TYPOGRAPHY TASK 3: TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION

21.11.2023 - 21.12.2023  / Week 8 - Week 13

Emily Goh Jin Yee / 0357722 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media Design

Typography / GCD60104 

Task 3: Type Design & Communication

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. LECTURES

2. INSTRUCTIONS

3. TASKS

4. FEEDBACK

5. REFLECTION

6. FURTHER READING

LECTURES

All lectures 1-6 are completed in Task 1 & Task 2.

INSTRUCTIONS


TASKS

TASK 3: TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION

Week 8: We are required to select a preferred font from the 10 fonts provided. Using the following letters H,o,g,b, do a detail dissection of the letters. To sketch the following letters ODHNG / odhng using the 3 different pens (3.0mm and above), write in different styles with each pen, on a graph paper. 

Week 9: Write all the letters (o l e d s n c h t i g , . ! #) in the approved style and digitize.

Week 10: Continue to digitize our work after writing all letters (o l e d s n c h t i g , . ! #)

tips from our lecturer:

  • note: 2-3 ways of building your letters: using the shape tool; using the stroke tool; and should you wish to introduce contrast in your strokes, select the brush window.
  • tools: Cut, width, shape builder, pen and brush Windows: Pathfinder, Align, Stroke, Actions: 1. Menu > Object > Path > Outline Stroke 2. Menu > Object > Compound Path > Make
Week 11: Continue to Update Task 3 Eportfolio, and continue refining letters
at the end of the post should consist of:
 
Week 12: final submission (on week 13) should consist of:
  •    Link to download font
  •    Screen Grab of FontLab process (side-bearings)
  •    Final Type construction in Ai JPEG (1024px, 300ppi, Grayscale)
  •    Final Type construction Ai in PDF
  •    Final JPEG A4 black & white poster (1024px width, 300ppi, Grayscale)
  •    Final PDF A4 black & white poster 
  •    Font Tester/Preview (optional)
 
1. RESEARCH

Understanding the basic elements of type anatomy is fundamental to effective communication and design. It gives designers the ability to make well-informed decisions that affect readability, legibility, beauty, and the effectiveness of visual communication as a whole.

Fig 1.1 Anatomy of font

Fig 1.2 Anatomy of a Typeface


Since I plan to digitise my work in uppercase for this task, I searched for an example of the anatomy of uppercase typeface and it shows the guideline placement which I was not really clear about in understanding. I believe this image would be useful for reference later on.

Fig 1.3 Anatomy of a Typeface in Uppercase



2. DISSECTION OF H,O,G,B
Fig T3.1 Dissection of  H,O,G,B, Week 8 (17/11/2023)

Based on the the font chosen- Futura Std, 'H' has both strokes at the side with equal-length and width. The crossbar was slightly thinner than the strokes at the side. 'o' isn't made out with a perfect circle although it seems like its made from a perfect circle. For 'g', the descender matches the bowl's curvature but has been somewhat squashed. The stem of 'b' is longer than 'h's, the bowl isn't completely round as well. I tried comparing the circle of 'o' to 'g' and 'b', but both are slightly less rounder than letter 'o's.



3. SKETCHES
Fig T3.2 types of pens used, Week 8 (17/11/2023)


Fig T3.3 sketches of  O,D,H,N,G, Week 8 (17/11/2023)

I personally preferred the style of  #2, #6, #8, and #9. After showing my sketches to Mr Vinod, he suggested me to choose sketch #2 and continue writing o l e d s n c h t i g , . ! # in the chosen writing style.


Fig T3.4 sketch of o l e d s n c h t i g , . ! # , Week 9 (24/11/2023)



4. DIGITISATION

After sketching on the letters of  o l e d s n c h t i g , . ! # in capital letterform, I started on my first digitization, we were given choices of using shapes or brush & strokes to digitize our letters. I chose to use the brush tool since my writing style is more curvy and has different widths in some parts of the letterform, it may be easier to adjust, I suppose.

Here shows my first attempt on digitalizing the letters, the outcome was rough.


