Typography - Task 3: Type Design and Communication

 

21.04.2025 - 30.05.2025 / Week8——

Zhou Xinyi / 0378623

Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

 Task 3: Type Design and Communication

Table of Content

1.Lecture

2.Instructions

3.Process Work

4.Feedback

5.Reflection

6.Futher Reading

1.Lecture

Week 8
Explored different styles of hand-drawn font sketches and continued developing ideas for Task 2. A full set of sketches was expected to be ready by Week 9.

Week 9
Submitted Task 2. Mr. Max gave a detailed walkthrough on breaking down letter structures and showed how to digitize our hand-drawn fonts using Adobe Illustrator. He also highlighted the need to keep font height and baselines uniform.

Week 10
Held an online session for students who wanted to present and discuss their current progress on Task 3.

Week 11
Another consultation session was provided to support further development of Task 3.

Week 12
Mr. Max demonstrated how to use FontLab in class. We followed the steps together to speed up the process and become familiar with the software.

2.Instructions

3.Process Work

3.1 sketch

3.2

This is the final draft I decided to use, so I made some detailed adjustments.

3.3In the AI rendering

Then I used FontLab to create these typefaces. After that, I exported the font so it could be used.

3.4Final outcome

The font link is:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q3TTbbZcHR2qhXAaoFOPDFZCX3KQmBnx/view?usp=sharing

4.Feedback

week8

General Feedback:In this class, Mr. Max taught us the first step of creating our own typeface, which is designing the draft. He also gave us time during class to work on our designs.

Specife Feedback:After reviewing my design, Mr. Max helped me choose two typefaces that looked more visually appealing and asked me to continue developing them.

week9

General Feedback:Mr. Max showed us in detail how to break down the structure of letterforms and turn our sketch-based fonts into digital versions using Adobe Illustrator. He also stressed how crucial it is to keep font sizes and baseline alignment uniform.

week10

General Feedback:This week’s class was held online as a progress check for Task 3.

Specife Feedback:I was still finalizing my ideas, so I asked if I could finish the designs by the following session.

week11

General Feedback:Another consultation session focused on Task 3 development. I had my font sketches checked and approved.

Specife Feedback:Mr. Max pointed out areas where certain letters could be refined. After making changes in class, I got the updated version approved and began the digitization process.

week12

General FeedbackIn this class, Mr. Max introduced FontLab and guided us step by step so we could complete the setup efficiently.

Specife Feedback:He assisted me with adjusting side bearings, and I managed to export the font during the session. Now, I just need to prepare and organize everything for my E-portfolio.

5.Reflection

Experience
Working on this typography assignment was both enjoyable and meaningful. It was my first attempt at building a typeface from the ground up, and I found it exciting to watch my hand-drawn sketches gradually turn into a digital font. I enjoyed trying out various ideas and seeing the letterforms evolve on screen. Reaching the final outcome felt rewarding, and I was proud to have designed my own set of letters. Through this experience, I gained a clearer understanding of how typefaces are made and came to appreciate the fine details that define them.

Observations
As I studied and analyzed different fonts, I realized that visual balance often depends on subtle design choices. For instance, certain letters slightly overshoot the baseline or cap height to appear more aligned when viewed from a distance. These tiny modifications might not be obvious right away, but they significantly influence how the entire typeface looks and feels. It made me more aware of the importance of precision and attention to detail in type design.

Findings
I came to understand that creating a typeface is more involved and detailed than I had expected. It takes a lot of focus, observation, and familiarity with how letterforms work. During the initial sketching stage, I learned how crucial it is to keep stroke contrast and proportions consistent—without these, the font can look uneven or off. Overall, this project showed me that typography combines both creative expression and technical accuracy.

6.Futher Reading

In the “Letter” chapter, Lupton discusses the structure of letterforms and how elements like ascenders, descenders, counters, and stems contribute to both readability and visual design. She also outlines various type classifications—such as serif, sans-serif, and modern—and how each one plays a different role in visual communication.

Reading this gave me a stronger understanding of why some typefaces come across as more traditional, contemporary, or easier to read. It helped me develop a more thoughtful approach when selecting fonts for particular design goals. For instance, I became more mindful of how aspects like x-height and stroke variation impact clarity, which directly influenced the choices I made in the Type Expression project.