Advanced Typography: Task 3 Type Exploration & Application
17/06/2025 - 22/07/2025 / Week 9 - Week 14
Ye YingYing / 0364398
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design
(Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
All Lecture Notes: View Here
INSTRUCTION
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TASK 3
Idea Proposal Slides - Canva [Week 9]
- First Attempt -
I started with Idea 1: Tile Pattern.
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| Fig. 1.1 - Idea 1: Tile Patterns [Week 9] |
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| Fig. 1.2 - Visual References for Idea 1 [Week 9] |
After doing some research on tile patterns, I sketched four square
patterns on my iPad. Then, I tried to expand the design by extracting
one-quarter corner pieces from the square tiles. These can be used for the
corners or edges of the letters. (as shown below)
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| Fig. 1.3 - Final Tiles Pattern [Week 10] |
I moved the design into Adobe Illustrator for final touch-up and
refinement. Based on the reference font I chose, I placed the tile
pieces one by one to form the letter shapes.
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| Fig. 1.4 - Tile Patterns Font Progress in Adobe Illustrator [Week 10] |
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| Fig. 1.5- First Attempt on Tile Pattern Font Uppercase [Week 11] |
- Progress for final selected idea (QR Code) -
After Feedback on my first attempt, I tried to adjust my design based on
the feedback, but I wasn’t really happy with the result. Then I thought,
if I need more filled parts and more space, why not try Idea 5 instead,
which is the QR code-inspired font.
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| Fig. 1.6 - Idea 5 - QR Code [Week 12] |
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| Fig. 1.7 - Visual References for Idea 5 [Week 12] |
So I started some research again and finally decided to switch to Idea 5.
Progress in Adobe Illustrator
First, I typed out the reference font “Grid” as a base structure, so I could
follow the overall shape and proportion.
Then, I started placing rectangular blocks to build the letterforms. I
used:
- Filled black blocks
- Black outline blocks with transparent center blocks
- White outline blocks with black fill (these were used to overlap and create gaps that look like cut-outs or hollow spaces)
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| Fig. 1.8 - Initial Digitalization in Adobe Illustrator [Week 12] |
Refining the Typeface
After completing the initial design of all characters, I started adjusting each letter one by one. I focused on the width, height, and stroke thickness to make sure the whole typeface looks consistent.
After completing the initial design of all characters, I started adjusting each letter one by one. I focused on the width, height, and stroke thickness to make sure the whole typeface looks consistent.
- I used a standard block size to control the proportions of each letter.
- I also pulled out guidelines to help align all the elements accurately.
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| Fig. 1.9 - Refining Progress in Adobe Illustrator 1.0 [Week 13] |
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| Fig. 1.10 - Refining Progress in Adobe Illustrator 2.0 [Week 13] |
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| Fig. 1.11 - Refining Progress in Adobe Illustrator 3.0 [Week 13] |
Solving the White Fill Issue
After refining the typeface, I realized there was a problem I didn’t notice earlier. Since my artboard background was white, I didn’t realize that the white fill and white stroke I used are gonna turn out "solid" instead of transparent. Which means the letters look fine on a white background, but when placed on a different color, they no longer look cut-out or hollow as intended.
After refining the typeface, I realized there was a problem I didn’t notice earlier. Since my artboard background was white, I didn’t realize that the white fill and white stroke I used are gonna turn out "solid" instead of transparent. Which means the letters look fine on a white background, but when placed on a different color, they no longer look cut-out or hollow as intended.
Solution
- I saved each character as a separate image.
- Then, I used Image Trace – Black and White.
- After that, I clicked Expand, so only the black parts would be extracted, exactly what I wanted.
- Finally, I ungrouped everything, which allowed me to edit each small piece individually.
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| Fig. 1.12 - Progress in Adobe Illustrator 4.0 [Week 13] |
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| Fig. 1.13 - FontLab progress 1.0 [Week 14] |
- I copied and pasted each character one by one from Illustrator into FontLab.
- Then, I adjusted the position and size of each letter carefully.
- For punctuation marks, I had to be extra careful because their sizes were quite different from the letters.
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| Fig. 1.14 - FontLab progress 2.0 [Week 14] |
- After fixing all the sizes, I started working on kerning and tracking for each letter to make the spacing look clean and balanced.
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| Fig. 1.15 - LSB & RSB measurement [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 1.16 - FontLab Screenshot of font [Week14] |
CubeCode is a modular decorative display font inspired by
the visual structure of QR codes.
Built entirely from geometric blocks, each letter keeps a basic, readable
shape but appears broken, shifted, or scattered, just like encrypted data
or digital noise. This creates a bold, tech-inspired look that feels both
futuristic and experimental. CubeCode is ideal for posters, branding, or
anything that needs a digital edge.
Download it here
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| Fig. 1.17 - Font Information Sheet - JPG [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 1.18 - CubeCode Basic Latin Preview - JPG [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 1.18 - CubeCode Numerals & Punctuations Preview - JPG [Week 14] |
Fig. 1.19 - Final Compilation of CubeCode - PDF [Week 14]
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| Fig. 1.20 - Adobe Illustrator Screenshot of CubeCode with Grid and Guideline [Week 13] |
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- Type Presentations & Applications-
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| Fig. 2.1 - Adobe Illustrator Screenshot of design workspaces [Week 14] |
- Font Presentations -
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| Fig. 2.2 - Progress in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop for Font Presentation [Week 14] |
I started with using simple geometric shapes like squares, rectangles, diamonds, and circles as background elements. I arranged the shapes first to create a clean and organized layout. Then, I placed each letter on top of the blocks. After that, I brought everything into Photoshop to do color adjustments, add filters, and apply some visual effects for a more polished look.
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| Fig. 2.3 - Task 3 Font Presentation #1 [Week14] |
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Fig. 2.4 - Task 3 Font Presentation #2 [Week14] |
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Fig. 2.5 - Task 3 Font Presentation #3 [Week14] |
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| Fig. 2.6 - Task 3 Font Presentation #4 [Week14] |
- Applications -
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Font Application #2
First, I used Photoshop to cut out the areas in the image where I wanted the
font to look hollow or transparent. Then, I brought the edited image into
Illustrator to work on the layout, arranging the letters and shapes in a
clean, minimalist style. Finally, I returned to Photoshop to apply filters and
visual effects for the final presentation.
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| Fig. 2.9 - Task 3 Font Application #2 [Week14] |
Font Application #3
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Fig. 2.10 - Progress of Task 3 Font Application #3 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 2.11 - Task 3 Font Application #3 [Week 14] |
Font Application #4
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| Fig. 2.12 - Progress of Task 3 Font Application #4 [Week 14] |
For this application, I wanted to design an art event poster with a theme of
grid-based design. I created the layout in Adobe Illustrator, arranging the
typography and graphic elements with a focus on structure and balance. Then, I
brought the layout into Photoshop to apply color grading, filters, and final
visual effects.
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Font Application #5
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| Fig. 2.14 - Progress of Task 3 Font Application #5 [Week 14] |
I created the layout in Adobe Illustrator first, keeping the overall style minimalist. Then, I moved the layout to Photoshop for color adjustments, added filters, and applied effects to enhance the visual style
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| Fig. 2.15 - Task 3 Font Application #5 [Week 14] |
Mock-Up Showcase
To simulate how my design would look in real-life applications, I tested it
using online mockup templates. I created three mockups to present different
use cases: invitation card, wall hanging banner, and flyer.
Invitation card
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| Fig. 2.16 - Task 3 Mock-Up Application #1 [Week 14] |
Wall hanging banner
Template Used: https://freedesignresources.net/golden-hour-canvas-mockup/#google_vignette
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Template Used: https://mrmockup.com/free-card-beetwen-ficus-mockup/
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Further Exploration
Besides the finalized designs, I also explored variations of Font Application
4 and Application 5. I experimented with different layouts and color schemes
to see how the font could adapt to various compositions and moods.
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Fig. 2.19 - Exploration of Task 3 Font Application #4 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 2.20 - Exploration of Task 3 Font Application #5 [Week 14] |
- Honor Competition Clock Display -
Progress
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| Fig. 2.21 - Progress of Honor Competition Clock Display [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 2.22 - Clock Display_Day Mode [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 2.23 - Clock Display_Night Mode [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 2.24 - Clock Display_Mono Ver [Week 14] |
Fig. 2.25 - Three Vision of Clock Display -PDF [Week 14]
- Final Compilation -
Download CubeCode here
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| Fig. 3.1 - Font Information Sheet - JPG [Week 14] |
Fig. 3.2 - Final Compilation of CubeCode - PDF [Week 14]
Presentation & Application
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| Fig. 3.3 - Task 3 Font Presentation #1 [Week 14] |
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Fig. 3.4 - Task 3 Font Presentation #2 [Week 14] |
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Fig. 3.5 - Task 3 Font Presentation #3 [Week 14] |
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Fig. 3.6 - Task 3 Font Presentation #4 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.8 - Task 3 Font Application #2 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.9 - Task 3 Font Application #3 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.11 - Task 3 Font Application #5 [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.12 - Clock Display_Day Mode [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.13 - Clock Display_Night Mode [Week 14] |
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| Fig. 3.14 - Clock Display_Mono Ver [Week 14] |
Fig. 3.15 - Final Compilation of Task 3 Font Presentation &
Application - PDF [Week 14]
Fig. 3.16 - Task 3 Font Mock-up Showcase & Further Exploration -
PDF [Week 14]
Fig. 3.17 - Three Vision of Clock Display -PDF [Week 14]
FEEDBACK
- WEEK 9 -
Absent
I was working on my proposal slides during this week. I came up with five
initial ideas based on different themes and visual inspirations.
- WEEK 10 -
General Feedback :
- WEEK 10 -
General Feedback :
We were told to start designing the lowercase letters and to keep the
visual style consistent with the uppercase ones. Progress needs to be
shown by the next class.
Specific Feedback :
Still in the process of finalizing my concept and ideas. I explored each idea through rough sketches and began testing how they could be applied to the letterforms.
- WEEK 11 -
General Feedback :
Always keep a reference font nearby to help maintain consistency throughout your design.
Specific Feedback :
Specific Feedback :
Still in the process of finalizing my concept and ideas. I explored each idea through rough sketches and began testing how they could be applied to the letterforms.
- WEEK 11 -
General Feedback :
Always keep a reference font nearby to help maintain consistency throughout your design.
Specific Feedback :
The patterns I created were all outlines and too detailed. I need to
simplify them by using more filled shapes and leaving more white space.
Lowercase letters are not necessary.
- WEEK 12 -
Final submissions should include:
- 5 Presentation Slides
- 4 Applications
- 2 Mockups
- 1 Animation
Absent
I was absent from class this week. However, I made a big decision to change
my concept and start over from scratch. I realized my previous direction
wasn’t working well visually or conceptually. I began developing my 5th idea
with stronger potential.
- WEEK 13 -
General Feedback :
We were informed that the honor submission link would be provided soon.
Final blog of T3&4 are due next week (Week 14).
Specific Feedback :
I was working on the final touch-ups of my font and FontLab during class.
- WEEK 14 -
Task Submission
REFLECTION
Experiences
This assignment was a refreshing and creative journey. Task 3 allowed me to fully explore my personal interests and express them through font and type design. I really enjoyed expressing something meaningful and unique to me.
Observation
Findings
One key takeaway from this task is that presentation matters, it is not always
just about the font itself. A well-designed typeface can lose impact if it’s
not presented effectively. The applications, animation, and overall layout of
the slides all contribute to how the font is perceived. I realized that good
presentation helps to highlight the strengths and personality of a font. It
creates an experience for the viewer and can make the typeface feel more
professional and complete.
FURTHER READING
I explored the website
Typography Daily, where I came
across a very interesting post titled
“Levi’s Kid Stuff Alphabet Poster”. The poster was originally published in 1983 and designed by Jözef
Sumichrast.
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(Post #11430, March 24th, 2024, by Mirko) |
The description said:
“There is something magnetizing about alphabets. For this
advertisement targeted at children, Levi’s naturally went for an
alphabet that represented its products in all kinds of forms.”
This poster really caught my attention because each letter was creatively derived from Levi’s Kid Stuff products. It was playful, vintage, and full of personality. I found it inspiring how the designer used typography not just as text, but as a visual representation of a brand’s identity.
It made me think deeper about how type can be more than readable letters. It can express a product, a mood, or even tell a brand story. This kind of thinking influenced me in my own project, reminding me to not only design for form and structure, but to also connect type with meaning and context.
I also read a blog post titled “A Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer” by Njoki Gitahi, an IDEO alum who brings everyday curiosity into her creative process.
One quote that stood out to me was:
“For me, graphic design is about finding the best way to bring ideas to life: posters, film, installation, animation, or even objects.”
Although she didn’t talk about typography directly, this line reminded me that typography is also a way of giving form to ideas. It's not just about arranging letters, but about expressing a feeling, a tone, or even a personality through type. It made me reflect on how my own type design can communicate more than just words—it can tell a story.
Later, she wrote:
“A day at IDEO is following ideas wherever they may lead and getting distracted (I mean, inspired) along the way.”
This part really resonated with me. In my own type project, many of my ideas came from observing small things around me, like shapes, objects, or even random thoughts. Reading this reminded me to stay open, to notice the world around me, and to let those observations influence my typography design. It helped me see that type can be playful, emotional, and personal—just like any other form of design.
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