Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

18/10/2023 - 29/11/2023 / Week 8 - Week 14
Reema Arif Hamza / 0362792
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

Content

Lectures

Refer to Task 1

Instructions

Task 3: Type Exploration and Application

To create a font. The end outcome could be a designed font and its application in the form or format that it intends to provide a solution to, or a designed font that adds value to an existing use, or an experimentative output that results in something novel and unique. 

The work can manifest into any kind of format related to the issue being solved or explored or experimented: animation, 3d, print, ambient, projection, movie title or game title, music video, use of different material etc.

Process

Problem: The Percy Jackson book series centralizes around the theme of Ancient Greek Mythology. I believe that the typeface used on the book covers could be changed to better represent Ancient Greek Mythology.

Solution: Create a new font based on Ancient Greek Mythology.

Fig. 1.1 Percy Jackson Original Book Covers, Week 8 (18/10/2023)

I used ancient Greek letters as a reference for my font while acknowledging that Greek letters are different from Latin letters. During class, Mr.Vinod told us that we should start with the letters HOAN to begin our font. Then use those letters as a reference for the subsequent letters. 


Fig. 1.2 References, Week 8 (18/10/2023)

The first two sets of letters are reference fonts, and the third set is experimenting with different strokes. The fourth set was a bit too overexaggerated and Mr.Vinod recommended just creating clean base letters first. The final set of letters was overall more consistent and neat.

Fig. 1.3 Base Letter Process, Week 8 (18/10/2023)

Unfortunately, I changed laptops during this assignment and in the process lost some screenshots of progress. The shapes above are the base for forming the subsequent letters. I made guidelines and a grid to follow in making the letters. First, I created the uppercase, using the font Avenir as a reference for the proportions. Then I added the serif to all the letters. After that, I created the lowercases next to the uppercases to keep it consistent. The punctuation was pretty hard to create because it was hard to make the weight of the stroke consistent with the existing letters.

Fig. 1.4 Base shapes for forming letters, Week 9 (25/10/2023)

During the process of making letters, some of the parts were joined together using the shape builder tool. The triangular crossbar was inspired by ancient Greek letters, I used it on the A,H,e. The stem in the O and Y were also some Greek elements that I included in the letters. 

Fig. 1.5 Complete set of Letters, Week 10 (01/11/2023)

Fig. 1.6 Process of building 6, Week 10 (01/11/2023)

I spent a few days trying to refine the letters, Mr.Vinod noted that the first p was inconsistent with the uppercase so I experimented using the bowl of the b in the p.

Fig. 1.7 Complete set of letters, Week 11 (08/11/2023)

Fig. 1.8 Inserting letters into Fontlab, Week 12 (15/11/2023)

I started inserting letters into the Fontlab and adjusting letters to fit the guidelines. I ended up having to make a couple of adjustments to the letter to make them more proportional. The bowl of the p didn't sit directly on the baseline instead of above so I had to adjust the bowl accordingly. 

Fig. 1.9 The letter P before adjusting the bowl, Week 12 (15/11/2023)
Fig. 1.10 The letter P after adjusting the bowl, Week 12 (15/11/2023)

Fig. 1.11 Kerning Uppercase Letters, Week 12 (15/11/2023)

Fig. 1.12 Kerning Letters, Week 12 (15/11/2023)

I kerned the letters based on the side-bearing chart Mr.Vinod provided. First doing the H & O and then the subsequent letters based on the bearings of H&O. 

Fig. 1.13 Complete Letters Letters, Week 12 (15/11/2023)

After completing the kerning, I exported the font into a ttf to use. I then began to work on my font presentation and application. 

Fig. 1.14 Working on font application, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Final

The font 'Olympus' is available for you to try below. The final font presentation and application are below.

Please try typing any text below:
Generated Font Link: Download Here

Fig. 1.15 Font Presentation 1, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Fig. 1.16 Font Presentation 2, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Fig. 1.17 Font Presentation 3, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Fig. 1.18 Font Presentation 4, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Fig. 1.19 Font Presentation 5, Week 13 (22/11/2023)

Fig. 1.20 Font Application 1, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.21 Font Application 2, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.22 Font Application 3, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.23 Font Application 4, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.24 Font Application 5, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.25 Font Presentation PDF, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Fig. 1.26 Font Application PDF, Week 14 (29/11/2023)

Feedback

Week 9
General: Make sure to use a grid when designing your typeface.
Specific: You shouldn't exaggerate your forms too much focus on creating a neat and clean structure.

Week 10
General: Design your lowercase next to your uppercase.
Specific: You can reference cooperplate gothic.

Week 11
General: You have to start putting your font in fontlab. Because you have to present your typeface in relevant applications.
Specific: Make the lowercase p consistent with the capital P. 

Week 12
General: You can look in teams for samples of font presentation.
Specific: Your font presentation can be simple, reference one of the samples and add your own twist if you want. You can use another font if you want to show your font as a display font.

Week 13
General: Finish working on font applications.
Specific: For application just choose one to show, you can look at Iman's work to inspire your applications.

Reflection

Experience
I experienced the effort it takes to build a full font, it was a rigorous process. At first, I found myself trying to exaggerate the elements of my letters to make them seem more unique. After taking feedback, and focusing on creating clean and neat letters, I found that they provided a stronger foundation for me to add small subtle elements that really show that the font is inspired by ancient Greek. By not overdoing it, I was able to create a more stable font.

Observation
I observed a lot during the FontLab process. When inserting the letters, I had to adjust a couple of letters to make more sense proportionally and optically in relation to the other letters. When it came to kerning it was also a highly observational process. While having the side-bearings chart to refer to was useful, I found that I had to eye a couple of letters to refine it. Even now, I don't think it's exactly perfect, just as close as I could get it for now. 

Finding.
I found that font presentations don't need to be super complicated. They just need to showcase your typeface in a well-designed way. A lot of the typeface presentations I looked at as reference, used contrasting colors to emphasize their letters. I found myself doing the same with a blue-orange combination. 

Further Reading

I read a few pages from Typographic Design: Form and Communication, regarding letterforms analyzed. I found the part about unity and optical relations in a font particularly insightful. It was helpful when I was trying to make my punctuation more consistent with my letters. 

Pages: 32-48

Fig 2.1 Typographic Design: Form and Communication, (2015, John Wiley & Sons)

Fig 2.2, Pages 36 &38

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