Task 3: Type Exploration & Application
Week 8 - week 13
Khansa Raudlatus Syahiidah / 0374511
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Task 3: Type Exploration & Application
TABLE OF CONTENTS :
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
3. Process work
3.1 Research
3.2 Ideation
3.3 Final outcome
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
6. Further Reading
1. LECTURES
Deliver compelling typographic form that demonstrates a thorough understanding of structure and style, rooted in typographical research and analysis, for communicable purposes. Demonstrate detailed attention to and successful execution of letter forms or equivalent, while adhering to conventions, consistency, crafting and style.
2. INSTRUCTIONS
Fig 2.1: Module Information Booklet
3. PROCESS WORK
3.1 Research
Fig 3.1: Type Expression research ideas
During the first week of starting our new task, task3, we
were given the time to research on types and ideas of what we want our
font to look like. Making use of previous fonts / artwork is also
permissible. During my research for my type expression inspiration, I
came up with 2 types. One was taking the idea of curves and points in
Arabic calligraphy and applying it to ABC. On the other hand, I also
thought of combining both curvy and swirly shapes withing
letters.
3.2 Ideation
Fig 3.2: Sketch draft 1
Initially, I started of my type expression with the Arabic
calligraphy ideas. However, as I tried sketching and applying
the designs in a couple of alphabet, I was worried that I
wouldn't be able to keep it consistent with all letters. As I
used a slanted (calligraphy) brush when creating these designs,
I find it tricky to keep the thick and thin similar and
consistent.
Fig 3.3: Sketch draft 2 (ideas options) (23.06.2025)
After giving myself a couple try's and playing around in
using the previous fonts ideas, I decided to start all over
using a different font idea. Before starting on my second
font sketch, I came up with this idea as I wanted to create
a sharp font and not curly ones as most of my work result
end up with curvy theme. Therefore, as I started sketching I
tried to add both sharp and curvy idea withing my font
sketch. Out off all four sketches I made, I ended up using
the combination of the 2 bottom font sketch, mixing the
curvy thick line and the curvy inside line together.
Fig 3.4: Sketch progression ideas (23.06.2025)
Before finalizing my font design and continuing to create using
all letters, I played around with many try's while constantly
asking feedbacks from my friend. I tried from plain look to
adding some extra lines and detail. After all the sketches done,
I tried comparing every design before finalizing the design I am
satisfied with.
Fig 3.5: Sketch before finalizing font design (30.06.2025)
After I have gotten the idea, I made
rough sketches using brush tool and tried sketching the
letters while using all the same base. I aim to make a
consistent and neat look, and definitely readable font.
All progress in creating the letter fonts were done using
pen tool and later expand appearance.
As it is crucial to show prove
/ evidence when creating your own design artwork, I made sure
to keep all letter parts separated and copy them when needed
to merge it. As shown from the outlines in the picture above,
some letters like B and D still shows the pen tool that have
yet to expand appearance.
Fig 3.7: Uppercase letters draft 1 (14.07.2025)
Fig 3.7: Lowercase letters draft 1 (14.07.2025)
These
were my first font draft, I was quite satisfied with how
consistent my uppercase looks. However, out of all letters in
the uppercase, I felt off with the letter "S". I think it looks
odd in all the other letters. On the other hand, I was very
unsatisfied with how my first lowercase letter draft. It looked
too messy and inconsistent, it also did not hold similarities
with how the uppercase looks.
Fig 3.8: Uppercase letters final (22.07.2025)
Fig 3.9: Uppercase letters final (22.07.2025)
Fig 3.10: lowercase letters final (22.07.2025)
Fig 3.11: lowercase letters
outline (22.07.2025)
Fig 3.12: lowercase letters outline (22.07.2025)
Fig 3.14: Alphabet in
FontLab (22.07.2025)
Fig 4.1: Font PDF (22.07.2025)
Font presentation:
Fig 4.2: Font presentation 1 (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.3: Font presentation 2 (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.4: Font presentation 3 (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.5: Font presentation 4 (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.6: Font presentation 5 (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.7: Font presentation (pdf) (22.01.2025)
Font application:
Fig 4.8: Font application 1 (JPEG) (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.9: Font application 2 (JPEG) (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.10: Font application 3 (JPEG) (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.11: Font application 4 (JPEG) (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.12: Font application 5 (JPEG) (22.01.2025)
Fig 4.13: Font application (PDF) (22.01.2025)
Honor:
Fig 5.1: Honor process work (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.2: Honor overall visual design (final) (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.3: Honor process work (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.4: Honor process work (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.5: Honor process work (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.6: Honor clock design (final) (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.6: Honor overall visual design (final) (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.7: Honor clock design (final) (23.01.2025)
Fig 5.8: Honor animation (final) (23.01.2025)
4. FEEDBACK
Week 8 :
General feedback : This weeks meeting was held online, where we were given feedbacks on
our previous task before Mr. Vinod started on explaining our ne task
(Task 3).
