Typography: Task 3A - Type Design & Communication

May 25, 2022

Typography: Task 3A - Type Design & Communication

17/5/2022 - 7/6/2022 (Week 8 - Week 10)

Yew Yu Pheng | 0348359 | Bachelor of Mass Communication (Hons) Advertising and Brand Management | Taylor's University | Typography

Task 3: Type Design and Communication

LECTURES

Link to previous lecture notes:

Lecture Notes Week 1 - 4

Lecture Notes Week 5 - 6

Things to be aware when designing a typeface:

The art board height should be 1000pt.

The x-height should be 500 pt.

INSTRUCTION

Fig. 2.1 Module Information | 17 May 2022

Task 3A - Type Design & Communication (Typeface Design)

You will be tasked to design a limited number of western alphabets. To begin, choose an existing font design that adheres to the direction that you would like to head in. Study the font carefully by analysing its anatomical parts.

Start with rough sketches and upon approval begin digitization of the drawings—software for digitization shall be determined in class. Artworks shall be printed out for critique sessions followed by refinements. If time permits we shall generate the font for actual use.

You will endeavour to create a typeface that has the hallmarks of a good typeface; subtlety, character, presence, legibility and readability. Below are the letters you will design: a e t k g r i y m p n ! # , .

1. Sketching

After looking for some inspiration on the internet, I designed several sketches for the new typeface.

Fig. 2.2 1st & 2nd Sketches of Typeface Design | 19 May 2022

Fig. 2.3 3rd Sketches of Typeface Design | 19 May 2022

Fig. 2.4 4th Sketches of Typeface Design | 19 May 2022

I personally like the first one as well as the second one. Because I feel that these two designs are more feasible and can maintain consistency then other designs. After getting advice from Mr. Vinod, I decided to go with the second sketch as my digital font.

2. Identifying References

I choose Futura Std Medium as my reference out of the 10 typefaces provided. Since the typeface is more similar to some of the letters in my typeface.

Fig. 2.5 Deconstructed "u" , Futura Std Medium | 20 May 2022

Fig. 2.6 Deconstructed "b" , Futura Std Medium | 20 May 2022

Fig. 2.7 Deconstructed "m" , Futura Std Medium | 20 May 2022

1st Attempt of Digitizing

Fig. 2.8 First Attempt for Task 3A | 22 May 2022

This image is the first attempt of digitizing the design, I am not very satisfied with it, so I decided to redo.

2nd Attempt of Digitizing

Fig. 2.9 Second Attempt for Task 3A | 25 May 2022

Measurement:

Ascender height: 780 pt

Cap height: 735 pt

Median: 500 pt

Baseline: 0 pt

Descender: -191 pt

Developing in FontLab

Fig. 2.10 Copy and Paste the Letter into FontLab | 31 May 2022

Fig. 2.11 All Letters and Punctuations in FontLab | 31 May 2022

After that, I adjust the kernings and spacing between the letters in FontLab. Then after completing all the necessary adjustments, I exported and installed the new designed typeface to my laptop.

Naming the Typeface

I named the new typeface as io.ze. The typeface was inspired by the arrangement of the digital clock and the gaming website .io.

Final Submission

Fig. 2.12 Final Submission of Task 3A, io.ze (JPEG) | 7 June 2022

Fig. 2.13 Final Submission of Task 3A, io.ze (PDF) | 7 June 2022

Fig. 2.14 Final Submission of Task 3A, io.ze Poster (JPEG) | 7 June 2022

Fig. 2.15 Final Submission of Task 3A, io.ze Poster (PDF) | 7 June 2022

Download Link for io.ze: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vznD_SzmOK5iYLzq0FpcFac6t_1F0c06?usp=sharing

FEEDBACK

Week 8:

General Feedback: Keep on sketching.

Week 9:

General Feedback: When sketching, it will be better if you have different thicknesses of pens, or you can shave your pencils.

Specific Feedback: Sketch 3 is something you need to avoid when designing a typeface. Can proceed with sketch 2.

Week 10:

General Feedback: Everything is consistent, don't have big problems.

Specific Feedback: The letter "m" needs to be wider, it's too narrow. Others seem fine.

REFLECTION

Experience - This task meant a lot to me. Through this task, I managed to come out with my first typeface design. From the initial draft to the later digitization and finally to be able to apply it in my computer's software. The whole process was amazing to me.

Observation - Through this task, I found that in every typeface, there are many subtle differences. For example, although the preset spacing between each letter is the same, each letter may even need to have a different spacing when combined with another letter to make the font look smoother and easier to read. This is something I did not notice before.

Findings - Before designing a new typeface, there is a lot of research as well as observation that needs to be done. Looking at existing fonts, studying the use of shapes, etc., is very complicated and takes a lot of time. At the same time, it is better not to have too many differences between fonts, otherwise, it will cause the font looks messy.