Advanced Typography/ Task 3: Type Exploration & Application

12/06/2024 - 23/07/2024 / Week 8 - Week 14

Lim En Yu / 0354452

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

Task 3: Type Exploration & Application

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Instructions

 

2. Task 3: Type Exploration & Application

3. Feedback

4. Reflection

5. Further Reading

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Instructions

Fig 1.1 Module Information

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Task 3: Type Exploration & Application

Explore the use of an existing letterform in an area of interest, understand its existing relationship, identify areas that could be improved upon, explore possible solutions or combinations that may add value to the existing letterform / lettering. End result: a complete generated font (.ttf) with applications.

Proposal

For the proposal, I have prepared with 3 ideas while 2 of it are exploring the letterforms from the album title. Another idea is I wanted to create a font for my favourite sanrio character - Cinnamoroll! This is because I realised that although it is so famous but it does not have its own font that really represent itself.

Fig 2.1.1 Task 3 Proposal, Week 9 (19/6/24)

Chosen Idea

During the class, I have presented my idea to Mr Vinod which is also the idea that I preferred that is <Hot Mess> album typeface from Aespa! Mr Vinod has approved my idea and thus I proceed to the next phase which is sketching out the letterforms.

Fig 2.1.2 Chosen idea for Task 3, Week 9 (19/6/24)

Skecthes for Uppercase letters

I have sketched it out on paper with grid first so that I can have a roughly idea on how should I digitised it in a better way. For the letters "H","O","T","M","E" & "S" I have tried my best to immitate the shape to make it looked similar to the reference from the album. While for other letters I have ustilised some of the features and designs from the reference to make it all looked coordinated.

Fig 2.1.3 Sketches for Uppercase letterforms #1, Week 9 (23/6/24)

Fig 2.1.4 Sketches for Uppercase letterforms #2, Week 9 (23/6/24)

Digitisation for Uppercase letters

After I have done the sketches, I proceeded to the digitisation stage by making the shape out according to the sketches I have drawn previously. While I was digitising it, I have also made some minor changes from the original drawing which I did not follow it 100%.

Fig 2.1.5 Digitisation for uppercase letterforms, Week 10 (24/6/24)

First and second digitisation of uppercase letterforms

Here is the outcome of the first draft of digitising it and I have made some changes on the first draft on some letters.

Fig 2.1.6 First and second digitisation for uppercase letterforms, Week 10 (25/6/24)

When I showed Mr Vinod my first draft of digitisation, he advised me to utilised only 1 or 2 different stems or parts for the letters that have the same features so that it would not looked messy and not united. For example, the stem for "P" is the same angle and part with "B" and "D". Therefore, I have extracted out the stem from "P" and replace letters Bb" and "D" with it. After I have changed the stem into the same design they looked much more better and consistent.

Fig 2.1.7 Changes of stem on "P", "B" & "D", Week 10 (30/6/24)

The same goes to letter "I", "J" and "T". I have extracted out the suitable design of bar which is from "I" and applied it on letter"J" and "T" that have a bar also. The original design of the bar was actually similar but still have difference among them.

Fig 2.1.8 Changes of bar on "I", "J" & "T", Week 10 (30/6/24)

For the letter "R", initially I did not thought of this combination but after I have adjusted "R" for so many times and it still looked weird, I came out with this idea and it works! I have extracted out the leg from "K" and combine it with "P" and it produce a "R"!

Fig 2.1.9 Changes of leg on "K" & "R", Week 10 (30/6/24)

Third digitisation of uppercase letterforms

Here is the outcome after I have changed the designs of every letters to make them look coordinated and have the same angle of strokes so that all of them looks well and consistent when putting them together.