Specific feedback : -
Week 9 :
General feedback : We had feedback session on our task 3 proposal and also finishing our
task 2
Specific feedback : As I showed Mr. Vinod my font progress, he
did not give any feedbacks so I was able to continue working on my work.
Week 10 :
General feedback : We continued our task 3 and also receiving feedbacks from Mr.
Vinod
Specific feedback : I once again did not receive any feedbacks
and was able to continue with my font progress. I also received
feedback by Mr. Shamsul on how quite consistent my font looks.
Week 11 :
General feedback : In week 11, we continued or task 3 while receiving feedbacks. We
also given a brief instruction on the next task using
FontLab.
Specific feedback :
Week 12 :
General feedback : In week 12, we started putting out font in either FontLab /
FontForge.
Specific feedback : There were no feedbacks on my fonts
progress and could continue on it. However, Mr. Vinod showed me on
how to expand the letters without messing up it's size before
putting it inside FontLab.
Week 13 :
General feedback : In week 13, we're starting to finish our task 3, some are still
in progress with their font mock up and presentations, while
some have also finished.
Specific feedback : There not much as I was still in
progress for my font presentation, so we were told to continue
working and finalizing it.
5. REFLECTION
Experience :
During the beginning of our task 3, I took the time researching and looking into Pinterest for some reference. After I have the idea on how my fonts will be, I start sketching them straight into AI. However, as I have started on with a couple of letters using my first design, I started to think that it would be hard to keep it consistent within the current design. Therefore, I started all over again with a different design. It also took me many try's and sketches before I am satisfied with how it looks. I also had to re-design my whole lowercase as it ended up looking inconsistent and messy in the first draft. From these experience, I learn the important of starting your work with a clear approach and constantly improve them to be better than before for a satisfies finalization.
Observations :
During this task, there were many refinements done within each letters and numbers. There were many feedbacks and improving back and forth. There were many things we had to be done from task 3, like proposal, font ideas, font presentations, font applications, and honor. Working on all this had taught me many things, as well as some features I start to often use in AI only as I knew about it during this task.
Findings :
After looking back during all the process of working on task 3, I must say that working on any project requires a lot amount of time. Other than the fact of rushing to reach the stated submission date, slowly and progressing consistently is what truly matters, especially if we want to be fully satisfied with our artwork.
6. FURTHER READING
Fig 6.1: Typography Basics
Font Categories
Fonts come in many different designs. some of
these differences are subtle, while others stand out like proverbial
"sore thumb". Many differences subdivide type into only two major
categories: Serif and Sans serif. However, these
simplified categories are not adequate for the great variety of fonts
that one might encounter on today's computer.
- Serif
- Sans Serif
- Mono-spaced
- Display
- Script
- Text
- Dingbats
Serif fonts are the most
common text or "body" copy font. They can work nicely for headline fonts.
"Serifs" are the little feet or arms that hang off the end of letter
strokes, and typically add a thick / thin look to the letter. Serif fonts
are considered the easiest fonts to read and come in three sub-categories:
Oldstyle, Modern, and Square Serif.
- Oldstyle
Based on classical Roman inscription. The letters are
very open, wide, and round with pointed serifs and a pleasing contrast
between the heavy and light strokes.
- Modern
Their name not withstanding, Modern fonts are
based on fonts design over 200 years ago. They have a greater degree of
mechanical perfection than Oldstyle fonts, and a greater distinction
between the heavy / light strokes and thin / squared off serifs.
- Square Serif
Slab Serifs are a
contemporary style used mainly for small amounts of text, such as
advertising copy, subheads, and headlines. The letter have square serifs
and mostly uniform strokes with little contrast.
- Sans Serif
Sans Serf fonts are
"without serif", and usually have an overall even stroke weight, which
creates little contrast for the letters. They can even evoke a more modern
look for a report, but can be harder to read than serif fonts. Although
generally used for small amounts of copy, subheads, and headlines, Sans
Serif can be used for larger amounts of body copy, if applied with
care.
- Mono-spaced
Most fonts are proportionally spaced; that is, smaller characters take up
less space than larger ones. For example, the letter “i” is not as wide as
the letter “M.” In contrast, mono-spaced fonts, which are usually
typewriter-style fonts, take up the same amount of space regardless of the
actual letter.
- Display
Display and Decorative fonts are designed to be used as attention-getting
headline fonts. They should rarely, if ever, be used as body copy fonts.
- Script
Script fonts are designed to mimic
handwriting, therefore, the letters are designed to touch one another.
These fonts may be the more traditional type used for formal invitations.
Script fonts should never be used in all capital letters.
- Text
Based on the hand-drawn letters made by
early monks for religious books, Text fonts have an “Old-World” feel to
them. They are mostly used for certificates, diplomas, and invitations. As
with Script fonts, they should not be used in all capital letters.
- Dingbats
Dingbats are symbols that are small pieces
of art used to enhance the design of the text or page. While Zapf Dingbats
and Wingdings are the most common dingbats, there are hundreds, if not
thousands, of different designs available.
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