Advanced Typography - Task 1: Exercises

28/03/2022 - 04/04/2022 (Week 1)

Ataka Lukman Hamzah / 0350012 

BDCM /Advanced Typography  

Task 1: Exercise 1

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INSTRUCTIONS

We are expected to create a typography design based on the 8 typographic systems. (Axial, Radial, Dilatational, Random, Grid, Modular, Transitional, and Bilateral).

To start off the first exercise is by looking at examples of each typographic system.

Fig 1.1: Dilatational System Example

Fig 1.2: Random System Example

Fig 1.3: Transitional System Example

Fig 1.4: Axial System Example

Fig 1.6: Bilateral System Example

Fig 1.5: Modular System Example

Fig 1.6: Radial System Example

Fig 1.7: Grid System Example

After looking at the examples I started to create my own designs.

Axial Attempt

Fig 1.8: Process InDesign

Fig 1.9: Axial System Attempt 1

Attempt 2

For the axial system, I do not have problems understanding the concept of it, however, I think that my second design would lean towards the grid system.

Radial Attempt

Fig 2.0: Radial System Attempt 1

Attempt 2

At first, I was confused between radial and dilational and mistakenly thought that the dilational system is the radial system. The dilatational system designs below were initially created for my radial system design.

Dilatational Attempt

Fig 2.1: Dilatational System Attempt

Attempt 1(2)

Random Attempt

Fig 2.2: Random System Attempt

I find this system to be the hardest or the most challenging because I am more into a clean and neat design compared to an abstract and random placement design.

Grid Attempt

Fig 2.3: Grid System Attempt

I find this system to be fairly easy considering the time it is taken to create it compared to the other systems. 

Modular Attempt

Fig 2.4: Modular System Process

Fig 2.5: Modular System Attempt

Transitional Attempt

Fig 2.6: Transitional System Attempt 1 Process

Fig 2.7: Transitional System Attempt 1

Fig 2.7: Transitional System Attempt 2 Process

Fig 2.8: Transitional System Attempt 2 Process

Bilateral Attempt

Fig 2.9: Bilateral System Attempt 1

Fig 3.0: Bilateral Attempt 2

After the digitalization, we have a feedback session with Mr. Vinod. 

FINAL SUBMISSION

Fig 3.1: Final Radial System - JPEG

Fig 3.2: Final Grid System - JPEG

Fig 3.3: Final Modular System - JPEG

Fig 3.4: Final Bilateral Modular System - JPEG

Fig 3.5: Final Transitional System - JPEG

Fig 3.6: Final Random System - JPEG

Fig  3.7: Final Axial System - JPEG

Fig 3.8: Final Dilatational System - JPEG

Fig 3.9: Final Submission 8 Systems - PDF

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TASK 2: Type & Play

For task 2, we are expected to look for fonts from nature or mand made objects, things that we see daily. Then we need to trace the picture and extract fonts from it. After that impose and refine them into a proper font. 

For the object, I decided to go walking around my apartment area to find inspiration. Then I found this plant with unique leaves shape. So I decided to take it as my reference for this task.

Fig 4.0: Reference

Then I take it to the illustrator to be traced and extracted. The letters that I can find in the picture are F, H, A, and V.

Fig 4.1: Traced Picture

Moving on, I extracted the shapes of the letters into a shape.

Fig 4.2: Extracted Letters

Fig 4.3: First alignment and small adjustments

From the first extracted letters, I did some adjustments to make them more consistent in letter shapes, alignment, and size. Then, I got feedback from Mr. Vinod, saying the stroke consistency is not there for the A and H. Also, he suggested using a rectangle but making it have a small curvature for each stroke.

So for reference from an existing font, I used the Gill Sans MT (regular).

Fig 4.4: Refined letters from the existing font (letter A)

Fig 4.5: Refined letters from the existing font (letter F)

Fig 4.6: Refined letters from the existing font (letter H)

Fig 4.7: Refined letters from the existing font (letter V)

Fig 4.8: Final Refined Letters

FINAL OUTCOME

Fig 4.9: Final Outcome - Task 2: Type and Play - JPEG

PART 2: Type and Image

The third exercise is to create a type and image design. We are to choose a picture and add a text that has a connection to the picture.

Fig 5.0: Base Picture

So this is the image that I have chosen to work on for this task. I think it is very interesting because of the minimalism. So the idea that comes to my mind is to create a text along with the perspectives as if it's one with the wall. 

So I did it in photoshop. 

Fig 5.1: Draft 1 Process

What I did was distort the text to create perspective to it and change the adjustment layer to overlay to make the text seem to be one with the picture.

This is the first draft that I created before the feedback session with Mr. Vinod. After the feedback session, Mr. Vinod said that it is a nice idea but can be improved on. The text does not need to be in italic, and to create details where the text come in and out due to the surface of the wall. 

So I did another version of the outcome, with a non-italicized text and add the detail of the surface. 

Fig 5.2: Draft 2 Process

Fig 5.3: Closeup Detail

Here is a  closeup of what it means when giving the text an extra detail of the surface. I did this to each letter using the masking tool. Which results in my final outcome.

Fig 5.4: Final Outcome - Type and Image - JPEG

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FEEDBACK

Specific Feedback:

• Dilatational is okay, however, the placement is awkward not using the space effectively.
• Radial is okay but the open lecture text is not radial.
• Modular, text needed to be aligned for it to have connectivity between information.
• Random is not quite random, needs to be more random. Bilateral, Interestingly however it is multilateral.
• The transitional, grey oval is unnecessary.
• The grid is okay the text 25 June placement needed to be fixed.