Fig 2.1.10 Changes of leg on "K" & "R", Week 11 (3/7/24)

There is another problem of third digitisation of uppercase letterforms, which some of the strokes of the letters might looked too thick or thin which the thickness are not even. During the class, Mr Vinod have gave me feedback that I could used a box with fixed width and putting it on the letters and adjust them until they are the same width with the box. Therefore, I have used 2 boxes with different thickness while blue box represents for the thickest part of the letters should be while red box represents for the thinnest part.

Fig 2.1.11 Adjustments on the thickness of uppercase letterforms, Week 11 (5/7/24)

After I have done with adjusting the thickness of every letters and make sure they are the same, I have done with my digitisation of uppercase letterforms. Below are the full evolvements for every letters throughout the adjusments in digitasation stage:

Fig 2.1.12 Evolvement of the changes of all uppercase letterforms, Week 11 (5/7/24)

Final outcome for uppercase letterforms

Fig 2.1.13 Final outcome for uppercase letterforms, Week 11 (5/7/24)

Sketches for Lowercase letters, Numerals & Punctuations

Next, I have proceeded to lowercase letters, numerals and punctuations sketching. Actually at the start I did not want to do lowercase letters because I thought it was hard to implement and design but after I have done the sketches I suddenly felt that hmm it looks okay though, and I wanted to complete my font also, so I still decided to proceed with it :D. 

Fig 2.1.14 Sketches for Lowercase letterforms, Week 10 (25/6/24)

The reference from the album design did not include any numerals or punctuations designs, therefore, I design it with the design style from the uppercase letterforms which is kind of disordered, thick but balanced in the same time.

Fig 2.1.15 Sketches for numerals & punctuations, Week 10 (25/6/24)

Digitisation for Lowercase letters, Numerals & Punctuations

I have used the same concept for lowercase letters, which I have digitised a descender that is applicable for both "g" and "y" and combined the descender with suitable letters in order to contruct "g" and "y". For instance, "a" plus the descender will make a "g" while u plus the descender will make a "y".

Fig 2.1.16 Changes on the descender of "g" and "y", Week 11 (7/7/24)

There is a bit different for descender of "q"as it is another direction compare to "g" and "y". Therefore, I have make another descender only for letter "q" and the same goes, I combined it with letter "a" so that all of them looked the same in terms of stroke size and design style.

Fig 2.1.17 Changes on the descender of "q", Week 11 (7/7/24)

Actually I have used letter "a" for quite a lot of letters, even "b","d" and "p" I also used it to make sure the bowl of them are the same. I have created a stem that can be combined with letter "a" and used for these 3 letters. First, I inverted the stem vertically and combined it with "a" to make a "d".

Fig 2.1.18 Contructig the stem, Week 11 (7/7/24)

After I have a "d" already, then I inverted it vertically again to make a "b". When I wanted to try to make "p" by inverting "b" horizontally, it looks weird on the bowl of "p", therefore I decided to make the p by inverting letter "a" vertically first then only I add the stem, and it looks much more better.

Fig 2.1.19 Contructig "b" & "p" according to "d", Week 11 (7/7/24)

Besides that, for letter "n" I have digitised it first based on the sketches and I like it as it looks neat and balanced. So, I decided to make an "u" by inverted it twice which is inverted it horizontally and vertically. The outcome was nice and the "u" looks natural also.

Fig 2.1.20 Contructing "n" & "u", Week 11 (7/7/24)

First digitisation for lowercase letters

Fig 2.1.21 First digitisation for lowercase letters, Week 11 (7/7/24)

Digitisation for numerals and punctuations

Moreover, I also digitised the numerals and punctuations according to the skecthes I have created. The same thing here, I did not fully followed the sketches, insteade I have made some changes that improve the letters. Here are the progress of digitisation:

Fig 2.1.22 Digitisation for numerals and punctuations, Week 11 (7/7/24)

First digitisation for numerals and punctuations

Fig 2.1.23 First digitisation for numerals and punctuations, Week 11 (7/7/24)

I did the smae thing that I have done for uppercase letters which I have measured the thickness of every letters by using the blue and red boxes with specific width. During the process, I will find some specific strokes that are either very thick or thin, and this could help me to maintain the thickness among the letters and numerals.

