Advanced Typography | Task 3: Type Exploration & Application
12.06.2024 - 24.07.2024 / Week 8 - Week 14
Khu Ying Ying / 0357306
Advanced Typography / GCD61004 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative
Media
Task 3: Type Exploration & Application
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LECTURES
All lectures 1 to 6 are completed.
INSTRUCTIONS
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TASK 3: TYPE EXPLORATION & APPLICATION
Week 10 (12/06/2024)
Requirements:
- Select 1 of the requirements provided here:
- Create a font intended to solve a larger problem/meant to be part of a solution in the area of your interest: graphic design/animation/new media/entertainment design/any other related area not necessarily reflecting your specialisation.
- End result: A complete generated font (.ttf) with applications.
- Explore using an existing letterform in an area of interest, understand its existing relationship, identify areas that could be improved upon, and explore possible solutions/ combinations that may add value to the existing letterform.
- End result: A complete generated font (.ttf) with applications.
- Experiment. For your idea to qualify as an experiment, it must be novel and unique — working with material that might be 3- dimensional, digitally augmented, edible, unusual, typographic music video/fine art.
- End result: Defined by the student.
- Complete all letterforms in uppercase, lowercase, numerals, and punctuations.
- You can only complete font generation from FontLab7/FontForge.
Submissions:
- Complete font presentations with 5 artworks (1024px x 1024px, 300ppi).
- A-Z; Numerals; Punctuation.
- Designed font link to ttf font.
- Font preview (optional).
- Complete font applications with 5 artworks (size subject to the application but should not exceed 1024px in width or height at 300ppi).
Progress:
Proposal & Sketches
I started with three ideas for my proposal: Zepeto Letterforms, Lookism
Letterforms, and Olens Letterforms. My goal was to explore the use of
existing letterforms and identify potential ways to improve and add
value to each letterform. Before I created the proposal on Google Slides,
I did some background study on each proposal idea (as a draft as well) to
get some thoughts on the problems and solutions.
Figure T3.1: Research, Week 10 (26/06/2024)
I chose Idea 1: Zepeto Letterforms from my Google Slides proposal. The reason was that I noticed that
Zepeto lacked distinctiveness; the simplicity of its sans serif typefaces
contributes to a modern design, but it doesn't reflect the app's
chat-based concept. To solve this, I propose adding chat bubbles
as interactive elements to the existing letterforms. This method will more
accurately portray Zepeto's theme and increase brand recognition.
Figure T3.2: Proposal, Week 10 (26/06/2024)
I did rough sketches using the uppercase letters "ZEPETO" to explore the
combination of ideas with the interactive element - chat bubbles.
Figure T3.3: Rough Sketches - Ideas, Week 10 (26/06/2024)
Then, I did rough sketches for the entire letterforms including uppercase,
lowercase, numerals, and punctuation with the #4 Attempt as the
guide.
Figure T3.4: Rough Sketches - Uppercase, Lowercase, Numerals, and
Punctuation, Week 10 (26/06/2024)
Week 12 (10/07/2024)
Digitisation
Digitisation #1:
I used the Shape Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create the
letterforms.
Figure T3.5: Digitisation #1 - Creating Letterforms with Shape Tool, Week
12 (10/07/2024)
Digitisation #2:
Then, I duplicated the artboard and united each letter to curve them
according to the sketches. I also added and deleted some anchor points of
the letters to control the stroke better.
Figure T3.6: Digitisation #2 - United Shapes and Curve, Week 12
(10/07/2024)
Digitisation #3:
I created the interactive elements - various chat bubbles to combine with
some letterforms.
Figure T3.7: Digitisation #3 - Interactive Elements, Week 12
(10/07/2024)
Initially, I tried combining the chat bubble into the baseline stroke of the
letter "Z," but the results were confusing. Yet, I discovered how to create
new shapes for letters using the Minus Front in Pathfinder.
Figure T3.8: Digitisation #3 - First Attempt on Minus Front, Week 12
(10/07/2024)
I then adjusted the letters with the chat bubbles to the right proportion.
Figure T3.9: Digitisation #3 - Uppercase, Week 13 (17/07/2024)
Figure T3.10: Digitisation #3 - Lowercase, Week 13 (17/07/2024)
Figure T3.11: Digitisation #3 - Numerals and Punctuations, Week 13
(17/07/2024)
Digitisation #4:
After reviewing the overall design of the letterforms, I realised that some
letters needed adjustments.
Figure T3.12: Digitisation #4 - Adjustments, Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Overall Progression:
Figure T3.13: Overall Progression, Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Fontlab
The name of the font was Zepeticon (Zepeto + Icon). It was
intended to represent the essence of Zepeto's distinct style, combining
interactive and social elements while keeping a modern and recognisable
brand.
