Advanced Typography - Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

16/6/2024 - 22/7/2024 / Week 9 - Week 14

Cindy Clarissa Leslie / 0367677
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

---

LECTURES

Link to lectures 1 to 4

Link to lecture 5

---

INSTRUCTIONS

In this task, we were required to propose specific problems and how we could design a font in order to solve them. These proposals were collected in slides format and proposed to the lecturer in order to decide which ones were good enough to do.

Research

Figure 1.1 Slides for proposal. Week 9, 16/6/2024

In the end, I chose to create an extension based on my old font and go with the final idea of creating a font for a band, I wanted to be able to present their metalcore music that showcases how different songs in the album is able to be loud and sharp, while some of their songs are on the softer side.

Figure 1.2 Original logo/typeface for the band. Week 9, 16/6/2024

Setting the original typeface as a reference itself, I wanted to be able to create improvements that could make a typeface that felt more personalized and be more differenciated than others.

Figure 1.3 Band typefaces. Week 9, 16/6/2024.

While I researched for the typefaces that similar bands within the same genres use, I notice how they have small characteristics that becomes the typeface's selling point especially for presenting the band. Example, the erased streaks in the letterfonts for the band 'Show Me the Body' and the enlarged, sharp 'A' for the band 'Static Dress'. 

I noticed how these typefaces are able to reflect on the music that each bands create, with 'Static Dress' creating songs that are louder and sharp which could be heard through their guitars and such in comparison to 'Show Me the Body', which is more of a combination of hip-hop and sludgemetal.

I wanted my typeface to emphasize on the variety of 'Loathe's music, therefore I wanted the typeface to be characterized by both its curves and sharpness on the edge.

Figure 1.4 Typeface used as reference. Week 9, 16/6/2024.

Before starting, I wanted to have a condensed sans serif typeface as a reference, to which I used 'Dozed Rough' as not only the typeface has similar fundamentals I'm going for but also the whole rugged  atmosphere of the font brings.

Sketch

Figure 2.1 Initial sketch of the font. Week 9, 21/6/2024.

Before starting, I created a rough sketch of what I wanted my font to look like using a calligraphy pen and annotated the small changes I wanted to keep in mind while I digitalized my font. What I prioritized on is keeping the edges on the top left side to all be curved while I retain all the blocks and sharpness of the rest.

Digitalization

Figure 3.1 Deciding stroke width and other necessary measurements. Week 9, 21/6/2024.

Using this line, I set it as a starting block and created the letters one by one before curving some of the points. I used the same way of construction as I did with my old font, which is to use the rectangle shape tool.

Figure 3.2 Curving the points of each letters. Week 9, 21/6/2024.

After creating the starting blocks, I was able to combine each letters and choose specific points to curve, I kept in mind to only curve the left side and such.

Figure 3.3 Uppercase letters before adjusments. Week 9, 21/6/2024.

I compiled them into one image to receive feedback from the lecturer, which I learned that though the style was consistent there were still small errors especially in the counterspace.

Figure 3.3 Creating lowercase letters. Week 10, 28/6/2024.

Using the same way of construction, I started creating the lowercase letters.

Figure 3.4 Adjusting x-height. Week 11, 1/7/2024.

While I worked in class, I received a feedback that I should increase the x-height so that the letters would look better beside the uppercase letters. The left one shows the letter after adjusment and the right was the initial height.

Figure 3.5 Comparison of lowercase letters before and after adjusments. Week 11, 1/7/2024.

Applying the same x-height for the rest of the letters, this ensures the typeface looks more condensed.

Figure 3.6 Creating punctuations. Week 12, 8/7/2024.

Construction for punctuations was the same as letters while ensuring the rules are followed, I ensured the coma was 2 blocks in height and the brackets reach the descenders.

Figure 3.7 Initial kerning with FontForge. Week 12, 12/7/2024.

I initially used FontForge to kern my letters but I was eventually met with issues especially in adjusting the size of each letters, which is why I eventually switched to FontLab 8.

Figure 3.8 Kerning using FontLab8.  Week 12, 12/7/2024.

I initially kerned between the letters of 'H' and 'O' to set a foundation for the rest of the letters. I first kerned all the uppercases before proceeding onto the lowercase ones. After I completed the kerning, I revised it by typing in different words or phrases and adjust any weird spacing by eye if necessary.

Font presentation/application

Figure 4.1 Creating font presentation in Adobe Illustrator.  Week 13, 15/7/2024.

