Advanced Typography: Task 3 Type Exploration & Application

10.06.2025 - 22.07.2025 ( Week 8 - Week 14)

WANG JINYI / 0374697

GCD61004 / Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 3 / Type Exploration & Application


TABLE OF CONTENT

LECTURES

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK

FEEDBACK


FURTHER READINGS


LECTURES

Lectures have been completed in Task 1.


INSTRUCTIONS

Fig 1.1 Advanced Typography Module Information Booklet | PDF


TASK 3:EXERCISE

Proposal

In task 3, we are to create a font based on:

  • Create a font that is intended to solve a larger problem/ part of a solution in the area of your interest.
  • Explore existing letterforms in an area of interest.
  • Experimental design.

fig 2.1 Proposal Slides PDF, Week 8

Ideas and Digitization

Designing a Typeface Inspired by Botanical Calligraphy 

After feedback from Mr. Vinod, I decided to design a typeface inspired by Botanical Calligraphy.

Fig 2.2 Wordmark design, Week 9 (17/06/2025)

The initial version was too thin and had too many decorative curves, which affected readability. After receiving feedback, I simplified the shapes and adjusted the stroke weight to make the font look cleaner and more balanced.

Fig 2.3 Digitized (Uppercase, lowercase letter, numerals & punctuation) process,Week 10 (24/06/2025)



Fig 2.4 Design Process, Week 10 (24/06/2025)

FontLab 8

I import all the letterforms from Adobe Illustrator to FontLab 8. This stage involved adjusting side bearings, kerning, and making sure all letters aligned with the correct baseline, x-height, and cap height. I also worked on punctuation and numerals to ensure they matched the overall style. After several rounds of testing and corrections, the typeface achieved the elegant and modern look I envisioned.

Fig 2.5 Imported letterforms, Week 11 (01/07/2025)

Fig 2.6 Uppercase spacing, Week 11 (01/07/2025)

Fig 2.7 Lowercase spacing, Week 11 (01/07/2025)

Fig 2.8 Numerals spacing, Week 11 (01/07/2025)

Fig 2.9 Punctuation spacing, Week 11 (01/07/2025)



Font Presentation

I created a color palette for my font presentation.


Fig 3.1 Color Palette, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

Fig3.2  Font Presentation Process, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Final Font Presentation

Fig 4.1 Font Presentation 1, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 4.2  Font Presentation 2, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

Fig 4.3  Font Presentation 3, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

Fig 4.4 Font Presentation 4, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

Fig 4.5 Font Presentation 5, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

Font Application

I imagine this kind of font would be used in high-end luxury brands and stylish places because its style is very elegant. I named the font "AESTHETICA". For my solo art exhibition , I have selected the mockup models such as billboard, light box, citylight poster, paper shopping bag and pin buttons.

1. Billboard mockup

Fig 5.1 Billboard mockup design layout in PS, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 5.2 Billboard mockup, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

2. Citylight poster mockup

Fig 5.3 Citylight poster mockup in PS, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 5.4 Citylight poster mockup, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

3. Light box sign mockup

Fig 5.5 Light box sign mockup in PS, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 5.6 Light box sign mockup, Week 12 (08/07/2025)

4. Pin button mockup

Fig 5.7 Pin button mockup in PS, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 5.8 Pin button mockup,Week 12 (08/07/2025)

5. Paper shopping bag mockup

Fig 5.9 Paper shopping bag mockup design in PS, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Fig 5.10 Paper shopping bag mockup, Week 12 (08/07/2025)


Final Font Application


Fig 6.1 Font Application 1, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 6.2 Font Application 2, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 6.3 Font Application 3, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 6.4 Font Application 4, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 6.5 Font Application 5, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


HONOR Talents Global Design Awards 2025 

Fig 6.6 Font Application 1: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)

Fig 6.7 Font Application 2: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)

Fig 6.8 Font Application 3: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)


Task 3 Final Outcome Compilation


Fig 7.1 Finalized letterforms PDF, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

