ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY - FINAL PROJECT

Week 11 - Week 13 (23/06/2020 - 07/07/2020)
See Zi Yi 0340094
Advanced Typography
Final Project

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INSTRUCTIONS


Week 11 (23/06/2020)

For our final project, we are tasked to:

Develop a font that is intended to solve a larger problem or meant to be part of a solution in the area of your interest be it graphic design, animation, new media or entertainment design or any other related area not necessarily reflecting your specialisation.

or

Explore the use of a typeface in your 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 typeface.

Below is my proposal slides:



Here is the revised version of the proposal:



Week 11 (23/06/2020)

To begin with, I have drafted out the font I visualized on my mind. I knew I wanted it to have the characteristics of a kids font, which is bold, playful, rounded tip. Hence, below is the sketch:

Fig. 1.0 Sketch of my font

Out of the two versions, I particularly like the second one as it's more playful-looking and not as stiff as the first font. Hence, with the characteristics of the font in mind, I proceed to digitize my font. I further refined the font from the sketches and made it less squarish to give a classy look over it. This is also because I personally think that the second version sketch is slightly distorted, therefore in the digitization below, the characteristics of the font is slightly rectangular-ish. 

Fig. 1.1 The letter O, H, and D

Referring to the screen capture above, I started with the 3 basic letters which determine the style of the letters, which are O, H, and, D. The style of O determines how the curve strokes would look like; the H determines how the horizontal and verticle strokes would look like; while D determines how would the curve and straight strokes look like when they're both combined into one. Below is a screen capture of my workspace:

Fig. 1.2  Letter O, H, D, A, B, C, D, E, F (on my workspace)

Below are the letters I completed by this week:

Fig. 1.3 The letters I completed by Week 11

Week 12 (30/06/2020)

In today's class, I showed my work to the lecturers and they commented that the stroke width is consistent and I am on the right track. It's just that I have to speed up my progress. Mr Vinod also advised us to use the pen tool to create strokes instead of using shapes, as it's time-consuming and the consistency of the stroke width would not be guaranteed. 

Fig. 1.4 Strokes which are constructed with shapes

The steps to create a new brush:
(1) Create a shape
(2) Click "New Brush" button under the "Brushes" panel
(3) Click "Art Brush"
(4) There you go! You just created your own brush.

There are different kinds of strokes used to create my font. Hence, I came up with a few types of brushes. Below are the brushes I created:

Fig. 1.4 Strokes which are constructed with shapes

With the customized brush strokes, I felt that my workload is reduced by half. By the end of this week, I managed to complete the upper case letters. Below are the letters arranged on the baseline.

Fig. 1.5  Letters arranged on the baseline

As the final outcome would be to solve the problem of the font of a kindergarten, which is Tadika Oasis Harmoni, I arranged the letters into the name of the kindergarten. Below is how it looks like:

Fig. 1.6 Kindergarten's title

Week 13 (07/07/2020)

I showed the lecturers my font and Mr Vinod commented it looks good with the upper case and asked me to do the numbers and a few punctuations, then insert my font into Fontlab to adjust its kerning. However, I still want to adjust the nuances of some letters hence I made some amendments to my current letters before starting to construct the numbers. Below are some variations I came up with for letter O, Y and Z.

As shown in the picture below, the first letter O on the left seems too stiff and it seems odd when the characteristic of the rest of the letters are playful looking and free-spirited. Therefore, I further refined it four times to get to the last letter O. Below shows the phases the letter O went through to get to the final outcome.

Fig. 1.7 Different variations of the letter "O"

Besides, I also further refined the letter Y and Z. For the letter Y, I realized the same issue as the letter O, which is that the first attempt looks too stiff. Hence, I made the strokes curvier. As for the letter Z, I made the top stroke shorter so it would look more balanced.

Fig. 1.8 Changes made to letter "Y" and "Z"

Below are the upper case letters, with punctuations and numbers.

Fig. 1.9 Complete set of fonts (First attempt)

I showed my attempt above to Mr Vinod and he commented that I am good to go. However, I still have some amendments to make.

Fig. 1.10 Changes made to the letter "Y"

Fig. 1.11 Changes made to the letter "E"

Fig. 1.10 Changes made to the letter "F"

After refining the letters above, below is the final set of all characters in my font.

Fig. 1.11 Complete set of my font (Youth) (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.12 Complete set of my font (Youth) (FINAL Final Project: PDF)

Upon completion of constructing my font, I moved on to Fontlab to carry out my kerning process. Below are a few screenshots of my kerning process.

Fig. 1.13 Before kerning on Fontlab 7.0 (complete set of font)

Fig. 1.14 After kerning on Fontlab 7.0 (complete set of font)

Fig. 1.15 After kerning on Fontlab 7.0 (TADIKA OASIS HARMONI)

After kerning my font, I proceed to create collaterals. Below is my first attempt at redesigning the T-shirt.

Fig. 1.16 Collaterals (After)

However, it doesn't seem to work. Hence I explored further. Mr Vinod recommended a few websites for our references for font applications, which is mainly to transform texts into patterns. Below are the links to the references:

Reference no.1

Reference no.2

Reference no.3

I have also done some research on how to create kids collaterals. Below is the compilation of references I found:

Aside from that, I have explored a bit more on the placing of the title which is TADIKA OASIS HARMONI and below shows the differences:

Fig. 1.17 "TADIKA OASIS HARMONI" on the baseline

Fig. 1.18 "TADIKA OASIS HARMONI" with colour added
and different positioning of text

Aside from that, I have also created a key artwork for my work. In my opinion, showcasing the letters in a random typographical system can showcase the characteristics of the kids well. Below is the key artwork.

Fig, 1.19 Key artwork 

I have carried forward the ideas in Fig. 1.18 and Fig. 1.19 to first collateral, which is a shirt for kids. Below is working in progress screenshot.

Fig. 1.20 Working space

Aside from that, I have also created an advertising poster to be displayed on billboards for TADIKA OASIS HARMONI. Below are two variations of the poster which intends to be displayed in two different lengths of billboards.

Fig. 1.21 Advertising poster for billboards (First Variation)

Fig. 1.22 Advertising poster for billboards (Second Variation)

FINAL SUBMISSION (Font Design):

Fig. 1.23 Complete set of my font (Font Name: Youth) (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.24 Complete set of my font (Font Name: Youth) (FINAL Final Project: PDF)

FINAL SUBMISSION (For Font Application on Headline and Key Artwork):

Fig. 1.25 "TADIKA OASIS HARMONI"
Headline Variation 1 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.26 "TADIKA OASIS HARMONI"
Headline Variation 2 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.27 Key Artwork (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

FINAL SUBMISSION (For Collaterals):

Fig. 1.28 Collateral #1: T-shirt design (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.29 Collateral #2: Exercise Book (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.30 Collateral #3: Pencil case (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.31 Collateral #4: Drawstring bag (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.32 Collateral #5: Advertising Poster for Billboard Variation 1 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.33 Collateral #6: Billboard Variation 1 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.34 Collateral #7: Advertising Poster for Billboard Variation 2 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.35 Collateral #8: Billboard Variation 2 (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.36 Flatlay for four of the collaterals (FINAL Final Project: JPEG)

Fig. 1.37 Compilation of Collaterals (FINAL Final Project: PDF)

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FEEDBACK

Week 11 (23/06/2020):

General Feedback:
- If the font we want to design already has a similar existing font, we will have to consider the difference between both fonts.
- There is always a student of two in a semester who does something related to the Chinese culture.

Specific Feedback:
(Idea 1) Chinese calligraphy font:
if you want to tickle the tiger's tail, go ahead.

(Idea 2) Kindergarten promotional font:
- it's a workable problem and requires work.
- maybe you want to think about Taylor's logo as well.
- might as well do it and get some money.
- this definitely has some merit to work on, as a lot of kindergartens has a shitty-looking design. Also, the supposedly professional ones are looking horrible like hell.
- if you don't go for this then you go for Taylor's la.

(Idea 3) Jalan Jalan Japan
- it's not a thrift store.
- what do you want to do Jalan Jalan for, they got enough money there already what?
- the reason as to why they have opted the logo for this shop is probably because it might be a Japanese character.

Conclusion: up to you, up to you.

Week 12 (30/06/2020):
General Feedback:
- For the type that's smaller in size, x-height should be bigger than ascender and descender.

Specific Feedback:
- There are other characteristics that I can adapt to make a font childlike but the one that I am working on works.
- The strokes look consistent.
- I am on the right track, it's just that I need to speed up, as I have to do lower case as well.
- I should be working on the letters on one long artboard (100 x 1000) instead of individually to maintain the same x-height.

