11.06.2019 (Week 11)

Two topics were introduced this week, namely Typography: Perception and Organization, and Typography in Different Mediums. 

18.06.2019 (Week 12)

There was no lecture this week as we proceed with our final project.

25.06.2019 (Week 13)

There was no lecture this week as well as we continue working on our final project. 

For this project, we were to choose to develop a font to solve a larger problem or meant to be part of a solution in the area of our interest, or to explore the use of typeface in our area of interest, and identify areas that could be improved on.

I chose to develop a font to solve a larger problem or meant to be part of a solution in the area of our interest. My idea pop in as Mr Vinod said that we can create something that is related to what we did for our design research and/or our specialization. The topic I'm doing for my design research is related to culture, or more specifically cultural identity. I then wanted to something related to the Chinese culture for my final project.

My idea is to create a typeface that the strokes are based on the Chinese calligraphy stroke. The objective and research done before I started moving on with the project is as the following:



When consulting Mr Vinod about this idea, he pointed out that there's a lot of students, whether the previous batch or the current batch, had done similar works. However, I may try if I have the confidence.

After that, I started working by tracing the various Chinese calligraphy strokes on Adobe Illustrator.

Fig 1.0 Strokes traced on Adobe Illustrator.

Fig 1.1 Strokes traced

Later, I began to form the letters by piecing the strokes together like doing a jigsaw puzzle. I use letters from Arial as a reference for the ratio and the height of the letters I'm forming. Minimal tweaking is done to suit my preference.

Fig 1.2 Screenshot of the progress done in Adobe Illustrator

Fig 1.3 1st attempt of the typeface.

After showing that to Mr Vinod, he said that overall it doesn't look good but I can choose to go on with them. However, since Mr Vinod said that it isn't good, I proceed to further work on the letters after getting advice from both Mr Shamsul and Mr Vinod. I shouldn't limit myself within the strokes that were traced.

I then try to write the strokes myself using the Chinese calligraphy brush. I observe the changes of strokes and the pressure exerted to get specific thickness of the strokes.

[picture of written strokes]

I know I wanted to have the curve lines of the letters to implement in my typeface. However, I have a hard time brainstorming on how to achieve that as most Chinese calligraphy strokes. An idea suddenly struck to me as I saw some Japanese Hiragana characters. I remembered that Japanese have a calligraphy style similar to the Chinese calligraphy and I thought that I could inspire the curve strokes for the letters from there.

I watched a video of a person writing the Japanese Hiragana character on YouTube. From there, I observe the thick and thin of the strokes of the curve lines. The video I watched is attached below.


I noticed that the curve strokes usually becomes thinner as it stretches out and thicker as the stroke almost ended. I then take this observation into my composition of the letters.

Other than the curve lines, I wanted the typeface to be more handwritten like. I wanted to include a little bit of the Japanese aesthetic that is known as 'wabi-sabi'. It is something like finding beauty inside imperfections.

Therefore, instead of using pen tool to create the outline, I used the blob paint tool to draw/compose my letters. I try to imitate the direction of strokes when writing real Chinese calligraphy. Again, the letters of the Arial typeface is used as reference.

Fig 1.4 Screenshot of the process done in Adobe Illustrator.

I manage to maintain similar thickness of several strokes throughout all letters. However, minimal/slight differences can be found between each letters as I drew them one by one.

For some strokes, I got reference from some Chinese character. For example, the tail for the letter 'Q' is based on the last stroke for the Chinese character '心'.

Fig 1.5 Screenshot of the progress of drawing the stroke of the tail of letter 'Q'.

As I haven't finish all the letters on Week 13, I ask my friends for feedback throughout the process. The final outcome of the font is as the following:

Fig 1.6 Final outcome of the letters.

Fig 1.7 Screenshot of the work done in Adobe Photoshop

For the application for this typeface, I wanted to use it in English version of spring couplets. When browsing online to have a clearer image on the item, I came across this:

Fig 1.8 An English version of spring couplets I found on the net

Since I don't have much time left, I decided to focus on the the part of the spring couplets that normally is '福', which stands for blessing, or a shorter vocab, luck. I also wanted to put the phrase 'prosperity'.

I created the spring couplet paper in Adobe Illustrator by having a Chinese motif pattern with low opacity on top of a red square.

Fig 1.9 The layer in creating the spring couplet paper.

After that, I proceed to create the spring couplet of prosperity and luck. I created two varieties for prosperity and one for luck.

Fig 1.10 First composition for 'prosperity'.

1

Fig 1.11 Composition for 'Luck'

I then try to put the compositions on to a wall image I got from Pexel to have a better image how it would be in real life.

Fig 1.12 Spring couplets pasted on a wall, mock up done in Photoshop.

After Week 14's feedback, I changed the color of the lettering in the spring couplets into yellow. However, when Mr Vinod pass by, he suggested to search for the hex code for gold color instead of using yellow.

Fig 1.13 Final Outcome of the spring couplet (1)

Fig 1.14 Final Outcome for the spring couplet (2)

Other than that, the typeface can be used in various stuff to represent the Chinese culture. For example, in a Chinese New Year poster or posting for social media, designs on red packets and so on.

Week 11
For my proposed idea for my final project, Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul said that there's a lot of people done and do similar works. I can try if I have the confidence to be better. 

Week 12
General feedback: Mr Vinod reminded us to print our poster and one other collateral. The poster can be in A2 size or the same size as the frame we bought, which is 50cm x 70cm. He also suggested to use thicker paper as it could wrinkle easily inside the frame if the paper is too thin. 

Week 13
For my first attempt, Mr Vinod likes the letters 'H', 'I', 'J', 'K', and 'L'. I can use the typeface and move on doing the applications. However, overall the typeface is not good as the thickness of the strokes isn't consistent. Other than that, I restricted myself with the strokes traced earlier on.

Mr Vinod suggested me to write the Chinese calligraphy strokes with the Chinese calligraphy brush in order to understand the strokes and the force that is need to exert. Mr Shamsul also suggested me to use tablet when creating letters.

Week 11
I am kind of anxious as there's a lot of people did similar works for their final project previously. I went to check out the seniors blog and I found 3 people did something that is quite similar, yet not so similar to mine.

Week 12
I am still working on tracing the strokes and I feel a bit stressed out as time is ticking and there's still tons of work to do. Especially Video and Sound Production. I wonder if I have the time to actually sit down and focus on this module.

Week 13
I feel really stress as there's only one week left. Yet, I don't want to rush to finish my work as I know the outcome would be really, and I mean REALLY awful. I foresee next week is going to be a sleepless week.

-----

Week 11
I notice a lot of people is having trouble in having ideas for their final project. At the same time, there's also some classmate's work that is really interesting that makes me wonder how do they even come out with the idea.

Week 12
I observed that there's really more Chinese calligraphy strokes than I imagined. Reference that I found online can't even cover everything. Thus, I think I have to rely more on my understanding towards the Chinese character when working on this project.

Week 13
I notice a lot of people is almost done with their final project. This made me more nervous as I still have lots to go.

-----

Week 11
I found out that how you explain and convey your message to another is really crucial and important. I really need to work on my communication skills more especially when I'm explaining what's in my head.

Week 12
I realized I MUST organize my time wisely and to procrastinate less. Time is ticking and I must work fast, and work smart.

Week 13
I found out that we can use inspirations from other sources instead of just the original source. This would open up to more changes and more innovative.

Handfont, Handwork by BNN

In order to give me some inspirations, I picked up this book from the library as it looks quite interesting. They have a lot of images with analog feel to it. The images, how they put their layout, the image composition and the typeface written, the relationship between them is quite amusing.