After naming the font, I started to place the letterforms and adjust the
side bearing in Fontlab 7.
Figure T3.14: Placing Letterforms in Fontlab 7, Week 14
(23/07/2024)
Figure T3.15: Adjusting Side Bearing, Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Font Presentations & Font Applications
Before we continue with the font presentation and application, I'd like to
point out that Zepeticon is a reworked font for Zepeto which reflects the
app's concept.
For the font presentation, I thought about some ideas:
- Zepeto as the main title, followed by:
- The virtual world of #GEN Z: Zepeto, an app of the South Korean corporation Naver Z Corporation, gained popularity among younger generations due to its cutting-edge technology and creative concept when it was first introduced in 2018 (Zepeto, the Virtual World of Gen Z and Fashion | Polygonal Mind’s Blog, n.d.).
- Explore the world: Besides that, Zepeto is an immersive social environment centred around avatars that provides a singular platform for individuals to express their creativity and establish connections with one another (ZEPETO, n.d.).
- Uppercase, lowercase, numerals, and punctuation.
- Zepeto as the main focus.
- Quotes that relate to the Zepeto's function.
- Call to action of Zepeto.
Figure T3.17: Font Presentations - First Attempt, Week 14
(23/07/2024)
After that, I applied the colours based on the Zepeto logo's colours.
Figure T3.18: Font Presentations - Zepeto Logo's Colours, Week 14
(23/07/2024)
Figure T3.19: Font Presentations - Applying Colours, Week 14
(23/07/2024)
For the font applications, I found the content ideas related to Zepeto.
Figure T3.20: Font Applications - Ideas, Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Figure T3.21: Font Applications - First Attempt, Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Week 14 (23/07/2024)
Final Submission of Task 3: Type Exploration & Application
Download Zepeticon
here.
Figure T3.22: Final Submission of Zepeticon, Week 14 (24/07/2024)
Figure T3.23: Final Submission of Font Presentation - 1 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.24: Final Submission of Font Presentation - 2 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.25: Final Submission of Font Presentation - 3 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.26: Final Submission of Font Presentation - 4 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.27: Final Submission of Font Presentation - 5 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.28: Final Submission of Font Presentations (PDF), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.29: Final Submission of Font Applications- 1 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.30: Final Submission of Font Applications- 2 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.31: Final Submission of Font Applications- 3 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.32: Final Submission of Font Applications- 4 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.32: Final Submission of Font Applications- 5 (JPG), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
Figure T3.33: Final Submissions of Font Applications (PDF), Week 14
(24/07/2024)
FEEDBACKS
Week 8 (12/06/2024)
Specific Feedback: Independent Learning Week.
General Feedback: Independent Learning Week.
Week 9 (19/06/2024)
Specific Feedback: Think about why the letter is
structured, not only for aesthetics. Think about targeted users.
General Feedback: When you propose the idea, make sure you
have sketches to make it more convincing. You must have at least 3 ideas. Your
slide must include questions and answers.
Week 10 (26/06/2024)
Specific Feedback: You need structure when designing the letterforms, ensure the consistency of the
stroke thickness, and how you measure each letter.
General Feedback:
When you find good letterforms, analyze them and write them down as notes,
then apply them to your design without looking at the reference photo, or
else you might copy the whole thing from it (which could cause plagiarism).
Cannot exceed more than 1000pt.
Week 11 (03/07/2024)
Specific Feedback:
The letter "Z" hairline and base stroke are different sizes, they don't
have the same length.
General Feedback: Finish all the letterforms.
Week 12 (10/07/2024)
Specific Feedback:
Create 5 designs for the font presentation with limited colours (don't
exceed more than 3 colours). Choose the context based on your proposal
questions.
General Feedback: Finish all the
letterforms.
Week 13 (17/07/2024)
Specific Feedback: Square (style) looks better in your letterform style.
General Feedback: Finish all the letterforms and font presentation.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
Initially, I struggled to come up with proposal ideas because I couldn't think
of any. Then I realised that a simple method would be to examine my
surroundings. For example, I noticed the appearance of apps on my phone (fonts
used), which provided a starting point for further investigation and research.
Furthermore, maintaining font consistency while sketching and digitising
uppercase, lowercase, numerals, and punctuation proved difficult. However,
with the assistance of my friends and Mr. Vinod's feedback, I was able to
complete the task.
Observation
Consistency is key when designing a set of characters, and it can also be
applied to other areas.
Findings
Shift + M is shape builder.
FURTHER READING
Figure FR1: Typographic Systems by Kimberly Elam
Reference:
Elam, K. (2007, May 3). Typographic Systems. Princeton Architectural
Press.
QUICK LINKS
Projects
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