Typography - Week 2

21.01.2016 (Week 2)
Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography
Task 2 - Type design

Lecture: Type Design
We started the class by discussing and sharing our first task. Each of us shared our final outcome and explained the rationale behind our new alphabet. After that, Mr.Vinod started off a formal lecture by explaining the importance of typography and its definition. The definition as explained during the slide presentation described typography as the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable and appealing. Furthermore, Mr.Vinod explained what we going to do in our second task. We are encourage to watch the videos that displayed on "yourbrief" before we start the second task.

Task 2 (15%): Type Design
You are to design a number of alphabets and punctuations, as determined by the teacher. You will begin by sketching and exploring a minimum of 3 options.

The sketches of the alphabets are to be submitted on A4 graph paper for selection. As always, you will understand, analyse and reflect on the knowledge acquired during the allotted weeks for the task in your ePortfolio.

Starting with the letter “o” design a string of alphabets of similar characteristics. The subsequent letters must spell your name and therefore the characteristics of the letters must represent your personality.

Read or view the teaching material below to understand:

How to design your own typeface
So you want to create a font
The Ultimate Guide on How to Create a Font

There are many more resources out there you may read, please do if you have the time.

The videos below should be viewed at a later stage of the task, when students are more knowledgeable and ready to digitize their letters.

Marking criteria: You will be judged on your creativity; the aesthetics of your letter and how consistent are they with regard to their character or personality – do they look like a family of characters. You will be judged on whether you have made the appropriate research and analysis of other typefaces, whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Duration: 2 weeks
Deadline: week 3

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Type expression (20%)Task 1: Identify 6 words that describe you. You will then express typographically the meaning of these words without the aid of a visual. You are only allowed to manipulate the type to express the inherent meaning of the chosen words.

Draw two 7cm squares on an A4 graph paper using a pencil. Ensure the boxes are centered vertically and horizontally in the A4 paper. Do the same for two other sheets of paper to obtain 6 squares in total.

Draw and express you respective words. Upon approval digitize your artworks using Adobe Illustrator and print them out. Update your eportfolio throughout the task and ensure every aspect of the process is documented methodically.

Marking criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to capture the meaning or action of the chosen words through your designs. The designed words in the type expression task must showcase sensitivity in balance, proportion and composition. It must reflect the inherent meanings of the words. You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Type design

First of all, I starting by using Google to search for the definition of type designing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_design) It said that type designing is the art and process of designing typeface. So i searched again the definition of typeface (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typeface). It defined as a set of one or more fonts each composed of glyph that share common design features. This is the example of typeface.

Furthermore, by the research on (http://turnarounddesign.com/what-does-typography-say-about-your-brand/). It said that through designing of words can actually say about your brand. These are the example of branding design.

For example, the words designing of Walt Disney also known as Waltograph, are lovely, fancy and playful. With this design, it attracted a lot of children especially girls. 

As a Disney fan, I have always fascinated with the Walt Disney font. Therefore I take it as my reference. These are the sketches before proceeding to final outcome. 

Second submission

I was trying to make my fonts look simple and ordinary as my personality. Yet, I always seeking for attention from others. As the fonts, there is strokes on it, it reflects my personality as a shy person that seeking for attention. 

Feedback
You are suppose to write a new post for the third week. When you take pictures of your process work, take them under good lighting and NO shadows. Also, take them flat not from an angle.

Reflection

Experience: I was barely understood what actually the second task needed. I experienced the difficulty of understanding the questions given. Yet, I try to do a lot of research based on typeface and type design before proceeding to my work. Also, I experienced the difficulty in designing based on my own personalities as I do not know how to express it by font.

Observation: I observed that I have the difficulty on designing fonts based on my personality. I have no idea in my mind at first, but those images guided me a little bit.

Findings: I found that I have to improve on my design of the font. I need to do more brainstorming to avoid brain stuck.