 
Fig 7.2 Font Presentation 1, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 7.3  Font Presentation 2, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.4  Font Presentation 3, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.5 Font Presentation 4, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.6 Font Presentation 5, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.7 Font Presentation Compilation PDF, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 6.1 Font Application 1, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 7.8 Font Application 2, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 7.9 Font Application 3, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 7.10 Font Application 4, Week 12 (11/07/2025)


Fig 7.11 Font Application 5, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.12 Font Application Compilation PDF, Week 12 (11/07/2025)

Fig 7.13 Font Application 1: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)

Fig 7.14 Font Application 2: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)

Fig 7.15 Font Application 3: Honor Talents Awards 2025, Week 13 (17/07/2025)

Fig 7.16 Font Application Honor Talents Awards 2025 PDF, Week 13 (18/07/2025)


FEEDBACK

Week 9

General Feedback: Mr. Vinod felt that my first idea — “Botanical Calligraphy” — has potential and is worth developing further. 

Specific Feedback: He advised me to continue exploring and refining the concept. The goal is to create a typeface that blends natural botanical elements with a modern and clean aesthetic, ensuring it reflects both organic inspiration and contemporary design sensibility.


Week 10 

General Feedback: Mr. Vinod said my uppercase letterform designs are acceptable at this stage.

Specific Feedback: He reminded me to pay attention to the artboard size and font scale, as the current canvas might not match the proportions well. He also suggested increasing the overall stroke weight, as the current type appears too thin and visually tiring to read.


Week 11

General Feedback: Mr. Vinod noted that my lowercase designs need refinement to improve readability and functionality.

Specific Feedback: He pointed out that there are too many unnecessary curls and decorative elements in the lowercase letters. To ensure better legibility, he advised me to simplify the lowercase characters, as well as some special symbols and numerals, to make the overall font more practical and clean.


Week 12

General Feedback: Overall spacing and alignment need refinement.

Specific Feedback: Mr.Vinod adjusted some letter spacing and advised me to check spacing, height, and baseline for all letters and punctuation.


REFLECTION

Experience

Designing Aesthetica was a challenging but exciting process. At the beginning, my letterforms were too thin, so I had to adjust the overall weight to achieve better readability. Making the uppercase and lowercase consistent in stroke thickness turned out to be one of the hardest parts. It required a lot of fine-tuning with grids and guidelines. I spent countless hours adjusting height, width, and spacing for every character, testing and refining them over and over again. Creating punctuation marks and numbers was another tricky stage because they needed to feel like part of the same family. Finally, applying the font in mockup designs helped me see how it works in real-world contexts, which was both rewarding and eye-opening.

Observation

I realized how every detail in type design matters. Even the smallest misalignment in spacing or baseline could make the whole font feel unbalanced. Using grids and consistent reference lines was essential for keeping proportions right. I also observed that punctuation and numerals can easily look out of place if they don’t follow the same rhythm as the letters, so I had to give them extra attention. Seeing the font applied in mockups gave me a new perspective. It showed which details worked and which needed more refinement.

Findings

Through this project, I learned that type design is not just about drawing letters; it’s about creating a system where everything works together. Consistency in weight, spacing, and proportions takes time and patience, but it makes a huge difference in the final result. The biggest lesson for me is that testing and iteration are key — every round of adjustment brought Aesthetica closer to the elegant and modern style I envisioned. This process also taught me how important it is to think about how a font will be used in real designs, not just how it looks in isolation.


FURTHER READINGS

Fig 8.1 Typography Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Working with Type

Reading the first section, “The Letter,” completely changed how I see typography. I used to think it was just about choosing fonts, but these principles showed me that individual letters can be powerful design elements.

Principle 1 taught me to treat letters as forms, not just symbols, while Principle 2 opened my eyes to the beauty of counter spaces, those hidden areas that shape the overall design. I also realized how details define personality: as Principle 4 explains, a serif can feel elegant, while a slab serif projects strength.

I found Principle 6 especially relevant to digital design, reminding me that typography should adapt to its medium. And Principle 8 on handmade type made me appreciate the warmth and individuality it brings in a digital era.

Principle 25 reinforced that there are no absolute rules, context and purpose matter most. This reading encouraged me to see letters as creative tools, helping me approach future projects with more intention and confidence.



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