ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY-TASK 3/TYPE EXPLORATION AND APPLICATION
ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY
19.10.2023- 29.11.2023/Week 8 - Week 14
Nur Fariha Binti Mohd Rodzuan/0351242
Advanced Typography/Bachelors(Hons) in
Creative Media
Task 3/Type Exploration and Application
LISTS
Lectures
LECTURES
INTRODUCTION
Module Information Booklet
TASK 3: TYPE EXPLORATION AND APPLICATION
In task 3, we were given the freedom to explore our own project. We were
given options to design a typeface to solve a problem in our area of
interest (Graphic design, UI/UX, Animation, Entertainment Design etc) or
explore the use of existing typefaces in our area of interest or
experiment. The end result would be applying the design typeface into any
kind of format ranging from movie titles or using different materials.
1. Sketches and Idea Proposal
We were required to make presentation slides to propose the ideas that we
have in our pursuit of making fonts. At first, I planned to improve and
continue making the 'Edgar font' that I had made in the previous semester,
however, I thought maybe I could explore deeper into the history and
formation of blackletters so that I could begin to create my own version
of blackletter typeface.
Presentation slides week 8 (19/10/2023)
1.2 Digitisation Process
Small letters
My train of thought was a mess during this time and therefore, I created so
much trouble for myself by trying to incorporate characteristics in the
previous font I made to give it a more unique touch. Here are some of the
inspirations I took:
fig 1 Inspiration for creating the new fonts week 8 (19/10/2023)
fig 2 Failed attempt in creating new font week 8 (21/10/2023)
After getting sir's feedback, he clearly did not like the whole idea and I
was back to square one, I began to look back on my work and wondered what
was so bad with continuing my previous font? Certain characteristics were
unique since I had used a flat-tip pen in the first place, so I began to
improve the previous fonts that I had made.
fig 3 Previous fonts for last semester's work
Fig 4 Progression of changing characteristic fonts week 9 (25/10/2023)
Fig 5 Reconstructing the small letter 's' week 9 (25/10/2023)
There weren't a lot of changes to the small alphabet just the slight curve
on the top for a more gothic look. Apart from that, I had to change the
letter 's' because it looked too bulky and sharp edges were sticking out
from the curves in an unnatural manner.
Capital letters
The capital letters are the trickiest to make since the characteristics
have to be consistent with the small letters.
fig 6 Attempt on the capital 'A' variation week 10 (1/11/2023)
I wanted to emphasise the sharp diagonal line that is present within the
small letters. However, putting it side by side with the small letter 'a',
the capital letter looked out of place, getting feedback from my peers,
told me that the diamond and extra font decoration on the left side of the
'A' make it look out of place since my small letters look a bit more
modern.
fig 7 Progression of capital letter 'A' style week 10 (1/11/2023)
fig 8 Attempt on the letter 'H' week 11 (1/11/2023)
Numbers and Punctuations
I made sure to keep the diagonal strokes in the numbers. I had a lot of
trouble creating number 3 and 8 without making it look too awkward.
Since the number 8 was much more curved and I tried to keep the
consistent line weight within the number.
fig 9 numbers 1-9 week 11 (1/11/2023)
fig 10 numbers 1-9 (outline version)
As for the punctuation, I decided to only create a few punctuations .,:;""#!?'' (10 minimum). I had a lot of problems creating the question mark. Unfortunately, I accidentally improvised the old version but I was able to solve the problem by manipulating the curves in my number 2 to create the question mark.
fig 11 Punctuations week 12 (10/11/2023)
fig 12 Punctuations (outline view) week 12 (10/11/2023)
Imported to Fontlab 8
I had to import the fonts into Fontlab 8 since I have used up my
Fontlab 7 version in the last semester. However, using it was no
different from the version 7 (here I thought it was a big deal lol).
After that, I began kerning the letters one by one. I had to refresh
my memories on using fontlab by rewatching Mr Vinod's video on how to
use Fontlab as well as bother my friend to help me.
fig 13 Some kerning process within Fontlab 8 week 13
(15/11/2023)
3. Font Presentation
For the font presentation, I wasn't sure on how to present my fonts
since my font centered on Blackletter, which are obviously for display
most of the time. I started gathering inspiration from Pinterest and
some work display that Mr. Vinod showed us of previous students. So I
decided to hop on adobe illustrator and see what I can bring out from
the inspiration I had gathered so far.
fig 14 Some inspiration for the font presentation week 13 (15/11/2023)
fig 15 Attempt #1 on trying to create font presentation week 13
(15/11/2023)
fig 16 Attempt #2 using newspaper-themed presentation,
font size (left) character presentation (right).
fig 17 Attempt #3 using modern-based display using the
color palette chosen from inspiration
fig 18 Front Presentation week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 19 Compilation of new themed presentation week 14
(29/11/2023)
3. Font Application
For the font application, I decided to focus on creating a book cover,
using it as a website display font and a font as a tarot card. I felt
like all of the display would suit the use of my font within these areas
the most. Furthermore, I added the designs from Adobe into mockups into
the Adobe photoshop software.
