BRIEF : 3-D Type

1st DRAFT OF BRIEF :

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN	Level	6
Module Code:	Module Title:	Learning Outcomes:

BRIEF TITLE: 3-D TYPEFACE

Brief: Create a 3 dimensional typeface that is both readable and legible.

Background: While there are a variety of typefaces on the internet which have 3 dimensional qualities, there are few comprehensive typefaces that include all variety of grammatical glyphs and numbers. It is also important to note that many of these ‘3 dimensional’ glyphs are hard to read and do not function as anything other than single words or glyphs.

Considerations: How to create 3-D type that is legible and yet aesthetically inviting? Whether to use existing typefaces as a foundation or to simply start from scratch? Weighting and shading of 3-D aspects will be an important part of the typeface in ensuring not only legibility but also consistency across the typeface.

Mandatory Requirements: A full typeface including upper and lower case as well as punctuation glyphs and figures. At least one example of the typeface being employed in a realistic situation.

Target Audience: The typeface will be targeted towards people who would consider using it. This would typically be graphic designers, art directors and those involved in the creative industry. However on a broader level it can be seen to target anyone running a company or organisation seeking a new display font. A further target audience could be a type foundry wishing to turn the typeface into a fully functioning typeface available for purchase.

Tone of Voice: As the typeface is the only main finished outcome, the tone of voice discussed here will mainly reflect the tone of voice of the typeface. As it is a display face, the tone must be somewhat loud and impressive. Despite this, I seek to avoid an overly raucous typeface, as the majority of existing 3-D typefaces fall into this category. Instead, I seek to find a happy medium of strong forms with a refined taste.

Deliverables: Design boards. Full typeface as specified above. At least one example of typeface in use. Sketches of glyphs and development work. Compositional mock-ups testing readability, legibility and applicability.

Looking at other examples of existing 3-dimensional typefaces:

Ultinoid Regular:

deliberate broken block of colour seem to indicate hand-pressed qualities. contains strokes around original letterforms. slight alterations in stroke suggest hand-rendered aspects. designed as a 'poster font'.


Thorowgood Sans Shaded:

very similar 3d angle and glyph weighting to ultinoid regular. lack of hand-rendered elements creates more professional tone. interesting history to this face: created 1839 by Fann St Foundry of Thorowgood & Sons. Upper case only.

Fernburner NF :

slightly shallower 3d angle than previous two typefaces. uppercase only. comes with full set of glyphs.


Romeo D:

interesting use of shading to suggest 3-d elements. type remains constrained by 2-d borders but shading suggests light and depth. change from light to dark shading is too severe.

Initiales Hombrees Regular :

Interesting variety of weight within glyphs. Unfortunately this leads to a loss of legibility. One of the few 3d typefaces with serifs.

FF Angie Open Pro Black:

Interesting reversal of most other 3d typefaces - only small 3d cuts are taken out of the glyph to suggest 3 dimensional elements as opposed to having block colour added to the glyph.

Initial Ideas: 

To best assess how legible letters will be when they are made 3-Dimensional, I tested the alphabet using Avenir Next font in various weights:

http://illusion.scene360.com/design/15607/origami-typeface/


after having completed the two typefaces, I set about finding a way to present specimens of them both alongside each other in a way that allows them to complement each other. Could use some glyphs in larger size with copy inside counters etc. as shown below:

maybe do in bright colours with background, allows easier differentiation between 2d and 3d.

maybe have 2d in lighter hue and 3d in heavier hue to make up for thinner strokes.

mock up in digital book format like below?

a gothic sans serif available in two dimensions.

who says more dimensions need more colours?

suitable for mono and multi tone use.

the lazy dog stands up, and follows the fox

the lazy dog
stands up
feeling foolish

the lazy dog
stands up

ONE IS BETTER FOR DISPLAY USE

(the other is better for smaller sizes)


Evaluation :

This brief has been very disorganised. This was mainly due to a lack of a clear goal from the offset. As it was more experimental in nature than working towards a point, a lot of time was spent and I have little to show for it apart from endless repeats of aesthetic trials.

Despite this, continually trying these things over and over has deepened my understanding of how to communicate 3-dimensional forms through typographic methods. The experimentation mentioned above also allowed me to progress the typeface made last year (plan display), which I was not happy with the finished outcome for. So in a way I have developed my 2 dimendional typeface in the process of attempting to create a 3 dimensional one.  

Tripping over endless disorganisation has honed my understanding of how to order my process - namely to set out a clearer goal and idea of what i am doing before just attempting to let the visual solution guide me there.

If I were to do this brief again, I would like to print the type out and make a more extensive type specimen. This is largely because type looks different printed.