Fig 2.1.24 Adjustments on thickness of lowercase letterforms and numerals, Week 12 (9/7/24)

Final outcome for lowercase letterforms

Fig 2.1.25 Final outcome for lowercase letterforms, Week 12 (9/7/24)

Final outcome for numerals and punctuations

Fig 2.1.26 Final outcome for numerals & punctuations, Week 12 (9/7/24)

Importing Letterforms to Fontlab 7

After I have done with all of the digitasation, I proceeded by importing all the letters into Fontlab 7. Mr Vinod has advised us not to use Fontlab 8 as we could not export the font in Maclab. This is the second time I used Fontlab and I still a bit unfamiliar with it after a long time I did not use it anymore. Therefore, I have looked at the video tutorial provided by Mr Vinod to make sure the steps of I importing the letterforms are correct.

Fig 2.2.1 Importing letterforms to Fontlab 7, Week 12 (9/7/24)

After I finished with importing all the letters, I proceeded to the kerning stage which I first started by following the images of sidebearing measurement provided by Mr Vinod. After that, I have also tried out all the sample texts provided by fontlab. Below are all my kerning processes with the texts and also the sequence of ABCD.

Fig 2.2.2 Sample texts of kerning provided by fontlab, Week 12 (10/7/24)

When I done with all the sample texts kerning provided by fontlab, I realised some of my letters have a thicker width and need a more accurate adjustment on sidebearing measurement. Therefore, I have typed out those letters together with ABCD to make sure it looks okay with all other letters.

Fig 2.2.3 Kerning on specific letters, Week 12 (10/7/24)

Also, I have tested out the texts that I am going to apply in my font presentations or applications to make sure they look okay or else I could do some adjustment on kerning.

Fig 2.2.4 Kerning on texts that will be used, Week 12 (10/7/24)

Font Presentations

Now we have came to the font presentations stage which is one of the stage that I looking forward to. After browsing through the references which are the "Hot Mess" album by aespa, the style is actually y2k, girllish and pinky? So I decided to focus on y2k concept and set my colour palette colour as pink, black and white.

Fig 2.3.1 Browsing through reference album, Week 12 (12/7/24)

For the graphic element like the silver decorations I extracted it out from my reference which is the album cover as I like it very much as it showcase the y2k concept and it also represent every member themselves with different shapes. Also, I want to make something similar to the reference so I created a white and pinky glowing effect behind the word "HOTMESS" to showcase the letters.

Fig 2.3.2 Progress of font presentaions #1, Week 12 (13/7/24)

Other than that, for the outline strokes of the letters , I have actually created multiple layers of the words with different colours and thickness of strokes. BTW the blue colour of text was actually the original colour that I wanted to use instead of black colour but I feel like black, white and pink are easier to brainstorm for the designs.

Fig 2.3.3 Progress of font presentaions #2, Week 13 (16/7/24)

Besides that,  after I have shown Mr Vinod my 5 font presentations, he suggested me to separate the lowercase letters with numerals and punctuations by created sixth font presentation so that it could showcase and focus on the lowercase letters more. Here are the outcomes for all the font presentations:

Fig 2.3.4 Font presentaions #1, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.3.5 Font presentaions #2, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.3.6 Font presentaions #3, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.3.7 Font presentaions #4, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.3.8 Font presentaions #5, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.3.9 Font presentaions #6, Week 13 (17/7/24)

Font Applications

Finally we have proceeded to font applications part which is the part that I am excited with the most!! Actually before I have not started on it yet I already have a lot of ideas, I think may be I feel like I was creating my idol's merchandise so I have more ideas and passions on it.

Key Chains
First, the merchandise I wanted to do will be the keychain that represent every member themselves with the iconic shapes which represent different members. I have tried to make different colour of background and also font for every members so that it would not looked the same exactly.

