Advanced Typography : Final Compilation and Reflection

Week 1 - Week 14 : 28 Mar 2022 - 27 Jun 2022

Tan Yi Yun 0345559
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Final Compilation and Reflection

LINKS

Task 1 : Typographic Systems and Type & Play
Task 2 : Key Artwork and Collateral
Task 3 : Type Exploration and Application  

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK 1 / EXERCISE 1 : Typographic Systems

Final Submission 
Figure 1.1, Final Axial, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Figure 1.2, Final Radial, Week 2 (9/4/2022)

Figure 1.3, Final Dilatational, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Figure 1.4, Final Random, Week 2 (9/4/2022)

Figure 1.5, Final Transitional, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Figure 1.6, Final Grid, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Figure 1.7, Final Modular, Week 2 (9/4/2022)

Figure 1.8, Final Bilateral, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Final Compilation in PDF, Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Final Compilation (with grids) in PDF , Week 2 (9/4/2022)

TASK 1 / EXERCISE 2 : Type & Play

PART 1 : Finding Type

Figure 1.9, Identified letters "A,Y,O,X", Week 2 (9/4/2022)
Figure 2.1, Refinement process, Week 2 (9/4/2022)

Final Submission - Finding Type
Figure 2.2, Final Submission - "Cracks", Week 5 (25/4/2022)

Figure 2.3, Final Submission - "Cracks" (with grid), Week 5 (25/4/2022)

PDF - Final Finding Type, Week 4 (24/4/2022)

PART 2 : Type & Image

Original image #1
Figure 2.4, Original image by Alan Schaller
Figure 2.5, Final submission - "Inner Mind", Week 5 (25/4/2022)

Original image#2
Figure 2.6, Original Image by Mat Collishaw, Week 5 (25/4/2022)
Figure 2.7, Final Submission - "Ignited", Week 5 (25/4/2022)

Typeface for #1 & 2: Univers LT Std (Bold Condensed)

TASK 2 (A) : Key Artwork

Final Submission - Key Artwork

Figure 2.8, Key Artwork (Black and white), Week 10 (31/5/2022)
Figure 2.9, Key Artwork (Colour - Light Version), Week 10 (31/5/2022)

Figure 3.1, Key Artwork (Colour - Dark Version), Week 10 (31/5/2022)

Final Submission - Poster Design

Figure 3.2, Final Poster, Week 11 (6/6/2022)

Figure 3.3, Final Poster mockup, Week 11 (6/6/2022)

Final Submission - Collateral

Figure 3.4, Collateral - ticket, Week 11 (6/6/2022)
Figure 3.5, Ticket mockup, Week 11 (6/6/2022)
Figure 3.6, Flat lay, Week 11 (6/6/2022)

Final Submission - Animated GIF

Final animated GIF, Week 11 (6/6/2022)
PDF Submission, Week 11 (6/6/2022)

TASK 3 : Type Exploration and Application

The typeface I have designed is "Astrophile", which is inspired by zodiac signs. It is designed for astrophiles (star lovers) and star gazers which can be applied on products related to astronomy and space. Physical type designs were created by laser cutting on different materials (3mm plywood, 3mm MDF board and 3mm acrylic board) and the light effect shining across the holes were captured. 

Download the typeface (Astrophile) here : 

Figure 3.7, Type Design (black on white), Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Figure 3.8, Type Design (white and black), Week 13 (26/6/2022)
Type Showcase

Digital

Figure 3.9, Final type display poster, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Physical

Figure 4.1, "Astrophile" on MDF board, Week 13 (26/6/2022)
Figure 5.8, "Astrophile" on acrylic board, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Figure 5.9, Type design (acrylics), Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Figure 6.1, Type Design on plywood (aurora video display), Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Type design showcase (aurora video), Week 13 (26/6/2022)

"Astrophile" showcase (aurora video), Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Type Application

Application #1 : Astronomy book cover

Figure 6.2, "The Galaxy" - Book cover, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Figure 6.3, "The Galaxy" - Book cover mockup, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Application #2 : App application  (Star Walk 2)

Figure 6.4, Redesign app showcase, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

Figure 6.5, App showcase, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

PDF Submission, Week 13 (26/6/2022)

REFLECTION

Experience
It was an intense journey, started from the beginning of Task 1. We were required to complete all eight typographic systems in a week. It was a bit uncertain to begin as we can only refer to the recorded lecture video. Due to public holiday, there were some classes being cancelled. This results in the slower progress for students as we all highly rely on the feedback. The good part is that we were given more time to catch up what we had missed in the previous tasks. However, I spent the public holiday and independent learning week on an installation competition. I felt more pressure to manage my time because of this competition. There was a very difficult time for me (less than 3 hours sleep per day, all school works are pending, absent from club activities...) that almost causing me to have a mental breakdown. However, I did overcome it well by putting my priority on sleep because without sleep I can't do anything well. I am glad that I manage to go through it and grow up from this tough experience.

As compared to Typography in Semester 1, this module definitely has more workload and I felt like Mr. Vinod has higher expectation on our work. Sometimes he gave harsh critiques but it is understandable because he wanted us to improve. The overall experience is indeed fruitful as I get more exposure to the techniques of typeface design. The most unforgettable task is Task 3, type exploration and application. In this task, I chose to laser cut my typeface so that I can showcase them using light. The process of laser cutting them was exhausting and time-consuming but the results are worth the effort.

Observation
I observed that the use of graphical elements should be limited so that they will not overpower the text. In Task 1 Exercise 2, I found that it is important to pay attention to the details of the letterforms to avoid missing a lot of details in the structure. In Task 2, the design of collaterals should be consistent that can reflect the key artwork. 

I observed that the other students' works are very creative in terms of the final showcase of the typeface design in Task 3. Some went for physical typeface design like me. Although we are given a lot of liberty to design the typefaces, the final output should serve a purpose and solve an existing problem. 

Findings
In Task 1, I found that typographic systems are useful guidelines for us to arrange the information that can be applied in many places, including the following tasks like the poster layout in Task 2. 

After completing this module, I have gained more understanding on the branding design (key artwork, poster and collaterals). Although I am not going for graphic design as my specialisation, I think this knowledge is still important and applicable whenever it comes to advertising of a product. As applied to all tasks, I think getting inspirations from online examples are important because that allows me to step out from my comfort zone to transform our ideas in a way that we usually perceive our possibilities.