After generating the font, I created 5 different designs in Illustrator to showcase it. I used red specifically in order to go along with the band's aesthetic.

Figure 4.2 Reference used for application.  Week 13, 19/7/2024.

Using an actual album from the band, I set this as a reference especially with the colour scheme and the dark illustrations.

Figure 4.3 Creating illustrations for application. Week 13, 19/7/2024.

I wanted to create album covers and such, therefore I used Photoshop to create simple illustrations that could support the font and the overall look.

Figure 4.4 Final design. Week 13, 19/7/2024.

To finalize the design, I added the most important component which was the font and added in gradient map to change the whole illustration to black and white before topping it off with textures to add a 'grunge' look.

Figure 4.5 Different designs created using the illustration. Week 13, 19/7/2024.

I then used the same illustration as an extension for the other applications, using different programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop. I was able to finish 5 different designs.

Figure 4.6 Using mockups for final application. Week 13, 19/7/2024.

In the end, I placed my designs onto different mockups for the final application. I initially used websites such as mocky however, for more obscure applications such as the vinyl I'm using, I had to search through behance and manually applied it in Photoshop.

Final Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

Link to font file: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y-ofNZOG0ktHT1ybl0XmdRS30QbB_zng?usp=sharing

Final Presentation

Figure 5.1 Final font presentation#1. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 5.2 Final font presentation#2. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 5.3 Final font presentation#3. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 5.4 Final font presentation#4. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 5.5 Final font presentation#5. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Final Applications

Figure 6.1 Final font application#1. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 6.2 Final font application#2. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 6.3 Final font application#3. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 6.4 Final font application#4. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 6.5 Final font application#5. Week 13, 15/7/2024

Figure 6.6 Final pdf submission. Week 13, 15/7/2024

---

FEEDBACK

Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

Week 9

Directed Feedbacks

2nd idea is rather risky and needs more discipline as fonts for UI needs more readability rather than focusing solely on the aesthetic, make sure the font is FUNCTIONAL. 1st idea does not have to specifically be a magazine, the font based on the designer could be created for their branding or integrated into their promotional posts on social media, just make sure to find clothes/design that has similar key points and be able to take that in order to create the font. 3rd idea can be expanded more specifically, it does not have to just be publication as it is too general, ex: for a band, own fashion merchandise, brand.

Week 10

Directed Feedbacks

The style of the typeface is overall already consistent, however there are still some inconsistency within the details like the curvatures and especially the negative spacing. 

Week 11

Directed Feedbacks

Change some of the letters, especially M and W, it's okay to go bigger than 3 bars. Change the lowercase letter's x-height to be taller so it wouldn't look awkward next to uppercase letters.

---

REFLECTION

Experience

This task had overall been fun as I get to involve one of my interests in music for my design. The font work wasn't as fun since I had to construct one from scratch as such, not only that but I also had to constantly improve it but also fix minor errors if they had any before putting it into the system and kerning the letters one by one. Both presentation and application was the one I liked more since it's more focused on designing graphical elements, I felt like I had to get into the mind of someone in charge of managing the designs for the band.

Observations

I observed how there's so much exploration that could be done just in creating a typeface. Though font may only take up a small part of the design, consistent usage and successful integration into designs, together with the distinctive characteristics it has, the font is able to help build an image. This again goes back to audience building, as the font itself should be able to communicate an idea towards clients.

Findings

I found that fonts also help create brand identity, when designed correctly, audience/clients are able to recognize a specific brand just by looking at its font. These tasks overall, together with the last one, had been about brand building and how the integration of fonts could help construct desired images. This was overall an interesting find that also showed the importance of typography within design.

---

FURTHER READING

Computer Typography Basics by David Creamer

Figure 7.1 Creamer, David, et al. I.D.E.A.S, Computer Typography Basics, 2003

Figure 7.2 Computer Typography Basics, page 2.

Before starting, I had to decide what kind of font I wanted to create to which these pages have shown different kinds of fonts as a revision for me. Serif fonts are the most commonly found typeface as it is also the easiest to read. Sans serif imply fonts are without serifs, characterized by an equal weight throughout its strokes. Scripts are created to mimic handwriting. Display are decorative fonts designed to catch attention especially for headlines. Texts are old handwritten letters. Mono-spaced are proportionally spaced. Dingbats are symbols.

Figure 7.3 Computer Typography Basics, page 7.

This page simply shows the different typeface weights and styles that I could use as a reference when extending the font I created. The weights range from standard weights, condensed weight, and extended weight. My font will be condensed as the standard.