1984 wrap up

Above are images of my deliverables made using the typeface I designed nineteen 84. This project really became a process based work, the concept evolved from the typeface. In some regards it would have been nice to know what my concept was from the beginning, but thats not always how I work. That being said I must admit that I did struggle considerably to develop concepts for my deliverables. But I am happy with the way this project evolved and how it turned out. I'm feeling a little swamped with design projects right now. But I may be able to get a book cover done to add to the project and/ or photoshop my posters on some walls in massive rows. The top image is a start to an idea for a book cover. Alas I must move on to another project presently. I enjoyed this project and it really made me appreciate the work that goes into making a functional typeface. Peace is War Nineteen 84 Forevermore.

1984 Kit

Today I scored an ammo box at Andy and Bax's sporting goods to use for my 1984 kit. It's going to include stencils of all the letters, printed on card stock and perforated, (I still need to pick up a perforator), also it will include 2-3 posters going along with the 1984 theme. Big brother is watching...doublethink, newspeak, etc. Also a can of spray paint, I'm working on finishing the label for it now. And maybe some other random paraphernalia, buttons etc, I might as well include a copy of 1984 too. I'm not totally sure what I'm going to put on the box yet or how elaborate to get. It will probably be pretty simple, I'm just thinking of stenciling the name of the typeface on it for now. Going to get down with the stenciling tomorrow afternoon, w00t.

Typeface Campaign

So I feel a little behind with this project but I'm starting to see where I want to go with the campaign part. I originally was going to call my typeface something like Lektrex, Anglex, or Letrex. But after thinking about some of the characteristics of my typeface, that it seems industrial, digital, mechanical, futuristic, angular, stencil like font I decided to call it nineteen 84. Kate said something about it being what people thought the future would look like, and that it seemed to be retro/futuristic in a way, and I thought that was cool so nineteen 84 seems to fit perfectly. I've been kinda struggling to come up with a campaign idea for this typeface but what I would like to do is make a stencil kit. The kit would include stencil cards for each letter and number and some basic punctuation. A spray can, instructions, and possibly an energy drink all wrapped up in an industrial looking box. A wooden crate maybe? An old toolbox? Something of the sort. So this does require me to rework my alphabet in order to make all the letters functional stencils, which I am in the process of doing. I'm working on some digital roughs I will post asap.

Another sketch

I'm liking playing with a very blocky, geometrical concept. I will most likely go this direction, although the final result will probably look nothing like what's below.

More typeface ideas

Here are a few more rough sketch's. The top letter are meant to have a mechanical feel with bolts holding them together, the "arkin" is based off the peeling letter concept I discussed below. The bottom two are experiments with making simple geometric type. The bottom letters are part of a pyramid shape. I really like the idea of making a abstract geometrical typeface. I liked the cubic example Kate posted on the blog a lot.

Initial typeface design ideas

There is this sign kinda close to my house I walk by every so often. The vinyl letters are peeling off the sign. I like the distressed textural look that has emerged. There are many distressed typefaces out there, so I don't know if I will run with this idea or not. Here are a few pix of the sign.

I had a lot of ideas about making lettering out of objects. Making letter forms out of things like matches, nails, wood splinters, rock textures, etc. I don't know if this approach is appropriate for this assignment or not but I wanted to at least try it so I made some letter using tumbled quartz stones.



I also made some letters that have a brush script feel to them. The below sketch is rough, If I choose this route the letters would need to be more refined in terms of cap height, width, weight and so forth. I may also try to do some other sketches based off this idea using a different stylistic approach.


I am also interested in a exploring a few other approaches. Making a really angular, geometric typeface appeals to me, that may or may not be 3-D. A typeface that looks really techie. Or making a typeface based off other typefaces, a cross breed.
These are some of my initial ideas. I'm not totally sure which way to go yet but I'm leaning towards the distressed peeling typeface, or making a teched out geometric typeface.

Type pencil comps

For my type pencil comps I traced Lubalin Graph and Gotham Book.  I'm not totally sure I got all the right stuff labeled.  Tracing a typeface is a good way to learn the anatomy and get in tune with the structural subtleties of type. 

 

Ten typefaces + About me

Shown above are ten typefaces I like.  I really like typography and am excited about learning more about it.  Typography is one of those aspects of design that seems infinite.

What are you excited about?

Im excited about design, photography, interactive media, toys, bikes, techno/electro/house, spring time, etc.

Favorite books/ magazines

As far as magazines go I sometimes check out: Juxtapoz, Adbusters, CMYK, Aperture.

Some authors I like are Chuck Palahniuk, Kurt Vonnegut Charles Bukowski, Carlos Castaneda.

websites

ffffound, deviantart, behance, blogspoon graphics,  vinylpulse, cubecraft