Typography Task 3A

 04.05.2021 - 11.05.2021 (Week 8 - Week 10)
Koh Han Rong / 0344410
Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Multimedia
Task 3 / Font Design

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Instruction:

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Task 3: Type Design and communication

We were given the task of learning how to make our own fonts for Task 3. We were asked to conduct research and learn more about current typefaces, as well as how they were produced, before sketching our own and digitizing them to create a customized typeface. We were just asked to construct a few letters for this module. I do some research after the class and I founded some interesting typeface in a website that Mr.Vinod share us in the class(https://www.tdc.org/competitions/typeface-design-winners-2020/). 

Research:

Figure1.1 Prelude(preludi)

Reconstrucion Letter fonts:
Before we create out typefaces, Mr.Vinod told us to reconstruct 3 letter fonts from any typefaces. I use

ITC New Baskerville Std  and Letter A, T, Y as my reconstruction letter. 

And here is my final reconstruction letters.

After I finalize my rough idea I started to sketch out the idea in my mind and trying to make them look readable and logical. 

Figure2.1 Rough sketches

Then, I started to digitalize those typefaces that we assigned to make such as, a ，i, m,e, y, t, g, d, o, b, !. In my first attempt, i was struggling to make it readable. Mr.Vinod say that my stroke was to thin and cant see anything when i import to font lab.

Figure2.2 progression 

After finishing my digitalize progression, i convert then into outline stroke .

Figure2.3 outline stroke

Then after in the next week, Mr. Vinod give me some feedbacks about my typeface. It was to thin and to sharp. So I adjust my typeface with more bolder and follow what Mr.Vinod demonstrate to me.

Figure2.4 Recreate letter form 't'

Figure2.5 Create a new angle and use it in every letter

Figure2.6 doing some adjustment

Figure2.7 Final typeface design

Then, after I confirm my final typeface design I move to fontlab to finalize my work as convert it into a useable typeface. Before that I also did some minor correction in fontlab

Figure3.1 some minor adjustment

Figure3.2 importing to fontlab

Figure 3.3 Kerning

Figure3.4 export as open typeface and download it to my computer

Poster design:
After we finalize our font and download into our computer, Mr.Vinod assigned us to create a poster design by using our own typeface design .

Figure4.1 first 3 attempt

I try to create first 3 design and show it to Mr.Vinod. The feedbacks that Mr.Vinod gave was pretty bad due to myself problem, I didn't use the knowledge that I gained and I do it damn sucks.(Sorry Sir )

So I try to make my brain clear and attempt a new desgin.

Figure4.2 Second attempt 

Figure4.3 third attempt

Final outcome:

Figure5.1 Final typeface design in illutrator

Figure 5.2 final kerned typeface in fontlab

Figure4.4 Final poster design

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Feedback:

Week9: too thin for my typeface, need to be more bolder and too sharp for those angle.
Week10: need to do adjustment before submitting and update our own blog as usual.

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Reflection:
 Experience
For this task it was very challenging for me at all, I keep struggling in design matters and add it with all the knowledge I gained but it was fun overall. I also quite sorry to Mr.Vinod because of the dumb question I ask. I was not very satisfied for my work, and I will try to improve more in the next task. Lastly, thank you Mr.Vinod and Mr.Shamsul for the patient and useful suggestion 

Observstion
After finishing this task , I finally know how difficult typography was. It was hard to be unique and simple.In that way, we also need to make sure our typeface readable and following all the typography rules. Research also very important and necessary move to do, if we don't have a basic concept of what we gonna do, it probably will confused you all the way. Details also very important, details can easily influence each result we have made.

Findings
After this task, I started to think what weak point that i have to improve it. My design in this task was trash for me obviously, the details, construction even the whole font i was clearly mess up here.

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Futher reading: 

https://www.crowdspring.com/blog/font-law-licensing/

A book written by Seddon, Tony, 1965. The right typeface is often the key to strong brand identity, a well-designed website, sharp looking brochures, and strong marketing materials. But there’s much confusion and misinformation about typefaces, fonts and how designers and marketers can lawfully use them commercially. There’s no shame in this. After all, most lawyers don’t understand design or marketing.

https://www.sitepoint.com/elements-of-design-type/

This article reminds me what should i have before creating our own style in typeface. A fonts that we choose can easily convey a lot of emotion into it. We also need to consider our audience when choosing the type size,  If we’re creating a website for an over 60’s community, it’s probably a good idea to avoid font sizes 8 and 10 as that will be bothersome to read for many of the readers. On the other hand type that is too large can overpower a design and make it look a little less sophisticated.

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