3.1 Book cover
There was this one time when I stumbled upon an Oscar Wilde book when I
was browsing through a bookstore. I always loved hardcovers of old
literatures with decorative ornaments (flowers) on it and I thought the
green colour of the book would suit so much well in the traditional
setting and my font that fit the whole theme.
fig 20 The book cover for one of Oscar Wilde's stories week 14
(29/11/2023)
fig 20 The mockup for one of Oscar Wilde's stories week 14
(29/11/2023)
3.2 Website Display Homepage.
Referenced website: https://poemuseum.org/poes-complete-works/
Originally the name of the font itself was based on Edgar Allan Poe,
all because I just finished reading through and making a digital
Tryptich on one of his story. I browse through this website to look
for his complete work and realised how bland the website look like. So
I decided to put my font to the test and replicating the website
homepage as well.
fig 21 The Poe Museum website homepage week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 22 My version of the website using the font I created week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 23 Mockup of the website using the font I created week 14 (29/11/2023)
3.3 Tarot Cards
I love using tarot cards and I collect them for fun. A friend of mine
pitched the idea of having it on a tarot card since the font itself is
considered quite old and that I should give it a try. And so...I did,
taking inspiration from a minimal tarot card in Pinterest I recreated it
in Adobe Illustrator.
fig 24 Major Arcana: The moon week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 24 (mockup) Major Arcana: The moon week 14 (29/11/2023)
4. Final Design
Download the font here:
Edgar Blackletter
Accompanied font within presentation: Futura Std
fig 25 Font presentation 1 (title page) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 26 Font presentation 2 (Uppercase and lowercase) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 27 Font presentation 3 (Numbers and punctuations) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 28 Font presentation 4 (Font size) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 29 Font application (book cover) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 29 Font application (website homepage) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 30 Font application (tarot cards) week 14 (29/11/2023)
fig 31 Compilation of Task 3 (PDF)
FEEDBACK
WEEK 9
General feedback: -Characteristics of fonts must be similar
Specific Feedback: -To use blackletter fonts, make it unique to yourself. -Not recommended
to take characteristics from different fonts and apply it to what I'm
trying to create.
WEEK 10
General Feedback: -Place capital letters and small letters next to each other when making
Specific Feedback:
-The thick and thin strokes are inconsistent
-The additional line and diamond in the small letters seem out of place
-The overall look lacks consistency -make sure to have a signature of
your own (ex. sharp diagonal lines feature in every letter)
WEEK 11
General Feedback: -Print out your fonts to see if it works
Specific feedback: -The 's' is out of place from the entire font.
WEEK 12
General Feedback:
-Use the files in teams to guide you in kerning letters
Specific Feedback:
-The lines should not be sharp make them blunt
-Find characteristics that make your blackletter different from
others
WEEK 13
General Feedback: - Make sure the artboard does not exceed 1024px x 1024px
Specific Feedback:
-When displaying font, don't put the capital letters and small letters
side by side.
-The 'S' line is too thin
REFLECTION
Experience
Creating my own blackletter font was an arduous process, I liked a few of
the letters I made and some didn't meet my expectations, I realised I could
have done much better if I hadn't struggled with time management that much.
However, I was able to go through it and finish the work just in time. I
think the part I struggled with the most would be creating the font, as for
the presentations and application I had a general idea of what suitable
mediums I could use blackletter with.
Observation
From this task, I learned to be careful when creating each alphabet. I
realised that due to my own negligence, certain letters turned out horribly
wrong which could potentially ruin the sentence's consistency. Other than
that, I learned that understanding the fundamentals of a typeface you're
focusing on should be your first priority by researching the structure or
simply trying it manually on paper, before beginning to digitize it. I
enjoyed and understood four different types of blackletter because I was
able to freely express it on paper.
Findings
A lot of the small process or step we take in creating a font or to design
anything in particular holds significant value in the creation of
something new. Furthermore, when trying to design something, it is crucial
to have a structured idea or and overall objective that can help guide you
through the process instead of using our energy on something else that will
only waste time (which I specifically did in the first few week into the
assignment). Nevertheless, I had a lot of limitations in putting my all in
this task because of time constraint and a lot of other modules to attend
to, I hope this task would serve as a lesson for me to properly manage my
time in the future.
FURTHER READING
Schwabacher blackletter type
Different types of blackletter throughout history
The article explained the four different types of blackletter improved
throughout history which consists of
Texture, Rotunda, Schwabacher and Fraktur.
Textura - 11th Century; foundational form of Blackletter that occured as there was a boost in literacy across Europe; textura’s calculated uniformity mimicked gothic architecture at the time
Rotunda - 12th Century; originated in Italy; considered a ‘sibling’ to Textura in southern Europe; named derived from latin word ‘rotundus’ - building that has a round floor plan (rotunda); more rounded strokes therefore letters tend to be more legible than textura
Schwabacher - 15th Century; evolved from textura; similarly round like rotunda but with sharper edges; popular in Germany until Fraktur took over in 16th Century (but interestingly, Schwabacher was still used in conjunction with fraktur, similar to the way we use italic type for emphasis today)
Fraktur - 16th Century to improve legibility of type (make characters more legible); Fraktur comes from latin ‘fractus’ or english ‘fracture’ or broken - letterforms are broken apart into independent strokes at different angles and it’s these varying angles that improve Fraktur’s legibility; fraktur style was still popular in Germany until the early 1900’s when new, more modern sans-serif typefaces were becoming popular; but Nazi Germany declared these more modern typefaces ‘un-German’ and used it for their propaganda. Fraktur wasn’t popular after that because it was associated with the Nazi party.
2. The Vignelli Cannon
by Vignelli Cannon
Understanding importance of visual strength
One part of the book talks about how using size, bold text, and playing
with texture can make graphic designs more powerful. It stresses the importance of having a clear purpose for a unique look.
It also points out that being visually strong is different from just
being eye-catching, as big elements might not always look good. The
section ends by saying that effective designs need to have good visual
strength.
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