Typeface Design
This presentation was created for a special topics course (GD492) at North Carolina State University. It is the mid-semester proposal for a mobile component within a service ecology that enables a specific group of people to learn a complex process. The service focuses on developing skills, rather than managing information—it performs analogously as training wheels, rather than crutches. Focusing on skill development implies that the person engages with the design conditions in order to learn how, what, and why to do something autonomously (without prolonged reliance on the design). The presentation includes an overview of the service ecology, user assessment, and specific design objectives for moving forward with creating a prototype and working demonstration.
All material is copyright 2010. Please contact the manager of the slideshare account for questions and permissions. Process work can be found at www.seedandsprout.com/s10_gd492
2. MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
Mission Statement
A mobile application that will help a designer solve the puzzle
and create a typeface that fits inside the parameters of a defined
system as well as increase knowledge of typography and serve as a
“suitcase” for found type.
3. MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
AUDIENCE? students, creative thinkers, doodlers, designers, teachers
one who is motiviated by a class project, personal interest, or professional work
CIRCUMSTANCE? a 3-step process: learning typographic basics and history, creating
your own modular system through play, using an existing method to
create a more complex, working typeface using Illustrator and Typetool
TIMING? everywhere, in your sketchpad, on your computer, quick play
quick pictures, modular play, longer interations for the novice level detail
LOCATION? documenting, travel, personal time, classroom, waiting time
public/private, stuctured play, structured process, structured learning
VALUE? to complete the puzzle, creating a cohesive typographic system that
has rules, with a few exceptions, analyzing and observing type,
learning how to master type and type anatomy.
4. MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
USERS: PERSONA // EXPERIENCE // PERCEPTIONS // MOTIVES // EMOTIONS // REASONING
BEGINNERS students of Type 2 // type layout, type options, some knowledge of anatomy and rules, still learning // curiosity,
intimidating // play, knowledge, learn, class project // pride, trial and error, Reward // learning experience,
activity, test
FEEDBACK FROM Motivated by seeing other people’s typefaces who use the app, promote
INTERVIEW yourself, they would enjoy the play of the modular type detail, include a
pen tool for the finger (doodle), show process of other type designers,
rating system
INTERMEDIATE Grif Friedman, 3rd year design student // type 1, 2, & 3, has created a modular typeface, and complex typeface
// useful, creative, personal tool // fulfill inspirations, document process, have on hand // excitement, relaxed
// still a tool to learn, but on a mobile app for fun, create anywhere, promotional
Most of his type motivation came from learning type, using the letter-
press, and some from taking pictures of found type. Playing with mod-
ular type helps to understand the system from an individual to whole
level. Motivated by school projects and briefs, would use app for play.
NOVICE Katie Meaney, Type 2 teacher and designer // type knowledge, teach knowledge, typeface creator // a teaching
tool, want to get hands on, good for play // teaches a process, tool to other systems, fun // curiosity, fulfilling,
excitement // cool to students, records process, forces play, aid
Stresses learning the type basics, and constantly reminding yourself
about your rules. Start with found type and try to fill in the rest of the
puzzle, motivation through “dangling the carrot”, involve students by
uploading and getting feedback. Method, on and off computer, bring
one thing different to the app. (music, seeing type in space, activity)
5. +
MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
SERVICE OBJECTIVES &
GOALS
PURPOSE To gain knowledge of type, understand the parts to a whole inside a system,
learning how set the rules of your own system, record your method, play, ob-
serve, analyze, create, develop, collect
GOALS 1. observe the history and anatomy of type
2. development of initial modular typeface system
3. complete the puzzle with a complex system using illustrator and type tool
OUTCOMES +Knowledge, remembers previously learned material
Understands and uses correct type, knows terminology, identifies working sys-
tems, identifies broken systems, reads how type can speak
+Comprehension, grasps the meaning of materials
Can critique typefaces, explain how to make a few letters form a system, un-
derstand the unit
+Application, uses learning in new and concrete situations
Put unit to the test, make a modular system, learn through play and error
+Analysis, understands both the content and structure of material
Tweak modular typeface, find problems and fix the puzzle, evaluate the entire
set of letters and characters and fix
+Synthesis, formulates new structures from existing knowledge and skills
Take existing method of working and use on the more complex typeface, incor-
porate Illustrator drawings, sketches, other tool drawings, and type tool
+Evaluation, judges the value of material for a given purpose
Put true type to the test in type tool, tweak, receive outside feedback, give feed-
back, rank
6. @MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
PROCESS MAP
PART ONE
5 FIT THE PUZZLE
1 OBSERVE TYPE, GATHER
looking over hard letters, try 3 options, learn rules to
taking pictures, sketching, collecting, draw-
break system, test, HAMBURGER, develop theme or
ing, good vs. bad, what kind of type? display,
feel, small and big, creating other characters, give and
body, handmade, sort into groups
get feedback
2 TYPE BASICS PART THREE
anatomy of a letter, history of type, using
different tools and how they are made, what
6 TAKE A STEP BACK
type “says,” developing a system of type (x- look over pictures, look over groups, see what draws
height, set width, etc) you in, take method from modular type, draw out units,
test a few letters, upload modular type, built and test
PART TWO
3 MODULAR TYPE 7 BEGIN ILLUSTRATOR DRAWING
quick iterations based on your collected type, bezier curve, scan sketches, redraw, develop system
play, can be saved, work on top of your own and create letters
letters, learn about units, how to make parts
to a whole, analyzing the system 8 STEP BACK
print out, circle, create words, system analysis, fine
4 MODULAR TYPE CUSTOMIZATION tune, correct individual letters, get the system perfect,
changing grid size, adding many units, based check back with type knowledge
off of early method, play, explore, test out dif- get feedback
ferent letter styles, 3 or 4 iterations of same
letter, look at set words and scale 9 TYPETOOL
set up illustrator, outlines, a layer for each letter, drag
into type tool, learn the tray, spacing and kerning
7. { MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
ACTIVITY MAP
DRAW, SKETCH, GRID
doodle letter groupings
sketch letters (VWMN)
grids/units (PDBRK)
make it a puzzle (OCQG)
unit shapes (circle, square)
SYSTEM, SCALE
revise
feedback
test on large and small scale
observing work with parts
collecting develop your own system with
walking rules
LOOK AROUND break the rules ON THE MACHINE
critiquing
learning
getting inspired
mood board layers
collect styles trail and error
take pictures: MAKE YOUR OWN many versions
signs GATHER ILLUSTRATOR
books TYPEFACE quicky play
“HAMBURGER”
old system analysis
new
learning the anatomy of type
books/web/video
acknowledge a system learning the tray
what works? LEARN TYPETOOL working out kinks
why? kerning
research spacing
8. ! MOBILE APPLICATION: How to Create a Typeface
SERVICE ECOLOGY
research: explore: observe:
system moving type type traits
display type pixel type readability
body copy serif/sans cohesiveness
freeform serif azif factor
anatomy hand drawn emotions attached
screen print