Week 13 (07/07/2020):
 General Feedback:
- Show progression and present as if people do not know what you are doing.

Specific Feedback:
- Good work. I just need to work on numbers and a few punctuations, then insert it in FontLab.
- Work faster.

Week 14
 General Feedback:
- Remove the lecture section if there isn't any. However, if there was any briefing, it can be mentioned there.
- For Project 2, showcase the key artwork, followed by the progression of collaterals, and the final outcome with JPEG and PDF. Towards the end of the project, showcase all of our final outcomes once again with the flat lay and label "Final Submission" on the top left.
- E-portfolio should be completed by next week, as the lecturers would assess it on the spot.
- Refer to our senior: Kar Yan's e-portfolio as a reference.

Specific Feedback:
- The design should be playful but also professional at the same time.
- While it has to be kiddish, it doesn't have to be absolutely kiddish.
- I need to learn how to place the title "TADIKA OASIS HARMONI" as a logo on the shirt. But also have the title to be the headline or something to be playful in its use, but also professional at the same time. Possible variations could be in the form of patterns, quotations, etc. Explore further.

Week 15
Online Feedback:
- Looks cool. Continue.
- Expand the use.

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REFLECTION

Experience

Week 11 (23/06/2020): I am quite concerned about my final project ideas, as Mr Vinod doesn't seem to be okay with the first idea about Chinese calligraphy. But I am glad that the second idea was accepted right after I proposed it. Its type is really a serious issue, I supposed. It was interesting looking at my classmates' ideas too! Week 12 (30/06/2020): It was quite stressful this week, as we are almost coming to the end of this module and all of the assignments are piling up like crazy. But we have to continue working nevertheless, as the submissions are around the corner. Week 13 (07/07/2020): I am kind of worried at first because I have yet to start my lower case letters but I am glad the upper case would suffice as, in my opinion, the kindergarten's title looks quite good in upper case. Week 14 (14/07/2020): I'm glad that the lecturers are willing to extend the deadline of the submissions to Week 15 as we can spend more time refining our work. However, there are a few students who are already done with their final projects.

Observation

Week 11 (23/06/2020): It's nice looking at what others' ideas are and get inspired by their work. Some of my classmates have very interesting ideas which can really solve a general issue, while some intend to create a font for their own use. Despite its usage, all ideas are great. Week 12 (30/06/2020): Some of my friends have done their first draft but I haven't finished yet. So I have to pace myself. I realized some of my classmates didn't turn up to class and I guess it's because they still didn't make any progress with their work yet. Week 13 (07/07/2020): While the module is almost coming to an end, less than half of us are done with our work. A few of my friends are already done with kerning their work and have inserted their font into Fontlab, while some are still constructing and refining their letters. Week 14 (14/07/2020): My classmates who are already done with their applications came up with really nice ones, some even created a video out of it. Their collaterals appear very professional and legit. It motivates me to do better for mine.

Findings

Week 11 (23/06/2020): I noticed there are a lot of errors in my work, hence I have to be quick so I can catch up with everyone's pace. I am surprised that my first idea got rejected immediately after I proposed it because it's too mainstream and a lot of our seniors have done it. Week 12 (30/06/2020): I am kinda slow at doing my work, as some of my classmates have come up with the full set of their font. Looking at their work progress pushes me to work harder and faster. Week 13 (07/07/2020): I realized that I am almost done with my work, but I have to be quicker so I can start kerning my letters. Week 14 (14/07/2020): I am still trying to figure out the applications for my font as it's quite challenging to have it to be professional and kiddish at the same time. I realized more explorations need to be done to get to where I should be.

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FURTHER READING

Week 11 (23/06/2020)
Book title - Thinking with Type
Author - Ellen Lupton

Fig. 5.1 Book Cover

The use of typography in visual communication is evolving rapidly, and often radically, as we shift from print culture to screen culture, and at the same time, certain foundations of typographic creativity and visual eloquence remain fundamental. That’s exactly what Ellen Lupton explores in 2010 revised and expanded edition of the now-classic Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students, originally published in 2007 by Princeton Architectural Press. From the latest style sheets for print and the web to the essentials on mixing typefaces and hand lettering, the book is a visually-driven blueprint to typographic style and originality by way of knowing the rules in order to break them creatively.