Fig 2.4.1 Designs for keychain, Week 13 (19/7/24)

Also, I have changed the colour of the ring on the keychains so that it looked more special and unique for every keychain. I am quite satisfied with the outcome as it looked really cute :D.

Fig 2.4.2 Font application #1, Week 13 (19/7/24)

CD version Album

This is anotehr thing I wanted to design if I am the album designer for my idol. Although not a lot people listening to CD nowadays but it still exist for every KPOP album that's why I think it actually play an important role in album design. At first, I was struggling whether I should use black for the CD or not, and after considering it is one of the primary colour in the colour paletter, I make the CD black colour so that it suits the overall visual style.

Fig 2.4.3 Font application #2, Week 13 (19/7/24)

Poster of Pop Up Store

Another thing that must not be ignored will be the poster that promoting the event. I decided to make it as a pop up store poster as usually it will only have pop up store if the group come back with new album. Therefore, I think it suits the topic very much becuase this is also a new album by them. I have also utilised the elments that I have used before which are the heart, star, moon and butterfly shapes that represent every members. For the glowing effect, I have changed the colour from white to darker pink so that it looks more  impactful while it is on a poster.

Fig 2.4.4 Poster design, Week 13 (20/7/24)

Fig 2.4.5 Font application #3, Week 13 (20/7/24)

Caps

On the other hand, the other merchandise that I have think of is cap as I think my design will suits cap. After I have tried it out then I decided to proceed with it because it looks really cute on the cap! I only included the words "HOTMESS" and "AESPA" as it is the album title and the group itself. If I have more time I would like to generate more with different texts because they looked quite nice:D

Fig 2.4.6 Font application #4, Week 13 (21/7/24)

Stickers

Last but not least, the thing that usually will be included in a album is the sticker! I have thought of 2 designs of stickers that have different colours, and the design style is also not the same as one is more decorative and another is more simple.

Fig 2.4.7 Sticker desgins, Week 13 (21/7/24)

Fig 2.4.8 Font application #5, Week 13 (21/7/24)

Final outcome for Task 3: Type Exploration & Application

Download the font here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mryTBd1aSOEqP_yjHJNsclPIzDtoHy6G/view?usp=sharing

Fig 2.5.1 "Hotmess" final type design (JPEG), Week 14 (22/7/24)

Font Tester

Fig 2.5.2 Font presentaions #1 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.3 Font presentaions #2 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.4 Font presentaions #3 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.5 Font presentaions #4 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.6 Font presentaions #5 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.7 Font presentaions #6 (JPEG), Week 13 (17/7/24)

Fig 2.5.8 Font application #1 (JPEG), Week 13 (19/7/24)

Fig 2.5.9 Font application #2 (JPEG), Week 13 (19/7/24)

Fig 2.5.10 Font application #3 (JPEG), Week 13 (20/7/24)

Fig 2.5.11 Font application #4 (JPEG), Week 13 (21/7/24)

Fig 2.5.12 Font application #5 (JPEG), Week 13 (21/7/24)

Fig 2.5.13 Final outcome for Task 3: Type Exploration and Application (PDF), Week 14 (22/7/24)

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Feedback

Week 9

General Feedback: We should have a guideline or grid system while we contsructing the letterforms, no matter it is in circle, grid or line.

Specific Feedback: The first idea which is the album design from Aespa is workable.

Week 10

General Feedback: In order for the consistency of the letterforms, we should have a grid structure that not only include boxes but can also be circle, diagonal linex etc. Also, the font that we are doingshould have a purpose or problem to solve.

Specific Feedback: Can have a grid system that measure the proportional of the letterforms. If I dont want all the vertical stroke that are same which I want to have variations, I can create different version of strokes. For the connected part of the letters, if I want to have it, I should complete the standard form of letters before then only work on the letters with added connected part.

