ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY - FINAL PROJECT

14/04/2020 - 07/07/20 (Week 11 - Week 13)

Farissa Eryna Binti Shahar Sham

Advanced Typography

Final Project

                                                                                                                                                                  

LECTURE NOTES 

No lecture

                                                                                                                                                                  

INSTRUCTIONS

EXERCISE

This final project required us to develop a font that is intended to solve a larger problem or meant to be part of a solution in the area of our interest be it graphic design, animation, new media or entertainment design or any other related area not necessarily reflecting our specialisation.

or

Explore the use of 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.

Idea 1: 

Fig 1.1 Idea one; Complete typeface

Idea 2:

Fig 1.2 Idea two: Punk typeface

Idea 3:

Fig 1.3 Idea three: Halloween typeface

 Idea 4:

Fig 1.4 Idea four: Metal typeface

Idea 5:

Fig 1.5 Idea five: Children's right typeface

Idea 6:

Fig 1.6 Idea six: Plastic straws typeface

 Idea 7:

Fig 1.7 Idea seven: Raise awareness on global warming typeface

After showing Mr Vinod my ideas, I started working on the typeface. I chose to do typeface to raise awareness on global warming. I use Futura Std as reference for this typeface but I decided to make the edges more round-ish. 

Fig 1.8 Process

Fig 1.9 First set of letters; 1st attempt

Fig 1.10 Close up of letter; 1st attempt

After getting feedback from Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul, they told me to not use Futura Std as reference and create a totally new font from scratch. So this is my second attempt.

Fig 1.11 Process; 2nd attempt

Fig 1.12 Close up; 2nd attempt

Fig 1.13 Process; 2nd attempt

Fig 1.14 Full completed letters on Illustrator; 2nd attempt

Here is the final set of letters and special characters:

Fig 1.15 Full letters; Final attempt (JPEG)

Fig 1.15 Final font design (PDF)

After completing the letters in Adobe Illustrator, I imported it to Fontlab. 

Fig 1.16 Arranging letter from Ai; Fontlab process

Fig 1.17 Importing letter C; Fontlab process 

Fig 1.18 Importing letter I; Fontlab process

Fig 1.17 Imported all the letters; Fontlab process

Next, I moved on to the kerning process. I was having a tough time during this process and it was very time-consuming. 

Fig 1.18 Letters before kerning

Fig 1.19 Letters after kerning

Once I was done with the kerning process, I generated and imported the font. I had to name the font as well, so I decided to name it "Global Warming" as this typeface is intended to raise awareness on global warming.

Fig 1.20 Generated font; Global Warming

So I moved on to the design application. I decided to make a poster, pin badges, t-shirt and a tote bag. Here are the design process:

I decided to make this bear illustration the main object in the poster and collaterals.

Fig 1.21 Poster process; Illustration

"GLOBAL WARMING DOES NOT HIBERNATE" is the text I chose to relate to the polar bear.

Fig 1.22 Final poster (JPEG)

Fig 1.23 Final poster (PDF)

Afterwards, I moved on to the pin badges.

Fig 1.24 Pin badge; Design process

Fig 1.25 Pin badge version 1; Final

Fig 1.26 Pin badge version 2; Final

Fig 1.27 Front & back pin badges cardboard; Final

Fig 1.28 Pin badges; Final (PDF)

The next application is for a t-shirt. 

Fig 1.29 T-shirt; Final (JPEG)

Fig 1.30 T-shirt; Final (PDF)

Lastly, I wanted to make a tote bag. 

Fig 1.31 Front tote bag; Final

Fig 1.32 Back tote bag; Final

Fig 1.33 Front tote bag; Final (PDF)

Fig 1.34 Back tote bag; Final (PDF)

Once I have completed all the design application, I moved on to the flatlay process. Here is the finalized flatlay:

Fig 1.35 Flatlay; Final (JPEG)

Fig 1.37 Flatlay; Final (PDF)

                                                                                                                                                                  

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. 

Specific feedback: I was absent, sadly. 

Online feedback (via Facebook): The significance of the problems aren’t extremely strong for all but the last two more so than the first.

That’s said all can work. If you’re doing punk you should look up Fahmi Reza’s work on FB.

The Halloween thing is ok ... but instead you could look at a local punk/metal band who needs a logotype and you can develop a typeface for that...

Hmmm

See if you can come up with anymore problems by today and send it in ... maybe it’ll be better if none just go with what you have.

The global warming typeface may work.

The other has been done, view search Braille type in the FB group

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 (online): Well, you have to manage the time... so go ahead and improve and explore where you think necessary

Week 13 (07/07/2020):
General feedback: Show progression and present as if people do not know what you are doing.
Specific feedback: Mr Vinod said I should not use Futura Std as reference so I should restart and create a whole new font on my own. By using a reference, the common mistakes students usually make are not visible in my font. However, my font looks good. After showing Mr Vinod and Shamsul the first three letters, they said good job and im good to go.

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.
Specific feedback: "Good job on the font" - Mr Vinod. He also asked me to start on the design application.

REFLECTION

Experience

Week 11 - It was kind of fun to look for ideas to come up with a new font but at the same time challenging to be original.

Week 12 - I was quite lost and blur on how to start as I felt overwhelmed with other projects from other modules.

Week 13 - It was very time consuming to complete all the letters, and having to do it all again after getting Mr Vinod and Shamsul's feedback made me question whether I could finish this project. 

Week 14 - I was so relieved and glad that I completed it in time. I had alot of fun doing the collaterals though.

Findings

Week 11 - I found that it takes a loooong time for me to just come up with an original idea.

Week 12 - I was getting better at using Adobe softwares compared to how I was in semester 1.

Week 13 - I learned to appreciate fonts more as I realize how much effort and time the designer puts into completing a typeface.

Week 14 - Fontlab is something I still have to work with a lot more to get the hang of it! It can be very confusing at times.

Observations

Week 11 - It was so fun to see my classmates present their ideas for the final project. All of them were so interesting, some of us had the same ideas too!

Week 12 - I noticed that with bad time management, I was getting stressed out really easily as projects are pilling up.

Week 13 - After seeing some of my classmates completed work, it definitely motivated me to work harder.

Week 14 - Reaching the end of this module is kind of sad because I really enjoyed it despite the work load. It was so worth it. Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul have taught us so much in the span of 14 weeks which I will be eternally grateful for the shared knowledge! 

                                                                                                                                                                 

FURTHER READING