Now that I was happy i’d gathered enough research and analysis I started to sketch ideas for my typeface incorporating features from typographers and design styles I had looked into. I started to sketch letters using elements from art deco and the “New Alphabet” .However I was upset and frustrated with the outcome as I felt it wasn’t portraying enough of a futuristic feel and vibe.
Once I established my theme as sci-fi/futuristic the first thought of what I could incorporate my typeface on that came to mind was to showcase it on a movie poster. So did some research looking at various Scifi/Futuristic film posters to gain some perspectives on the layout of the posters hoping to identify a general trend in style. Also analysing how the typefaces are displayed focusing primarily on positioning and kerning. I noticed that the majority of film titles using this this theme use either wide or tight/compact kerning. The tight spacing used in Tron however I believe is used to express/represent the light cycle tracks from the arcade game and the ” T & R ” portraying the physicality’s of the bike.
Wim Crouwel’s “New Alphabet” created a whole new perspective on the aesthetics of typefaces and how letters could be interpreted from the use of the vertical and horizontal strokes. The typeface, established as a sans serif font was inspired from the cathode ray tube technology and represented its limitations. I find that the typeface has futuristic and sci-fi features to it. The Video game “wipeout” created in 1995 uses a typeface that includes features influenced from the “New Alphabet”, wipeout is a futuristic racing game set in 2053 and the new alphabet influenced typeface corresponds well with the theme and style of the game.
Once I had analysed both typefaces I utilised aspects from both to create my own , I used the same stroke style from the new alphabet and from wipeout the small cubes positioned underneath the text as I thought they added more futurism to the games typeface. Using elements of the combined fonts as well as merging in my own inputs I constructed a typeface using only horizontal and vertical stokes. Finally also including tight spacing between each letter which is evident from studying the new alphabet/wipeout typefaces.
Once set with the brief for the typeface, I made an attempt at drawing out a variety of letters using the principals and methods that had been emphasised by my workshop tutor. The letters we were assigned to make an attempt at replicating were “H, N, O, Y” from a serif typeface. Drawing out the measurements was daunting at first but once I marked out the corners/edges of each individual letter it became a lot more practical to draw out the letters using the markings as a strict guideline. Drawing the “O” was a challenge in itself, which was highlighted by my tutor but I think I made a decent attempt at it.
Ive started to experiment on illustrator trying to create a typeface with a specific theme/style. I experimented with two prominent themes futurism and in contrast old fashioned/retro incorporating elements from art deco. Art deco is my favourite design style and I wanted to use features from the streamline moderne architectural style , I’m specifically talking about those lines we have become so accustom to when analysing the designs. When it came to finding a distinctive old-fashioned/ vintage text I looked no further than the renown “Bodoni” typeface. The font uses a variety of thin and thick strokes which give it an elegant appearance. The fact that the “Bodoni” type is showcased on the front cover of “Vogue” magazine really emphasises the luxuriousness and splendour of the typeface to be on such a sophisticated and classy magazine, which is why both the typeface and style correspond perfectly in my opinion.
I then created a Letter specifically “V” using the Bodoni style whilst incorporating features of art deco but presenting them in a different light, I did this by placing the lines in a variety of angles to create a new perspective. I created my Futuristic/Sci-fi design using inspiration from the “Tron” logo used on the latest film instalment. I tried to embody parts of the logo onto my own title, specifically the imaginative combining of letters as seen with the “T” and “R” , the bond between the two letters looks like it was used to depict the shape of the Tron light cycle. I then went ahead and applied these features , this is the outcome.
Development of ideas:
