For my second project in Intermediate Type, I created my module type alphabet. The objective of this project was to use the context of modular letter construction and create a prototype of a modular typeface. I explored the modular system with experimentation trials and creativity. I made 26 individual characters in various cases in vector format.
inspiration
research
I researched ideas on creating modular types and what characteristics of each letter look like and how they relate to one another. Some alphabet characters will divide into smaller groups based on my research, which made my designing process more manageable because it helped me to understand how to break it down. I would call the first group the vertical stem. The characters in the vertical stem group are H, E, F, L, T, K, and I. Another group is the stress group. These letters are O, Q, C, G. J, U, and S. The bowl group includes B, P, R, and D. In contrast; the stroke group contains A, V, W, X, Y, M, N, Z. At the beginning of this project I didn’t know the alphabet could be divided by specific types of designs, once I realized that it made breaking the designs down for each letter
so much easier.
so much easier.
shapes I used
process
During the designing process, I created five different styles with 26 letters. Each character was challenging because I only had four shapes that I could use to make each character. I chose the shape group that most of my classmates were afraid to touch because of the plus sign and a small triangle. This project challenged me even more and pushed my creative limits to the next level. I always love to challenge myself because it makes me a better designer. When creating each character, I used negative shapes and positive shapes. For me, the most intricate letters were G, J, M, U, V, X, and Y. I didn’t create each letter all at the same time. I had to go outside and go to places to find my inspiration for each letter.
During the designing process, I created five different styles with 26 letters. Each character was challenging because I only had four shapes that I could use to make each character. I chose the shape group that most of my classmates were afraid to touch because of the plus sign and a small triangle. This project challenged me even more and pushed my creative limits to the next level. I always love to challenge myself because it makes me a better designer. When creating each character, I used negative shapes and positive shapes. For me, the most intricate letters were G, J, M, U, V, X, and Y. I didn’t create each letter all at the same time. I had to go outside and go to places to find my inspiration for each letter.
character styles
before and after revisions
During the final design process, I recreated some of the letters because I was not too fond of the vibe that I had originally started with. For example, I had to play around with the letters T, G, S, H, and W, because they didn’t go with the whole alphabet. It was a lot of trial and error for me, and I had to get a lot of opinions because I created too many solutions on my first WIP, so it was hard for me to choose the best ones out of the significant five different types for the 26 letters.
During the final design process, I recreated some of the letters because I was not too fond of the vibe that I had originally started with. For example, I had to play around with the letters T, G, S, H, and W, because they didn’t go with the whole alphabet. It was a lot of trial and error for me, and I had to get a lot of opinions because I created too many solutions on my first WIP, so it was hard for me to choose the best ones out of the significant five different types for the 26 letters.
From the first final piece, my professor gave me a tip to bring M, N, E, F, and G down to the x-height so the lowercase would meet up with those letters. After that small change, every alphabet looked fantastic together and seemed to all go together uniformly.
final layout
In summary, I pushed myself to create more solutions with a more complicated shape, I knew it would be difficult but it gave me the creative push that I needed to succeed. I learned through this project when I get frustrated, I needed to walk away and do something else. Once I relax, my mind goes into sleep mode, which allows my creative processes to flow and helped me capture inspiration to use for each particular letter, and I feel like it’s the same excitement like catching a butterfly. You get excited with the creative process and want to capture another. Another thing I learned is not to copy ideas but steal ideas. “Good artists borrow, Great artists steal” – Pablo Picasso. For example, I loved the windmill from Cracker Barrel because it was designed to spin automatically. I wanted to steal that idea and apply it into my letter designs. Another idea I saw in one of my modular inspirations was that the designer left out letters but kept the essential parts. I loved that idea, but I wanted to try it on different letters that worked well using the same concept instead of using the same letters he did. I enjoyed doing this project because it helped me understand why typography is essential to learn as a graphic designer.