Week 11

General Feedback: The font size should be same size to what we are exporting into fontlab, we can utilise the scale funcction and adjust it using the size of how many percentage to increase.

Specific Feedback: Refine the width of the stroke by measuring for each letters, resizing the letters according to the correct pixels.

Week 12

General Feedback: For the font presentations, it should be impressive and impactful. We should have a fixed colour palette so that it easier for us to progress, the applications of fonts can be related back to the problem that we aim to solve.

Specific Feedback: Can proceeded to export the font and font presentation if done kerning of the font.

Week 13

General Feedback: Start creating your font presentations & font applications.

Specific Feedback: The background of font presentation is a bit overtaking the font, create the sixth artboard to separate the punctuations and numerals with the small capitals.

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Reflection

  
Experiences

It is one of the module thata I enjoyed the most during this semester! I was so happy and glad that I chose to do something that I really like in my daily life which is my favourite KPOP girl group AESPA. I really have a lot of ideas and passions to execute this when it comes to my favourite topic. Whether from the start or until the end, I never felt tired or stressed during the process, I think it is the power of LOVE❤. Compared to tasks before, I have more motivation to do this task and I feel that the outcome is much more better also! Although it is tough and hard while contructing the letterforms as the shapes are irregular, the style for every letters are slightly different, I still managed to cope with it because I want to do my best for the font that I was going to create for my idol! The part that I enjoyed the most must be font applications part, as a fan, the design for merchandises are very important! It represent the idol and also, I managed to have the chance to try to produce merchandises for my idol. I used to have some ideas while I am buying merchandise, which the designs could be improved in another way etc.

Observations

Throughout this interesting task, I actually observed that although a font might looked simple, but it is very hard to control the balance and also the overall visual style that make them aligned. When it comes to designing a font by myself, there are a lot a lot of things to consider, it is not simple at all! Every minor changes could affect the overall visual appearance and performance, which I need to keep adjusting it, improving on it and asking feedbacks from Mr Vinod to make sure every thing is on the right track. Other than that, producing a font application that looked nice and visually balanced is very hard, I will need to observe the coordination among the products to make sure it is suitable.

Findings
Overall, I found out that designing the font is not just designing a font only, you will need to relate to the topic itself and further explore with it. You really need to understand what you are doing and have the motivation and passion to do so, and should not just treat it as an assignment only. Moreover, there are also quite a lot of things I wanted to try out but could not do so due to time constraint, but nevermind at least I have done somethings that I was satisfied with it! All in all, I enjoyed this module very much and I found out that passion is the key!

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Further Reading

The Vignelli Canon by Vignelli, M.

This book covers the intellectual experiences and personal development of the author and his wife, starting with the earliest stages of their careers.

Fig 5.1 The Vignelli Canon by Vignelli, M., Week 13 (20/7/24)

We utilize color as an identifier or a signifier most of the time. It just indicates that we like to use color to indicate certain things most of the time, therefore we tend to utilize it more as an identifier or symbol.While color plays a significant role in the design of our projects, we have restricted and defined our color palette, just like we do with fonts, to ensure that the message is communicated in the most direct and comprehensible manner possible.

Fig 5.2 Colour in Typographhy, Week 13 (20/7/24)

In both two and three dimensional design, the idea of identity and variety keeps coming up. Enough variety must be included in a corporate identity program to draw attention and prevent sameness. Perceptual redundancy and poor retention result from having too many identities. To avoid those dangers, it is therefore essential to strike the right balance between those components or to provide adequate flexibility in any particular design solution. 

Fig 5.3 Identity and diversity in Typography, Week 13 (20/7/24)

Everything in our immediate environment—the colors, textures, and materials—is subject to this sorting and choosing process. It includes every detail as well as thickness, width, and height. Every sense in our body is engaged, but information needs to be digested, examined, and ultimately stored in our memory in a way that is consistent with our own canon rather than randomly.

Fig 5.4 A collection of experiences., Week 13 (20/7/24)