TYPOGRAPHY TASK 3(A) - TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION
15 OCT 2021 - 29 OCT 2021 ( WEEK 8-WEEK 10)
CHIN ZHI XIAN / 0344352
TYPOGRAPHY / BACHELOR OF DESIGN (HONS) CREATIVE MEDIA
TASK 3(A) - TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION
LECTURES
Week 7
15 OCT 2021 (FRIDAY)
In this week's class, Mr Vinod briefed us about our Task 3, along with a demo of how to construct a typeface using shapes and strokes.
LECTURE VIDEO TASK 3(A)
TASK 3
- ALL your letters and punctuation in adobe illustrator placed on a baseline, with x-height, ascender, descender and cap lines visible (see attached image)
- FontLab (5 preferable, if not 7) Demo (or *ahem*) downloaded
Note* check for consistency in strokes thickness, for character
consistency and ensure to prioritise subtly over complexity. If you did
not attend the one-hour ILW session (week 8 ), make sure to watch and
listen to the feedback, explanations and demonstrations here: https://youtu.be/GMG9YeEeTtU and https://youtu.be/LCniYlJ0Xag
Also note* the bench-mark e-portfolio post in terms of research,
progression, final output and overall documentation of the process for
Task 3(A), is contained in Hsiao's post-https://trxssah.blogspot.com/.../typography-task-3-type... — that said, different approaches in presentation is acceptable
(you are all different), as long as the process consists of the major
elements:
- research (other typefaces, deconstruction 3 letters from 10)
- exploration (sketches minimum 5, good variety)
- digitization (document your progression)
- FontLab progression
- font generation and basic BW poster
FIGURE 1.1 DECONSTRUCTION "r"
After determining the reference for the design (draft) we chose, we need
to deconstruct these 3 letters first. We need to understand that the
purpose of deconstruction is to understand how letters are formed into
shapes, but also to observe details and thickness differences due to
optical/technical reasons. Deconstruction reference-appreciation of
types, research of anatomical parts.
FIGURE 1.2 GUIDELINE
We need to ensure our font design is following the basics of Typography:
- Ascender height
- Capital height
- Mean/median line
- Baseline
- Descender line
Adobe Illustrator artboard size:
1000 × 1000 points
CMYK
NOTES
- X-height must be 500 points (Rectangle Tool 500 × 500 pt).
- Ascender and descender lines must be within the 1000 × 1000 pt artboard.
- If the design's x-height exceeds 500 pt, the design must be reworked. The same goes for the ascender and descender if they exceed.
- Overshoot: Optical/technical reasons.
- How to decide counter space: Same amount of space (thickness) between the 2 stems/half the size of a stem.
- Unite base shapes with pathfinder.
INSTRUCTIONS
TASK 3(A) - TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION
For Task 3A, we are to design the letters:
a b d e g i m o p t y ! , .
The purpose of this project is for us to learn how to create a good
typeface - subtlety, character, presence, legibility and readability.
Starting with research, sketches, identifying and deconstructing
references.
Software:
Adobe Illustrator and FontLab7.
RESEARCH OF TYPE DESIGN
FIGURE 2.1TYPOGRAPHY BASICS
As mentioned in the briefing, our font design must comply with
typographic guidelines, such as baseline, median, rise and fall, and the
typographic basis shown in Figure 2.1 above. When creating a sketch, we
must pay attention to these.
Overshoot
Technical reasons/Optical illusions
FIGURE 2.2 OVERSHOOT
Although all the letters have the same height, the circle will be
larger. If the letters with rounded parts are slightly larger, the other
letters will appear out of proportion. This is because the circle looks
smaller than the geometric shape.
SKETCH
FIGURE 3.1 FONT DESIGN SKETCHES
After researching the font design, I drew some sketches with a pencil. I
drew 3 sketches, in the second my favourite is #3
IDENTIFY & DECONSTRUCT REFERENCES
FIGURE 3.2
CHOSEN FONT DESIGN SKETCH AND REFERENCE
Among the 10 fonts given to us by Mr Vinod, Univers LT Std Bold is the
reference I chose. It looks somewhat similar to my sketch, especially e,
p, y and a. Next, I choose to deconstruct the letters p, b, and t.
FIGURE 3.3 DECONSTRUCTED "e"
FIGURE 3.4 DECONSTRUCTED "p"
FIGURE 3.5 DECONSTRUCTED "b"
DIGITALISE FINAL FONT DESIGN
FIGURE 4.1 GUIDES
These guides were created following the demo video by Mr Vinod, using
the letters "Tyd" in the font Myriad Pro Regular.
- Ascender height
- Capital height
- Mean/median line
- Baseline
- Descender line
- X-height
FIGURE 4.2
GUIDES & DIGITALISED FONT DESIGN
MEASUREMENTS (FROM BASELINE)
Ascender and descender: 724 pt
Capital Height: 687 pt
Median: 500 pt
Descender: -223 pt
FIGURE 4.3 DIGITALISED LETTERS
PLAYGROUND :
Try to type the characters from the set - 'a' , 'b' ,
'd' , 'e' , 'g' , 'i' , 'm' ,
'o' , 'p' , 't' , 'y' , '.' ,
',' , '!' .
FINAL OUTCOME
FIGURE 5.1 FINAL STRIP FROM ILLUSTRATOR
FIGURE 5.2 FINAL POSTER
FIGURE 5.3 FINAL POSTER (PDF)
FEEDBACK
Mr. Vinod said that my font is very good, just need to remove one foot of b d p, and then o have four corners and leave two upper and lower ones.
REFLECTION
EXPERIENCE
To be honest, by the ninth week, I have gradually become familiar with this topic and I also learned a lot about how to use FontLab in this course and also learned a lot about designing fonts.
OBSERVATION
In my observations, I have observed that when I do something, I learn to be very focused. I can use and retain information more effectively. I have also observed that my sketches are not perfect.
FINDING
I find that my homework still needs improvement. I have to work harder to record my progress or I will lose points.
FURTHER READING
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