Fig T3.5 first attempt (letters only), Week 10 (30/11/2023)

Mr Vinod checked on my work and he said that I had many anchor points in some of my letters which may cause difficulties later on when making them into an actual font. He utilised the letter S as a demonstration, taking out the excess points and smoothing it out. I continued using this way to improve and make changes to the other letters with the same mistake. 


Fig T3.6 first attempt (with punctuation), Week 10 (30/11/2023)



For the hashtag, Mr Vinod advice me to make the two horizontal lines in the middle less thicker, referring to the middle lines at letter N and H. On my first #, I made the lines thinner with just minor adjustments. And then, I made the second one using just straight lines with the same stroke as letter N and H. Lastly, I attempt to combine both refined lines together and turns out being two strokes of lines with slight angle to show consistency in whole.

Fig T3.7 "#" before refinement                Fig T3.8 process of refining "#"  
Week 11 (08/12/2023)                             Week 11 (08/12/2023)    



Fig T3.9 second attempt, Week 11 (08/12/2023)

The angle of the bar of letter T was adjusted because the angle seems a bit off.

Fig T3.10 before(left) and after(right) of  "T" and "I", Week 11 (08/12/2023)



Cutting of the sharp tip of the letters.

Fig T3.11 before(left) and after(right) cutting off the pointy tip of "E", Week 11 (08/12/2023)



Fig T3.12 process, Week 11 (08/12/2023)


Fig T3.13 Measurements of guidelines, Week 11 (08/12/2023)

Ascender: 647pt

Cap height: 562pt

Median: 286pt

Baseline: 0pt

Descender: -84pt



5. FINAL TYPEFACE DESIGN

Fig T3.14 outline of the typeface, Week 11 (08/12/2023)

Fig T3.15  Final type construction in AI (with guidelines), Week 11 (08/12/2023)

Fig T3.16 Final type construction in AI, Week 11 (08/12/2023) 



6. DEVELOPING THE FINAL FONT FROM ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TO FONTLAB 7

After we finish digitizing our work in Adobe Illustrator, we had copy and paste them into FontLab7 to make the font. Before we start, we have to set the preferences into:

1. keep stroke and colours, place color elements

2. import original position: prefer AI vector format

3. keep position if available

4. pasting contour to another element preserves appearance


Fig T3.17 Settings- Prefrences, Week 12 (14/12/2023)


I named the font 'MellowScript' to encapsulate the essence of its design. The term 'Mellow' reflects the soft and gentle nature of the font, characterized by rounded edges that give it a warm and approachable feel. Meanwhile, the inclusion of straights and curves adds a touch of structure and balance, ensuring it maintains a harmonious and versatile script. Together, 'MellowScript' captures the perfect blend of softness and precision, making it suitable for a wide range of creative applications.

Fig T3.18 Settings-rename the font, Week 12 (14/12/2023)



7. DIGITISING THE FINAL FONT IN FONTLAB 7 
As mentioned in the tutorial videos, we have to keep in mind that we can either choose "Keep" or "Turn off Round when Editing" but not "Round" when the notification below(Fig T3.19) appears.

Fig T3.19 Coordinates rounding, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.20 Imported letters into FontLab, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.21 Imported letters into FontLab, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

My side bearing measurements of the letters are adjusted individually based on the given chart for estimating uppercase letter side bearing values, before opening new metrics tab.


Fig T3.22 Side Bearing values, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.23 Process-trying out the font, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.24 Process-trying out the font, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.25 Phrases to be used for poster, Week 12 (14/12/2023)

Fig T3.26 Exported font, Week 12 (14/12/2023)


8. POSTER DESIGN

When creating the BW A4 poster, we should ensure the sentence/phrase/words are at the same point size/ font size. Furthermore, ensure the byline <font's_name><by_our_name>,<2023.> is in Univers LT Std. at 8pts.


On my first poster design, I typed the letters out using the font I have created- MellowScript. I chose a dark background and added the term 'echoes' with lower opacity and places behind the main 'echoes' word to show effects of its meaning. 

Fig T3.27 attempt 1 of poster with 'MellowScript' font, Week 13 (21/11/2023)


After getting feedback from Mr Vinod, he told me to reduce the negative space by making the font size larger or by adding more words (repetition). He also suggested that I could add some curve elements in the poster since my font has curvy looking style especially in the letter E.

