our particular way to create a typeface. A particular way of using a particular tool, creates a particular result.

Fig 1.2. References, Week 7 (16.5.2023)

Overshoot

In type design, overshoot defines to the part of a letterform that extends above or below of the metrics and dimensions.

Fig 1.3. Overshoot, Week 11 (13.6.2023)

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2. Sketches

In Week 7 lecture class, Mr Vinod asks us to prepare 5 different tools with different nibs to write three vertical, horizontal, circular lines, and letter 'A', 'O', 'T', 'M' and 'X'.

Fig 2.1. Writing in 5 Different Nibs, Week 7 (16.5.2023)

Then, we were requested for the below mission:

1. Write diagonal, horizontal, vertical and circular lines.

2. Write letter 'A O T M X' in 5 different ways with the 5 tools.

3. Choose 1 from each form to write "a e t k g r i y m p n", either uppercase or lowercase.

The first thing came up to my mind of writing in 5 different ways is to hold the writing tool with different angle, however it only works on broad pens so I Google search for some type design as my references.

Fig 2.2. Reference, Week 8 (23.5.2023)

I was attracted by the one at the lower left, Blackletter, but I think it was designed. I personally like Glyphic (the one above Blackletter). It has minimal contrast between thick and thin strokes, and tapering effect at terminals and triangular shaped serifs. There are examples for this typeface: Albertus, Trajan, Copperplate Gothic etc.

Fig 2.3. Rough Sketches, Week 8 (23.5.2023)

Fig 2.3 shows my writing of the 5 different ways. I have to finish them all without stopping because I do not want to change my tools' angle even just slightly. I think I accidentally designed the 2nd writing.

Fig 2.4. Five options of writing, Week 8 (23.5.2023)

I prefer the 4th and the 5th, then I started writing it repeatedly. Writing them many times helps to fix the particular style of writing.

Fig 2.5. Practices, Week 9 (30.5.2023)

In the end, I decided to go with #4. After the peer feedback section, Mr. Vinod says it is too thin so I will have to make it wider when I digitalise it.

Final Sketch

Fig 2.6. Final Sketch, Week 9 (30.5.2023)

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3. Deconstructions

In this session, we are going to study an existing font design with its shapes, structures and patterns. I chose to deconstruct letter 'n', 'q', and 'r' in ITC Garamond Std.

Fig 3.1. Deconstruction of 'n', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Fig 3.2. Deconstruction of 'q', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Fig 3.3. Deconstruction of 'r', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

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4. Digitalisation

Before starting, we used 'T y d' (Myriad Pro Regular) and a 500x500 px box to measure the grids, following the given tutorial video.

Fig 4.1. Grids Measuring, Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Measurements (from baseline)

Ascender 726 pt

Cap height 689 pt

X-height 500 pt

Descender -222 pt

Fig 4.2. Digitalised Font with Grids, Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Overshoot 9.6 pt

Gap width: 177.5 pt

Fig 4.3. Digitalisation Progression, Week 10 (6.6.2023)

I only used the Brush tool and the Ellipse tool in this session. I used the Ellipse tool to draw out the circular strokes of 'g', 'y', and 'p'. Brushes are in 50 pt, except for the dot of 'i', it came up too small if I continued with 50 pt, so I adjusted it to 76 pt.

Fig 4.4. Construction Progress of 'e', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Fig 4.5. Construction Progress of 'y', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

Fig 4.6. Construction Progress of 't', Week 10 (6.6.2023)

In week 11, we were instructed to come out with punctuation by watching the tutorial video. Periods should be slightly larger than the dot of 'i', commas' circular part have to be slightly smaller than the period. Its height is roughly equals to two stacked periods.

Fig 4.7. Punctuation Development, Week 11 (13.6.2023)

It's a bit challenging to estimate the exclamation mark and numbersign's stroke width. I tried to remain the consistency of them with the letterforms.

Fig 4.8. 1st attempt on FontLab8, Week 11 (13.6.2023)

Then, I tried to upload my font to FontLab8. I typed out some word and I observed some problem. The 'e' is too oblique, comparing to the other letterforms. The 'g' is too thick. I returned to Illustrator to adjust them all again.

Fig 4.9. 2nd attempt on FontLab8, Week 11 (13.6.2023)

Fig 4.4 shows my attempt after adjustment. I think they were more accord with each other. I named my font as Jenna, it's a name of a friendly girl in school who makes the new kid in class feel welcome.

Final Digitalisation

Fig 4.10. Final Digitalisation - Jenna, Week 11 (13.6.2023)

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5. Poster

A. Researching

After generating our own typeface, we're requested to design a poster using it with only 'a e t k g r i y m p n . , ! #'. First of all, I Google searched some plain typographic posters. It gave me some inspiration for my poster later on. Basically we do not allowed to have graphical elements or colours, and intended to create an effective poster.

