Advanced Typography: Task 1 Exercises

on
21.04.2025 - 12.05.25 (Week 1 - Week 4)
Task (Exercises / Task)
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Emily Ong Su Yu / 0365304   

Table of Contents

Advanced Typography Task 1 Typographic Systems and Type & play

Instructions 

Module Information Booklet

Figure 1 Module Information Booklet. (Week 1 22/04/25)

Lectures

                                                                        Typographic System                                                                       

8 Major Variations of Permutation

Mr Vinod brief us about Typographic System, 8 major variations of permutation including axial, radial, dilatational, random, grid, modular, transition and bilateral.

Figure 2.1 8 Major Variations of Permutation. (Week 1 22/04/25)

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFzP0UgOPz0

Differences with What Architects Term Shape Grammars

Shape grammar = a set of rules applies on initial shape to general designs

Figure 2.2 Differences with What Architects Term Shape Grammars. (Week 1 22/04/25)

After develop certain amount of maturity, able to use intuition.

                                                                 Typographic Composition                                                                      

Analysis of Typographic Composition





Figure 2.3 Analysis of Typographic Composition. (Week 2 29/04/25)

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/tqBVhaXWpt4?si=uTw1MoP8eAfZiIGS

Environmental Grid

Exploration of existing structure / combination structure based on grid system, reduced framework and information placed within frame structure.

Examples of Environmental Grid

Figure 2.4 Examples from Carter, R., B. Meggs, P., Dav, B., Maxa, S., & Sanders, M. (2015). Typographic Design Form Communication 6ed-Rob Carter. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey # page 211. (Week 2 29/04/25)

Form and Movement

Based on grid system but different with original, represent image, text and colour in animation form.

Examples of Form and Movement

Figure 2.4 Examples from Nair, V. (2023b, December 13). Form and movement in publishing design. +. https://kreatifbeats.com/2020/10/10/form-movement-in-publishing-design/. (Week 2 29/04/25)

                                                                        Context and Creativity                                                                     

Evolution and Writing System Analysis

Figure 2.5 Evolution and Writing System Analysis. (Week 3 06/05/25)

Evolution of Latin Alphabet

Figure 2.6 Baker, M. (2018, April 6). Evolution of the Alphabet. UsefulCharts. https://usefulcharts.com/blogs/charts/evolution-of-the-english-alphabet (Week 3 06/05/25)

Evolution of Latin Alphabet

Figure 2.7 Johnson, D. (2014, May 27). Phoenician Alphabet. Pinterest. https://pin.it/6exYlBheU (Week 3 06/0525)

Evolution of the Chinese Script

Figure 2.8 CChatty: Learn Chinese and make friends. (n.d.). https://www.cchatty.com/how-to-understand-chinese-characters-easily-g-101533 (06/05/25)

Handwriting

Why do we study handwriting?

  • First mechanically produced letterforms were designed to directly imitate handwriting.
  • Hand writing become the basis or standard that for form, spacing or conventions (rules) mechanical type would try and mimic.
  • Historical letterforms / Historical creations / Digitalise type foundries is something to be admired and learned from.
  • Much of the heritage and cultural practices in literature, arts and crafts, languages and scripts would be halted and stunted.

    • Oldest Writing

    Found in Indian

    Indus Valley Civilisation Script (3500 - 2000 B.C.E.).

    Greek influence on Rome

    Why do we talk about Greek influence on Rome, but not Egyptian or near Eastern influence on Greece?

    Because in the 19th century and the rise of the modern British Empire, it became out of style to credit Africa or Africans with anything of value, and therefore Greece and Rome were elevated over much older, much more influential civilisations, specifically Ancient Egypt, but also less extensive or old civilisations like Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, China, etc.

    Programmers and Type Design

    More vernacular scripts are being produced by software giants (Google)

    "Multi-scripts" typefaces produced to cater to situation where written matter is communicated in vernacular script or vernacular and Latin script (Multi-scripts is a script that combines English (Latin) letters and Vernacular letters).

    Local Movement and Individuals

    Baloo (An affable display typeface by EK Type)

    Figure 2.9 Typefaces. (n.d.). https://luc.devroye.org/fonts-106315.html (06/05/25)

  • It's important for young designers to look inward and examine the histories, civilisations, and cultural communities and bring these past developments into the future and develop on them.
  • Creativity and inspiration should begin by observing our surroundings and exploring of our collective histories.


    • Exercises

                                   Typographic Systems                                    

    InDesign Formatting & Axial System

    Figure 3.1.1 InDesign Formatting & Axial System. (Week 1 22/04/25)
    Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFzP0UgOPz0

    Modular System

    Figure 3.1.2 Modular System. (Week 1 22/04/25)
    Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFzP0UgOPz0

    Process Work

    Task 1 Exercise 1: Typographic System

    1. Chose text
    2. Design in 8 typographic system
    3. ONLY use Indesign
    4. Submit pdf, jpeg with / without guidelines

    Chosen Text

    The ABCs of Bauhaus Design Theory

    The Design School,
    Taylor’s University

    June 24, 2021
    Lew Pik Svonn, 9AM-10AM
    Ezrena Mohd., 10AM-11AM
    Suzy Sulaiman, 11AM-12PM

