Brief 2: Rational and Research Process

My chosen word which I will base my alphabet on is 'Cryptic'.

Rational 

The type includes variations towards the density of the lines. It includes bracketed serifs, to develop this further, I could have extended the serifs, exaggerate the idea of bracketed serifs. I could also incorporate the element of diagonal lines and curls within other letters.

Also the word ‘cryptic’ initiates with something mysterious, magical so I could incorporate a magical aspect through the curls of certain letters.

The typeface is more dated compared to Clarendon. It contains a long Ascender juxtaposed to a short descender. Times contains a variation of density within the line structure.

The idea of something being cryptic creates the idea of something having no rule, something which is difficult to read. I could incorporate this element when designing. This could be through adding questions towards the typeface. For example:

Why are the numbers curved and the Q but the rest aren’t?

Why are the lowercase letter serifs curved at the top surface?

Caslon

Interlink other letters together ‘f’ and ‘s’ is interlinked finding connections to create difficulty in Caslon.

Some serifs are slanted contrasted to straight serifs. Played with this aspect and created designs mixing the curls, diagonal lines and straight lines.

Clarendon is a bulky, bold, thick typeface. The typeface itself is a Grotesque slab, which includes upturned tail, curved legs and includes ball terminals. The serifs are bracketed and heavy wedged. In particular, the letter ‘g’ has a moderate contrast and has a vertical stress.

The typeface has a closer kerning which creates a more compressed feel; with a short descender and ascender, containing a larger x-height. The typeface can be decorative which

I feel fits in with my word, Cryptic. The thick typeface creates a more modern feel contrasted to the font, Times.

Clarendon is clearer to read however I could play with this element and create techniques to try and complicate this type face.

Also the word Cryptic is associated with camouflage.

 I could research into certain camouflages and also adapt digital camouflage. 

Cryptic- unclear, camouflage, oblique, arcane

Blog post

Feedback 1

Look at Circus style typefaces as they have a playful, mysterious feel.

Slanted serifs: to develop this further you could explore overcomplicate the design by exaggerating the serifs. Explore different thickness of the stems, perhaps creating a bolder typeface. Also adding an uneven typeface creates the idea of having ‘no rule’. 

Feedback 2

The feedback suggested Carlson would be more appropriate as there are more elements to play with. The question of, ‘Why the ‘Q’ has a curve?’ could create a project and adapt this feature onto other letter forms. Digital camouflage is more successful, as it creates something modern and contemporary which could be more innovative.

Another idea that stood out was the ‘puzzle’ aspect. This idea could be incorporated into letter forms of certain aspects being missing and incomplete.

Feedback 3

The idea of disguising letters as something else (camouflage) may use only lines. Combined the negative space and how the letterforms can blend in with it. Also adapt cryptic messages and codes. Clarendon seems less modern; used for wanted posters. The word ‘cryptic’ can be associated with technology. Perhaps look at Universe and San serifs. Perhaps adapt dots as it creates a digital aspect.

Due to the Feedback given, I chose Univers and Times as my chosen two typefaces as they are two very different ideas which I can manipulate. 

I first started with the font 'Times'. I was questioning the design of the typeface, the idea of braking the rules which I thought I could adapt certain set designs on other letterforms. 

I then took the element of the 'Q' including a curled tail and adapting this concept onto there letterforms.

I then created samples of a typeface. I developed this idea further by adapting circus typography towards my design, as circus font include the characteristics as something cryptic, mysterious, magical.

With my first design, I wanted to create a more dated approach. However I felt that this style had already been created as adapting an old-fashioned approach towards the word cryptic.

For my second design with the font Universe, I created many visual mind maps of modern digital aspect towards the typeface Univers.

I then researched into digital camouflage and then adapting this into type.

Image from Pinterest of Digital Camouflage. 

A sample I created through the digital camouflage imagery. 

I then explored with density and quantity of the squares to see if this creates an impact of creating something to be unreadable. 

I played with variations of squares to see if this created the type to be unclear.

Visual mind maps of adapting dots influenced by digital fonts. 

During the crit, the feedback given was I needed to research into contextual research to develop my designs further. The concept of reading into newspaper articles, books, as well as google research to create a deeper understanding of 'cryptic' and how I can adapt that to my design work.