Fig 5.1. Poster Researching, Week 11 (16.6.2023)

B. Failures - Correction
I have misunderstood some the rules while making poster. I used different point size and didn't fit all letters in one sentence which I combined some of the sentences given from ChatGPT: "Imagine, in my party."

Fig 5.2.1. Attempts on Poster (Incorrect), Week 12 (20.6.2023)

After the peer feedback section, I changed the sentence to "Imaging, I am a type king!" Fig 5.3 shows my attempts on the poster. To ensure they are in the same point size, I used the Rectangle Tool for measurement (shown on the left).

Fig 5.2.2. Attempts on Poster, Week 12 (20.6.2023)

C. Development

I personally like the 3rd and the 6th try out. For the 2nd attempt, Mr. Vinod advices me to adjust my name to a sentence instead of stacking it. It did look much better and balanced.

Fig 5.3.1. Development of 2nd Poster, Week 12 (20.6.2023)

I had a light-bulb moment while listening to other students' feedback and start changing the 3rd poster background into black. I think it embodied the text well.

Fig 5.3.2. Development of 3rd Poster, Week 12 (20.6.2023)

Final Poster Outcome

Fig 5.3.3. Final Poster Outcome (JPG), Week 12 (25.6.2023)

Fig 5.3.4. Final Poster Outcome (PDF), Week 12 (25.6.2023)

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Final Task 3 (Other Submissions)

Font Download: Jenna

Fig 6.1. New Metrics Window, Week 12 (25.6.2023)

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FEEDBACKS

Week 8

General Feedback: Letters should sit in baseline. Don't design the letter, write first.

Specific Feedback: The second option is designed.

Week 9

General Feedback: Watch the lecture video first to avoid many problems. Specific Feedback: The fifth one is good but too thin, make it wider while digitalising.

Week 10

General Feedback: To refine a writing to a font, the key is how you control and the consistency.

Specific Feedback: No feedback is given in Week 10.

Week 11

General Feedback: Exclamation mark's storke should be the same width with the letterform's vertical stroke. Circular stroke should have overshooted.

Specific Feedback: There are some error for the digitalised letterform. The 'g' is too thick, 'e' is not accurate as it should not be oblique.

(Ng Jia Ern) For Task 2, you can add more description between your try outs.

(Alyssa) You can change your page colour to make your image stand out more.

(Kelly) For task 2, after the title 'final text formatting layout' no need to put spacing is fine. (Lee Zi Xian) Font size smaller than usual causing a hinderance in readability, and spacing issues between paragraphs. Other than that nothing else to comment besides good.

Week 12
General Feedback: Create your poster using the same point size.
Specific Feedback: The 2nd and 3rd one is working. For the 2nd one, make your name a sentence instead of stacking it. And for the 3rd one, the 'i' cannot be seen. Leave at least 5mm space.

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REFLECTIONS

Experience

While updating my work on the blogspot, I frequently refer to the sample e-portfolio that is given compliment to ensure I didn't miss out anything. I realised what I thought was too lacking in experience and narrow-minded. There is still a long way to go in type design, and much more progress to work on.

Observations

Actually I was quite enjoying on the lecture class which requested us to write letterforms with different nibs with different way. I found out that many of my peers have interesting ideas on the tools which isn't usually used for writing. They brought spaghetti, ice cream stick, screwdriver etc. The outcomes writing with these tools' opened my eyes, although some are quite awful.

Findings

The key of a typeface is the tool we used to write it out. As the lecture before said, people used sharpen stick or a chisel carving into a stone to write in the early time. I think we are doing the same thing too, but what we are using now becomes modernisation and allows us to explore more about it compared to the past time. We were all involved in the journey of development of typography.

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FURTHER READING

Web Link: https://www.creativebloq.com/typography/design-your-own-typeface-8133919

The 17 tips for a Type Designer:

1. Practice briefing

2. Make fundamental choices

3. Avoid basing your own design from an existing typeface

4. Start from handwriting

5. Use control characters

6. Move to your computer

7. Choose software (exp. FontLab Studio, Glyphs. Robofont)

8. Draw some letters using your software

9. Switch to text view mode

10. Line level

11. Study other typefaces

12. Scale down

13. Print out

14. Add special characters (be flexible!)

15. Explore different styles, widths and weights

16. Globalise it

17. Put it in a test - ask a designer friend to test it out and provide feedbacks

From the above tips, the most inspiring one for me is the 3rd advice. After reading the article, I observed that I have been restricted from the existing typeface. It won't produce better results nor develop my skills to become a type designer. I should just study their particular character, not the whole letter.

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. · ˚ ✧ QUICK LINKS ✧ ˚ · .

Typography - Task 2: Typographic Exploration & Communication

Typography - Task 3: Type Design and Communication

Typography- Final Compilation and Reflection