    June 25, 2021
    Lim Whay Yin, 9AM-10AM
    Fahmi Reza, 10AM-11AM
    Manish Acharia, 11AM-12PM

    Lecture Theatre 12

    Sketches

    Figure 3.1.3 Sketches for Typographic System #1. (Week 2 29/04/25)
     
    Figure 3.1.4 Sketches for Typographic System #2. (Week 2 29/04/25)

    Exploration

    Examples of Exploration for Different Typographic System






    Figure 3.1.5 Exploration for Typographic System. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Process of Work for Different Typographic System

    Figure 3.1.6 Process of Work for Typographic System. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Final Outcome

    Axial

    Figure 3.1.7 Final Axial System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Radial

    Figure 3.1.8 Final Radial System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Dilatational


    Figure 3.1.9 Final Dilatation System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Bilateral



    Figure 3.1.10 Final Bilateral System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Random


    Figure 3.1.11 Final Random System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)
    Transitional


    Figure 3.1.12 Final Transitional System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Modular




    Figure 3.1.13 Final Modular System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Grid


    Figure 3.1.14 Final Grid System - JPEG. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Pdf without Guideline 

    Figure 3.1.15 Final Task 1 Typographic System - PDF (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Pdf with Grids & Guides

    Figure 3.1.16 Final Task 1 Typographic System with Grids & Guides - PDF (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Final 8 Typographic System



    Figure 3.1.17 Final Task 1 Typographic System Compiled - JPEG (Week 3 06/05/25)

                                                                                  Type & Play                                                                               

    Process Work

    Task 1 Exercise 2: Type & Play

    1. Chose an image
    2. Extract letters from image
    3. Find a reference font
    4. Create a font
    5. Make a poster

    Image Chosen

    Figure 3.2.1 Image Chosen. (Week 4 14/05/25)

    Extraction

    Figure 3.2.2 Extraction from Image Chosen. (Week 4 14/05/25)

    Exploration

    Reference Fonts

    Tried: Futura Bold (Look like corals)
    Adobe Calson Pro Bold Italic

    Developing fonts between reference fonts -> extraction

    Figure 3.2.3 Progress developing fonts #1. (Week 4 14/05/25)

    Figure 3.2.4 Progress developing fonts #2. (Week 4 14/05/25)

    Final Outcome

    Final Movie Poster in JPEG

    Figure 3.2.5 Final Movie Poster - JPEG. (Week 4 17/05/25)

    Final Movie Poster in PDF

    Figure 3.2.6 Final Movie Poster - PDF. (Week 4 17/05/25)

    Previous

    Previous Work

    Figure 3.2.7 Previous Exploration with Lanterns. (Week 3 06/05/25)

    Figure 3.2.8 Previous Exploration with Lanterns. (Week 4 13/05/25)

    Before this tried lanterns font, but a bit hard for me to make it look like lanterns. Tried circular lanterns, Chinese lanterns first but then can't differentiate the letters look similar. Thus, I tried sky lanterns.

     

                                                                     A Novel Typographic Exercise                                                              

    Finding Type: A Novel Typographic Exercise


    Figure 4.1 Nair, V. (2023b, December 13). Finding Type: A novel typographic exercise. +.
    https://kreatifbeats.com/2023/08/06/finding-type-a-novel-typographic-exercise/.

    Steps for Finding Type Task

    1. Finding an image.
    2. Deconstructing an image.
    3. Identifying letterforms.
    4. Extracting letterforms.
    5. Identify a reference.
    6. Refining letterforms.
  • Introduce consistency in height, width and contrast.
  • Deliberate on retaining or removing characteristics.
  • Decide what areas require simplification.
    • 7. Create a mock movie poster.

    Summary

    It included the task we need to in Exercise 2: Type and Play and many examples of previous students' work that help me to get inspired and more understanding about this exercise.

    Very useful, scroll through everytime when i don't know how to continue..

    Feedbacks

    General Feedbacks (Week 2)

    Axial is every text align to the line avoid 45 degree angle, Radial need detail, Dilatational cannot look like island of text need to be connected transitional spreading more, reading: add 2.5-3pt.

    Specific Feedbacks (Week 2)

    Dilatational need to be connected it is too left, radial the last text not follow perspective, transitional spreading more.

    General Feedbacks (Week 3)

    Proportion, thickness must be same, if not same do more process. Manmade object / structure/ building/ nature / human / plants (need to have repetitive element / need to have similarities). Understand the texture and what are you going to abstract / get references letterforms.

    Specific Feedbacks (Week 3)

    Use one lantern to develop the font.

    General Feedbacks (Week 4)

    Put the title in the middle of the poster.

    Reflections

    Experience

    This task taught me a lot about placing letterforms within art boards. The first exercise is about typographic systems, I learnt a lot by doing the work and exploring examples that represent these systems. The second task is about extracting elements of anything and develop into a word font.

    Observation    

    I noticed typography plays an important role in poster. A suitable typography will really helps to elaborate the story of the art work, with texture, effects, styles, shapes of the typography. As long as with same width, length, angle for the path in the letterforms, it will be fine.

    Findings

    I've discovered that Advanced Typography class is fun and won't feel boring. You will feel like the time run so fast and you will learn something from the class.
    Sem 1

    Comments

    Post a Comment