Typography - Task 3: Type Design and Communication

11/11/2024 - 22/12 /2024 / Week 8 - Week13

Ye YingYing / 0364398

Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 3 - Type Design and Communication 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures
2. Instruction
3. Taks 3
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
6. Further Reading


LECTURES

Refer to Task 1: Click Here


INSTRUCTION

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BAt0CUuHVndrIuRMZKLmkyTJKeP54XE6/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>


TASK 3

- Letters Dissection -

Typeface: Futura Medium
Figure 3.01 - Letters Dissection

Observation
  • H - All straight strokes connecting, balanced, and symmetrical
  • O - Perfectly symmetrical, slightly compressed
  • B - The upper bowl is rounder than the lower bowl
  • G - Smooth strokes, more weight on the right side
  • h - The round slightly compressed to the right
  • o - The stroke is ticker compared to the uppercase "O"
  • g - The bowl is more on the right side
  • b - More weight on the lower part
Per

- Sketch
 -

First Attempt
I showed my sketches to Ms. Vitiyaa, she said only the bottom left one and the top right one look ok, and the rest are all giving "lazy work." She encouraged me to spend more time, effort and thought on my designs. And also focus on ensuring consistency in all my designs moving forward.

Figure 3.02 - First Attempt Sketches



Second Attempt
After receiving feedback from Ms. Vitiyaa, I took the time to reflect on her suggestions and used them to develop two new ideas for my design. Among the two, I found myself drawn to the design on the right. It feels clearer, more refined, and uniquely aligned with my vision. 
After considering both options, I decided to proceed with the right-sided design,

Figure 3.03 - Second Attempt Sketches



- Design Development -

Figure 3.04 - Sketch of oledsnchtig,.#!


- Digitalization -

Figure 3.05 - Design Process in Adobe Illustrator
  • Set the anatomy measurements to maintain consistent proportions and structure
  • Used layers and tracing techniques on my sketch to create basic elements of the typeface
  • Arranged and combined these elements to design individual letters
  • Used the Shape Builder Tool to refine and combine the shapes
  • Made sure the typeface looks clean and with a geometric style
Figure 3.06 - Font Details
  • Ascender Line: 734.62 pt
  • Cap Line: 697.59 pt
  • Median Line: 500.75 pt
  • Baseline: 0 pt
  • Descender Line: -229.22 pt


- More Exploration -

Figure 3.07 - More letters

I tried to create more letters (a b f j k p q z r) with the elements



- Font Lab -

Figure 3.08 - Design Process in Font Lab
  • Copy all the letters from Illustrator (AI) into FontLab
  • Adjust the letters to the baseline for proper alignment
  • Adjust the side bearings based on the chart provided by Mr. Vinod
  • Test the text, then fine-tune the kerning and tracking for better spacing

Final Work

- Side-Bearings -

Figure 3.09 - Font's side bearings



- Download Font Here -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10SgNkDf-s2NiIfBoV-QIXXkmcWc_D89B/view?usp=sharing

- The Font, Curvex -

Figure 3.10 - Final Work - Curvex [JPEG]

Figure 3.11 - Final Work - Curvex [PDF]

- Poster -


Figure 3.12 - Poster  [JPEG]

Figure 3.13 - Poster  [PDF]


FEEDBACK

- WEEK 9 -
Absent
This week, I focused on letter dissection and conducted research and reading on font design. I began sketching ideas for my typeface, exploring different concepts.

- WEEK 10 -
General Feedback :
Ms. Vitiyaa asked us to update and refine our blog promptly based on the feedback provided in the feedback sheet. Once updated, label it as "(updated)" to make it easier for her to review. She also suggested looking at other classmates' blogs for study to learn different approaches and improve our own blogs and work. Additionally, she reminded us that the blog carries significant weight in our grades, so we need to ensure its quality.
Specific Feedback : 
I showed my sketches to Ms. Vitiyaa, and she mentioned that my work gave the impression of being "lazy work." She encouraged me to spend more time, effort and thought on my designs and to avoid doing things at the last minute. She chose two designs that are "proceedable" and told me to focus on ensuring consistency in all my designs moving forward.

- WEEK 11 -
Absent
I created two more sketches and chose the best one to proceed with. I started working on the digitalkization in Adobe Illustrator.

- WEEK 12 -
Absent
I completed the digitalization of my typeface and began working in FontLab to finalize the font structure and settings

- WEEK 13 -
Absent
This week, I finished my font design. I started doing poster design and worked on updating my blog to document my progress and the design process.

REFLECTIONS

Experience
Throughout this task, I’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into the technical and creative aspects of font design. From initial sketches to digitalization and finally working in FontLab, I’ve learned how to translate my concepts into a functional typeface. This experience has improved my understanding of font anatomy, spacing, and digital design tools.

Observation
One key observation is how crucial each step of the design process is, especially when moving from hand sketches to digital. It’s easy to overlook small details, such as side bearings and kerning, but they play a major role in how the typeface is perceived and read. 

Findings
I’ve found that the more I worked on my typeface, the clearer my vision became for its overall style and feel. While the sketching phase was important for shaping the concept, the digitalization phase allowed me to see how my typeface would function in different contexts. The process was challenging, especially adjusting the side bearings and spacing, but it gave me a better understanding of font design. This project has helped me improve my design skills and knowledge of typography.


FURTHER READING

In order to enhance my process of designing my own new typeface for Task 3, I decided to read the book Computer Typography Basics by David Creamer and focus on the font design chapter to gain a stronger foundational understanding. I believe the principles and knowledge from this chapter will guide me in creating a typeface that is cohesive, functional, and visually compelling.




Font Anatomy Rules for Designing a Font
  • Baseline: Alignment line for letters.
  • Cap Height & X-Height: Uppercase and lowercase height; affects proportions.
  • Ascender & Descender: Strokes above x-height or below baseline.
  • Stem & Bowl: Vertical strokes and curved parts of letters.
  • Counter: Enclosed/partially enclosed spaces.
  • Serif: Decorative strokes at letter ends.
Proportions:
  • Balance cap height, x-height, ascenders, and descenders.
  • Maintain consistent stroke thickness and character width.
Spacing:
Use kerning (letter pairs), tracking (overall letter spacing), and leading (line spacing) effectively.

Legibility:
  • Create distinct letterforms; use optical corrections for balance.
  • Design open counters for clarity in small sizes.
Consistency:
Keep serifs, strokes, and curves harmonious across all characters.

Visual Flow:
Ensure smooth eye movement with balanced spacing and rhythm.

Versatility:
Test for readability across sizes, weights, and mediums (print and digital).


After reading this book, I gained valuable insights into the principles of font design, which have been instrumental in shaping my typeface, Curvex. The principles discussed in the book allowed me to refine the industrial and modern appearance of the font while ensuring its legibility and balance. 

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