Typography - Task 3: Type Design and Communication

Week 8 – Week 12

MOO RENEE / 0359595 / Bachelor of Interactive Spatial Design 
Typography 

Task 3: Type Design and Communication

• 1. Assignment Instruction 
• Assignment / Task Brief

• 2. Work process
• 2.1 Research
• 2.2 Ideation / Exploration
• 2.3 Develop Process 
• 2.4 Deconstruction 
• 2.5 Digitalize Process

• 3. Final Outcome
• 4. Feedback 
• 5. Reflection  
• 6. Future Reading

1. ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTION

2. WORK PROCESS

2.1 Research

Font Research

I searched for different fonts online to collect inspiration.

Figure 2.1.1 Font Research 

However, after some thinking, I wanted to incorporate the elements of either eyes, waves, or shapes/volume in this assignment. Below is some visual research on these elements, but I did more exploration on the eyes instead of the others:

Eyes Research

Figure 2.1.2 Eye Research

2.2 Ideation / Exploration

Below are four different sketches of the letter 'atgb':

Sketch 01: Exploring different thicknesses for the letters, with some parts thick and some thin.

Sketch 02: Waves, with the ending part having a large circle to make it look a little heavy. The two below the ending are thick, but the ending itself has a sharpness.

Sketch 03: Using shapes on one half of the letter to create a mixed and matched look (bottom part). The top part ends with an irregular, melting effect like droplets.

Figure 2.2.1 Sketch 1/2/3

Sketch 04: Inspired by the element of eyes, using the shape of the word itself to create frames that look like eye shapes. I added a circle to present the eyeball in the middle. On the right side, I applied the same idea but made the word look sharper, adding some thin spaces in the thick parts. The eyeball touches the letter, while on the left side it’s separate not touching the letter itself (except for the one on the bottom left).

Figure 2.2.2 Sketch 4

With all four sketches done, the lecturer selected the two below and told me to further explore them. The small letters are preferred over the big capital letters because the big capital letters don't look as good. Also, for the letter "T," I need to make some changes since it doesn’t blend well with the eyeball, and the thickness is also not quite right.

Figure 2.2.3 Selected Sketch

2.3 Develop Process

Based on the selected sketch, I have developed several design variations on my iPad. Below is the exploration:

Figure 2.3.1 Eye-Inspired Version 1 Sketch

Figure 2.3.2 Eye-Inspired Version 2 Sketch

Figure 2.3.3 Eye-Inspired Version 3 Sketch

Figure 2.3.4 Moon-Inspired Sketch

I showed these sketches to the lecturer, and he suggested that the Moon-inspired concept would be stronger and more effective. At the same time, he pointed out that the letters y, i, t, and m need to be redesigned, as they lack consistency within the set.

Figure 2.3.5 Initial Sketch for Letters y, i, t, m

Among these, the letter y is acceptable, but i, t, and m require further exploration and refinement.

Figure 2.3.6 Second Version Sketch for i, t, and m

2.4 Deconstruction 

Before starting the digitization process, the lecturer taught us how to deconstruct letters using Adobe Illustrator. The lesson focused on how we can break down and analyze the structure of individual letters to better understand their form and design.

Demonstration Outcome:

• Deconstruction of Futura Std (Book) letters a, e, and g

Figure 2.4.1 Deconstruction In Adobe Illustrator 

Figure 2.4.2 Deconstruction Letter

2.5 Digitalize Process

3.FINAL OUTCOME

4. FEEDBACK

Week 8 - This week we started on Assignment 3 by sketching the font. I have sketched four different fonts and did some research (font inspiration: shapes, waves, eyes).

Specific Feedback:

• I can go forward with the "eyes" one, but the small capital "t" cannot.
• For the other one, also, the letter "t" cannot.

Week 9 - Based on last week’s sketches, I have explored all the letters using the two styles that the lecturer approved last week — the "eye" one and the "moon" one. I showed the updated sketches to the lecturer in class this week.

Specific Feedback:

• The letters y, i, t, and m need to be readjusted and redesigned for both styles.
• Use the moon style as the concept is stronger than the "eye" style.

5. REFLECTION

5. FURTHER READING 

Figure 5.1 Thinking with Type Book Cover 

BOOK LINK - PDF

• Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students (2nd Edition) — by Ellen Lupton

Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton is a really useful and engaging book about typography and how it’s used in design. It's written mainly for designers, editors, writers, and students, but honestly, I think anyone working with text can learn something from this book. What I liked most in this book is that it's not just a technical manual—it also explains why type matters and how it will affects the way we communicate using typography.

The book is split into three main parts: Letter, Text, and Grid.

• In the Letter section, the author breaks down the structure and history of letterforms. There’s also a discussion about typefaces (such as serif vs. sans-serif), which I found really helpful in understanding how fonts convey mood and meaning.
• The Text section focuses on how letters function when combined into paragraphs and layouts. Topics like spacing, alignment, kerning, and leading are all covered. I have also took some note of how small adjustments in these areas can significantly improve readability. Made me think differently about how I can format written content—especially online, where attention spans are short.
• The Grid section is about the layout—how we can organize elements on a page using columns, margins, and other structures. Knowing how grids help create visual order and consistency. It also reminded me that sometimes breaking the grid can be powerful, but only when done intentionally.

What stood out to me most is that typography isn’t just decoration—it’s communication. Every typographic choice we make, from font selection to spacing and alignment, affects how the message is received. The author uses real-life examples, quotes, and visual experiments that make the concepts more easy to understand.

Thinking with Type : A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students (2nd Edition)

Thinking with Type : A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students (2nd Edition)

Thinking with Type : A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students (2nd Edition)