14th Nov 2023 - 28th Dec 2023 (Week 8-12)
Sin Jun Ming (0364638)
Typography / Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Task 3 / Type Design and Communication
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 3 / Type Design and Communication
For the first exercise in this task, we were assigned to choose a typeface from the ten typefaces provided by Ms. Low and use the letters H,o,g,b to do a detail dissection of the letters.
Here is my dissection progress on Univers LT Std 45 Light in Adobe Illustrator.
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Fig 1.1 Dissection using Univers LT Std 45 Light (14th Nov 2023 - Week 8)
From the dissection I have done above, I observed that most strokes have the same thickness. The bowls of letters o,g,b are also not perfectly rounded, they are most likely oval-shaped. I also discovered a small detail by doing dissection of letters g,b.
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Fig 1.2 Detail on dissection of letters g,b (14th Nov 2023 - Week 8)
From the blue circles I mentioned above, there are some bends out of the strokes, that means the strokes are not totally straight.
For the next exercise, we were assigned to design a typeface on our own. Firstly, like usual, doing research would be an aid to produce a high-quality design, so I decided to work on research before sketching. After that, we need to sketch our letterforms on graph paper using marker pens that are 3.0 thick or above.
Research
Before starting to sketch out my letterforms on graph paper, as usual the research is an important part needed to be done.
There are three main font style that is needed to be chosen - sans serif, serif, slab serif.
Fig 2.1 Main font styles
Another thing needed to be noticed is the spacing of letterforms, a balance spacing creates decent readability and legibility.
Sketches
After brainstorming on ideas creating my own letterforms, I think one of the ideas which is having major weight on the left below part of letterforms would be good. So I started to sketch out this idea.
Fig 3.1 First sketch (21st Nov 2023 - Week 9)
Fig 3.2 Sketch of my idea from Ms. Low (21st Nov 2023 - Week 9)
Then, I started to sketch out full character set assigned by Ms. Low.
Fig 3.3 Final outcome of my sketch (21st Nov 2023 - Week 9)
Digitisation
After I have done the sketches, I started to work on the digitisation on Adobe Illustrator. Width tool, Shape builder tool, Outline stroke tool are used to create digitised letterforms.
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Fig 4.1 First outcome (28th Nov 2023 - Week 10)
Fig 4.2 Second outcome (28th Nov 2023 - Week 10)
Fig 4.3 Word combination "THE DESIGN SCHOOL" (5th Dec 2023 - Week 11)
In week 12, we are assigned to import our digitised typeface into FontLab 7 from Adobe Illustrator after we finalized our letters.
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After I had imported all letters that I have done into the FontLab 7, I started to try to type it out and check on its readability and legibility by adjusting side-bearings of the letters.
After I adjust the space to 350pt, I noticed that the spaces between "THINGS IN THE" is narrower than the spaces between "LET IT GO". I was curious at first, but I immediately noticed that happened because the right below part of the capital T is quite empty, and that makes the space after capital T looks wider than usual.
Fig 4.6 Issue found (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
After this observation, I checked it with the combinations of T and other letters this time. It turned out the same.
Hence, I adjusted the tracking between capital T and every other letters. I adjusted the tracking value to -70 between T and other letters. This looks better now.
Fig 4.8 Problem solved by adjusting the trackings (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Moving on to the next step, I tried to type out different words to check on my typeface's readability and legibility.
Fig 4.9 Experiment on different words (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Then, I checked on my punctuations.
Fig 4.10 Punctuation checking (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
I named my typeface Delphen.
Fig 4.11 Naming my typeface (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Final Task 3 Submission:
The link to download my typeface "Delphen" is provided here:
Fig 5.1 Screen Grab of my fontlab process (side-bearings) (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Fig 5.3 Final Type Construction in AI (PDF) (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Fig 5.4 Final Black & White Poster (JPG) (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
Fig 5.5 Final Black & White Poster (PDF) (12nd Dec 2023 - Week 12)
FEEDBACK
Week 8
Independent learning week.
Week 9
Specific Feedback:
I showed my sketches on graph paper to Ms. Low this week, I introduced my idea to Ms. Low which is I want my letterforms to have more weight on left side of letterforms. Ms. Low approved this idea and guided me on optimization of my design.
General Feedback:
We must use the marker pens that are 3.0 or thicker to sketch on graph paper, make sure to sketch our letterforms in fixed size by utilizing the lines on graph paper.
Week 10
Specific Feedback:
In this week, I show my digitised letterforms to Ms. Low. She enhanced my digitisation by giving suggestions to me. It is important we only use two points for a curve. The main thing to work on my digitised letterforms is to control most weight into left below part of letterforms.
General Feedback:
Ms. Low mentioned that we can group O, C, G, D / N, H / L, E / I, T in order to have a better observation on the shapes of our letterforms.
Week 11
Specific Feedback:
Overall letterforms are looking good, can move on to next step, watch the videos posted on MS Teams and start installing FontLab.
General Feedback:
We can only start watching videos related to FontLab on MS Teams once we received feedback from Ms. Low and done refining our letters.
Week 12
Specific Feedback:
I need to check the spacing and tracking of letters since it is different from what we view in AI and make sure to follow the instructions from the videos posted by Mr. Vinod.
General Feedback:
We must ensure that the artboard's height is 1000pt in Adobe Illustrator and the x-height is 500pt, then we can only import the letters into fontlab.
Week 13
Specific Feedback:
My poster needs have more balance, instead of using only left alignment on my letters, maybe can try to move some rows of letters to the right a bit or can use numbersign(#) to occupy the space where is empty on the right.
General Feedback:
The posters should not have any illustrative elements, and we need to ensure it is a black & white poster, we are not allowed to use any other color on the poster.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
To be honest, this is the assignment that I enjoyed doing the most in Typography, although it is really a challenge to design a significant typeface yourself. This task took us weeks to refine our letters and the whole process was not easy for everyone, I was constantly getting feedback from Ms. Low to make sure my work is at best as it could be. I am really proud of my design, and I am looking forward for the next challenge.
Observation
I think the exercise before designing typeface which is the letter dissection exercise really helps. We got to know the basic structure of letterforms and there are many details to be noticed like not all strokes are straight etc. From the typeface I designed, I observed that there is a huge space linking T and any other letters, so I need to adjust the kerning more on this case.
Findings
Typography or any other design work requires feedback from the one who is more experienced because through this task, I can easily identify my mistakes and refine it immediately by receiving feedback from Ms. Low. I believe feedback acts an important role in design industry.
FURTHER READING
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Fig 6.1 Typographic design: Form and communication
Since I am designing a typeface in this task, so I read the Typographic Design Process chapter of this book. In this chapter, the writer mentioned that a well-known model of the design process consists of five steps, which is Defining -> Gathering -> Ideating -> Synthesizing -> Realizing. However, the design process is flexible, dynamic and unpredictable mental journey.
Defining - It is very important to define client's needs, design goals, objectives of a potential solution, budgets etc. before starting our design work.
Gathering - This is the step where we need to gather information about client, problem content, and design requirements. We should also make use of all available resources like antique shops, libraries, movie theaters, museums etc.
Ideating - Brainstorming phase, we should always think outside the box for new possibilities.
Synthesizing - The synthesis phase narrow options and coming to closure. Make sure the initial problem criteria is matching with the final solution.
Realizing - Designers always communicate with clients to make sure the final production satisfies the client's need. This prevents misunderstanding and confusion at the end.
Fig 6.2 Flexible and Dynamic Design Process
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