Advanced Typography - Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

31/05/2023 - 05/07/2023 / Week 9 - Week 14

Hayato Saito / 0350466

Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

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LECTURES

Task 1: Exercises

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INSTRUCTIONS

For Task 3, we get to dictate our own project. We are to either design a typeface to solve a problem in the area of our interest (Graphic Design, UI/UX, Animation, Entertainment Design, or any other) or explore the use of a typeface in our area of interest. The end outcome would be the designed typeface in its application - any kind of format related to the issue being solved or explored: animation, 3D, print, ambient, projection, movie title or game title, use of different materials, etc.

1. Proposal of ideas

Fig.1.1 Proposal - Google Slides (31/05/2023)

These are the slides we were asked to make in the first week of this project to explain our ideas for this project. I chose graffiti-style typefaces and punk-style typefaces. 

2. Explanation of Chosen Idea

Fig.2.1 Graffiti Style Typefaces (Throwup)

I decided to proceed with the first idea because I was more passionate about the first idea than the second one and I chose the style called "throwup" because this is my favorite style and it looked most interesting to make so I decided to make the typefaces based on throwup style that can be used for stickers, poster, album cover, and book cover.

3. Sketches

Fig.3.1 Sketche (07/06/2023)

After deciding my direction, I started to create the font that I thought was easy to make and this is my first attempt at it. The font on the bottom is the reference typeface I was using. Initially, I was planning to make the font with a 3d effect, and the little spikes but I realized it's hard to keep the font consistent with the little spikes also when I asked Mr. Vinod if I should continue with the 3D effect, he asked me to get rid of it so I decided to continue without the 3D effect and spikes. I kept the main elements to make it easy to keep my font consistent.

4. Further progresses

Fig.4.1 Progress (14/06/2023)

I got rid of the 3D effects and little spikes and started creating letters from the letter A in the new canvas (The little spikes are still on the letter A because I already made it in one shape.)

Fig.4.2 Process of making "M" (14/06/2023)

I had difficulty with making the letter M, the M on the left is the one I created first but it didn't look good and consistent so I went back to do research about throwup font and using my friend's opinions, I was able to create the letter M on the right.

Fig.4.3 Process of making "u" (21/06/2023)

I struggled to make the letter u the most left one is the one I made first, it didn't really look like n and it didn't look consistent so I made the middle left one using the letter n but I couldn't figure it out how to make the white line looks natural so I created the middle right one which is kind of go back to first one. I tried to make the gap wider to make it more looks like u but I ended up making it weirder so I decided to just use U but make it smaller.

Fig.4.4 Completed typefaces (05/07/2023)

Since I wasn't really told to fix anything by Mr. Vinod, My journey of making typeface went really smoothly. I just tried to keep my typeface consistency and I completed my typefaces.

Fig.4.5 Original Outline Structures (05/07/2023)

This is the original structure before making them in one shape for FontLab by using the shape builder tool.

Fig.4.6 After using the shape builder tool (05/07/2023)

I wanted to keep the white lines so I didn't make them completely in one shape.

Fig.4.7 Illustrator Workspace (05/07/2023)

5. Fontlab

Fig.5.1 Fontlab Workspace (05/07/2023)

I had trouble when I was putting my fonts in Fontlab but thanks to advice from sir, turned out it was because I didn't change the setting properly.

Fig.5.2 Fontlab Kerning (05/07/2023)

I re-watched the youtube tutorial from the typography class and followed it. I made most of the gap 50 as the tutorial says but I also adjusted a bit for some letters and made a little change.

Fig.5.3 Development of the letter h (05/07/2023)

While I was doing kerning, I realized the h looked a bit off because it wasn't aligned properly. I did it purposely to make the difference between n and h obvious but it didn't work out well in the end so I made it aligned and fixed the problem.

Fig.5.4 Fontlab Workspace and The Example of The Splash Decolation (05/07/2023)

Instead of making the parens and braces, I created the splash thingy that is often used for the throwup style graffiti to decorate the graffiti. The parens are for the uppercase letters and the braces are for the lowercase letters.

6. Type Specimen

Fig.6.1 Type Specimen - Cover page and the inspiration "Hello my name is" sticker (06/07/2023)

For the cover page, I was inspired by the really famous sticker that is used for graffiti art as you can see on the right above. So I made the whole canvas looks like the sticker and put my font name with my font and added some hand-drawing looking lines to make it looks more real.

      

Fig.6.2 Type Specimen - 2.3.4 pages and The Inspiration (06/07/2023)

To showcase my typefaces, I was inspired by the way that graffiti designers use to display their graffiti letters. 

7. Applications

Fig.7.1 Illustrator workspace (06/07/2023)

Final Task 3

1. .ttf link 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JB7pDPd0VQq_WgoZwI_HhNYIGPrZft5y/view?usp=drive_link

2. Type Specimen

Fig.8.1 Final Type Specimen - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.2 Final Type Specimen - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.3 Final Type Specimen - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.4 Final Type Specimen - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.5 Final Type Specimen - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.6 Final Type Specimen - PDF (06/07/2023)

3. Applications

Fig.8.7 Final Application Poster - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.8 Final Application Poster - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.9 Final Application Poster - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.10 Final Application Mock-Up - JPEG (06/07/2023)

Fig.8.11 Final Application Posters and Mock-Up - PDF (06/07/2023)

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FEEDBACKS

Week 9

Specific Feedback: I have to have reason to have why I want to make that typeface.

Week 10

Specific Feedback: He told me not to add a 3D effect to my typeface.

Week 11

Specific Feedback: He said my typeface looks good and asked me to continue and finish it

Week 12

Specific Feedback: He liked my progress and he asked me to continue and finish it.

Week 13

No class

Week 14

Specific Feedback: He said my typeface looks okay but asked me to 

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REFLECTION

Experience

Getting started on the project of making my own typefaces was both fun and hard. It involved paying close attention to every detail, knowing a lot about letter shapes, and having a creative mind. I started by looking at typefaces that were already out there and studied their structure, stroke variations, and general look. Through this process, I was able to learn the basics and rules of type creation.

Observations

One of the most important things I noticed was how small changes and subtle differences can change the character and attitude of a typeface in a big way. The feel and tone of a letter can be totally changed by where a curve is placed, what angle a serif is at, or how the weight of a stroke spreads out. This made me realize how important accuracy and attention to detail are for making type designs that look good and fit together.

Findings

I learned to respect how type design strikes a careful balance between legibility and expression. Even though it was tempting to only focus on making letters that looked interesting and unique, I soon realized that legibility and reading are much more important. Making sure that the characters can be easily seen and understood in different sizes and situations became an important part of how I create type. This balance between form and function forced me to think of creative ways to give my typefaces personality and character while still making them useful.

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FURTHER READING

Fig.8.1 Typographic design: Form and communication (2015)

Reference:

Carter, R., Day, B., Meggs, P. B., Maxa, S., & Sanders, M.

(2015). Typographic design: Form and communication.

Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Fig.8.2 Unity of design in the type font (P. 37)

I found what I can most connect to and what I've learned from this assignment on this page: "This typeface combines repeated curves, verticals, horizontals, and serifs to give typographic designs variety and unity." I've learned that if the letters have the same main parts, they will instantly look the same. I learned that the best way to make all the letters look the same and make good fonts is to try to give them core features.