ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY TASK 3: TYPE EXPLORATION & APPLICATION
17/6/2025 - 14/7/2025 (Week 9 - Week 13)
Lai Weng Yan (0385170)
Advanced Typography | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media | Taylor's University
Task 3 - Type Exploration & Application
TABLE OF CONTENT
LECTURES
INSTRUCTIONS
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Task 3
We are assigned to design a full font set for this task, with three main
directions provided to guide us and we choose one.
Create 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 specialization. End result: a complete
generated font (.ttf) with applications.
or
Explore the use of an existing letterform in an 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 letterform / lettering. End result: a complete
generated font (.ttf) with applications.
or
Experiment. For your idea to qualify as an experiment it must be novel
and unique — working with material that might be 3- dimensional,
digitally augmented, edible, unusual, typographic music video or fine
art. End result: defined by student.
Week 9 Progression
I explored various concepts and developed in three different ideas.
1. Wonka Movie poster font (Existing Letterform)
2. 12 Constellations and Zodiac Signs (Experimental font)
3. Clock Font (Experimental font)
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I decided to create a font inspired by the 12 Constellations and Zodiac
Signs from different culture and began with visual research. Most of my
inspiration came from Pinterest. I found that the designs were detailed
and closely connected to their respective themes.
Figure 1.1 Reference moodboard from Pinterest. Week 9 (17 / 6
/2025)
Week 10 Progression
This week, I worked on some sketches and completed the guidelines to
ensure consistency in my letterforms. I began drawing directly using
selected references, by combining them into the letter design. I used
zodiac elements inspired by different cultures to create unique and
meaningful alphabets.
Figure 1.2 Process of designing font. Week 10 (24 / 6 /2025)
Week 11 Progression
I continue designed the rest of the alphabet. First I planned to use this
white background to do it but when I tried black color, I found out it was
suitable in black because it make the characteristic stand out more and
clearer. After that I also asked for feedback from others and they agreed
that black background is looked more striking and visual appealing than
the white one.
I designed each Zodiac letter based on its name, shape and sound to ensure a balanced use of positive and negative space while also making sure the letters looked natural and not awkward.
Figure 1.4 Process of the font. Week 11 (01 / 7 /2025)
Figure 1.5 Black background font. Week 11 (01 / 7 /2025)
Figure 1.6 Black background font. Week 11 (01 / 7 /2025)
Week 12 Progression
Mr. Vinod demonstrate how to create a compound path to help with my
complex alphabet design. At first, I faced many challenges and had to try
multiple times and some attempts failed while others succeeded. I need to release clipping mask and ungroup all the element so I can do outline stroke, unite and make compound. Thankfully, after continued practice, I became more comfortable with the
process and started to get the hang of it.
Figure 1.6 Combine all element to compound path. Week 12 (08 / 7 /2025)
First I try in FontForge but unfortunately I cannot open my things in there, so I decided to use FontLab to do my font set
Font making in FontLab
1. Put all letters to individual artboard that size 1000pt x 1000pt and
export them to SVG file.
2. In Font lab make all setting.
Figure 1.8 Combine all element to compound path. Week 12 (08 / 7 /2025)
3. Import the letter one by one and adjust the letter position make
sure they are align well on baseline.
Figure 1.9 Import letter. Week 12 (08 / 7 / 2025)
Figure 1.10 Make sure align well. Week 12 (08 / 7 / 2025)
4. Adjust kerning and spaces.
Figure 1.11 Adjust kerning and spaces. Week 12 (08 / 7
/2025)
5. Once all done, export as ttf file.
Week 13 Progression
Mr. Vinod ask us to submit our artwork in this competition for artwork
submission.
Font Presentation
Based on my observation that Zodiac sign are often represent in various
colours, I have used three colour and some gradient to make it interesting and approach in the font design. The type
is for title and paired with a slab serif body text. I also use previous
learning to create the axis line that make the font interesting more.
Figure 1.13 Font presentation 1st attempt. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 1.14 Font presentation 1st attempt. Week 13 (14 / 7 / 2025)
Font Application
I realize that my artwork is more suitable for present the font so I decided to apply it to a poster, book cover, postage stamp and billboard.
Font Application 1st attempt. Week 13 (14 / 7 / 2025)
Final submission
Task 3 - Type Exploration & Application
1024px x 1024px, 300ppi
Final Font Presentation
Figure 2.1 Final Font Presentation 1. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.2 Final Font Presentation 2. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.3 Final Font Presentation 3. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.4 Final Font Presentation 4. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.6 Final Font Presentation Compilation. Week 13 (14 /
7 / 2025)
Final Font Application
Figure 2.7 Final Font Application 1. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.8 Final Font Application 2. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.9 Final Font Application 3. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.10 Final Font Application 4. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.11 Final Font Application 5. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Figure 2.12 Final Font Application Compilation. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
Final Font Information
Figure 2.13 Final Font Information Compilation. Week 13 (14 / 7 /
2025)
FEEDBACK
Week 9
General Feedback
- Showed us how to create a font and gave a demonstration to us.
Specific Feedback
- Approve idea 2.
Week 10
General Feedback
- No feedback.
Specific Feedback
-
Demo line to zig zag.
Week 11
General Feedback
- The corner need to be make it round and the size of the height in artboard should be 1000px.
Specific Feedback
-
No feedback.
Week 12
General Feedback
- Explain the competition and font application to us.
Specific Feedback
- Demonstrate and give some advise on the font on outline stroke and compound path together.
Week 13
General Feedback
- Finish all task 3 and task 4 by this week. In week 14 I want all complete.
Specific Feedback
- All good. Complete all the section.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
This was the most challenging task for this semester but I am proud I made it through. The process was though as I had to design unique characters for every letter, number and punctuation mark. It was my first time using a professional tool like Fontlab and although I faced many failures in adjusting the font inside the Fontlab, finding the tab and exporting out to ttf file but I eventually succeeded. At the same time, I learned how to adjust kerning, height, bearing and how to export the final font for complete set properly. Despite the struggles, I am happy and satisfied with the final result of my font design.
Observation
Balancing the negative and positive space in my font design was challenging. It is because paying attention to small details was crucial as not every element I added fit well within the letterforms theme. When creating compound paths, I noticed the stroke lines of the elements become unexpectedly thin but hopefully I noticed it from the beginning and experimented repeatedly to fix it. Another key observation was the colour, at first I start with white background after that I testing it on black that helped me realize that the black background made the font characteristics standout more clearly and effectively.
Finding
Thought out the process, I have learned a lot of new things about creating font and export to ttf file. Design the font is take a lot of time but overall creating new font it is fun, challenging and satisfying.
FURTHER READING
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