Fig T3.28 Final Poster with 'MellowScript' font (after changes), Week 13 (21/11/2023)

FONT SIZE

MellowScript: 140pt

Univers LT Std: 8pt 



FINAL SUBMISSION FOR TASK 3: TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION


Download MellowScript font here !

Fig T3.29 Final type construction 'MellowScript' in jpeg, Week 11 (08/12/2023)


Fig T3.30 Final type construction in PDF, Week 11 (08/12/2023)


Fig T3.31 Final Poster with 'MellowScript' font in jpeg, Week 13 (21/11/2023)


Fig T3.32 Final Poster with 'MellowScript' font in PDF, Week 13 (21/11/2023)



FONT TESTER

Try typing any of these letters in uppercase: O,L,E,D,S,N,C,H,T,I,G and symbols (, . !)

Fig T3.33 Font Tester, Week 13 (21/11/23)



FEEDBACK


WEEK 8

General feedback

  • hold the pen in one direction, avoid moving hand angle too much
  • make sure writing in consistency (sketch)

Specific Feedback

  • practice more on writing the letters to make them look neat
  • terminal of the bottom of letter 'H' should be curved to the opposite direction (the top serif curves to the left and the bottom should curve to the right)


WEEK 10

General feedback

  • consistency in overall size, style, width etc..
  • make sure all letters belong in the same family
  • choose writing in uppercase or lowercase (not both), then digitize
  • use less anchor points to adjust the font, will be easier for further adjustments
  • refine our letters

Specific Feedback

  • letter S has too many anchor points, avoid that 
  • use pathfinder to subtract inner shape of letter
  • complete other letters

WEEK 11

General feedback

  • use shift + delete the anchor point to maintain the curve/existing path shape

Specific Feedback

  • overall letters are consistent
  • cut the sharp edges(tip) of the letters
  • bar of # should be same as 'H' and 'N'
  • fix the bar angle of T and I 

WEEK 12

no feedback given


WEEK 13

General feedback

  • check e-portfolio properly and make sure to include date and week below 
  • make sure work is complete

Specific Feedback

  • reduce negative space for the poster
  • can either increase the size of the font or add more words
  • could add more design, e.g. add curve elements inside


REFLECTION


Experience

Years ago, I used to browse through and download the unique and pretty fonts created by other people, I had always find them really creative and had always wondered how they do that. I only knew that these fonts were created digitally with many steps after taking up Typography module. I never thought that we would ever learn about creating our own fonts before, and because of this task, it is an opportunity to develop our own font design. To sketch out the writing styles was way easier than to digitise, digitizing it requires really much of patience and being extra observant, having to check again and again if the letters are consistent. I find this assignment fun that we get to create our own typeface, it was satisfying to see the outcome after the long process of digitising the letterform. 

Observations

Through the task, I learnt that even fonts that look equal in their style are not actually 'equal' in most of the times. It requires many practice time to time to make a great-looking font. Many details ought to be observed carefully before constructing when designing a typeface, it's important to make sure that all of the letters have the same characteristics and are united to produce a good typeface. 

Findings

This task taught us that creating fonts is like crafting art for words. Each curve and detail is thoughtfully considered, turning letters into expressive elements that tell stories with flair and clarity. Other than that, we should always keep in mind that "practice makes perfect"!


FURTHER READING


Fig FR4 Typography, Referenced: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to the Language, History, and Practice of Typography by Allan Haley



Allan Haley's "Typography, Referenced" is a visual guide that explores the history and practice of typography. It covers letterforms, font styles, and the cultural influences on typography's evolution. With rich colours and illustrations, the book offers insights into the constantly evolving world of type design and is targeted at both beginner and experienced designers.


QUICK LINKS


TASK 1: TYPE EXPRESSION & TEXT FORMATTING

TASK 2: TYPOGRAPHY EXPLORATION & COMMUNICATION

TASK 3: TYPE DESIGN & COMMUNICATION

FINAL COMPILATION & REFLECTION


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