This is one of the typefaces I created. This blog will tell everything there is to tell about this typeface. Why, what, how. To give you an insight in the process.
This graffiti-ish typeface I made was something I’ve done a long time ago. I used the same sort of letters for a diary design. I painted the letters on to the cover. I probably still have the sketches somewhere at home (The Netherlands). But the main thing is, this was the perfect opportunity to try it again and to make it even better than I can remember.
I started drawing as you can read in my first and second blog about this typeface. And I got pretty stuck with it. I decided to try to make it digital. I uploaded the photos in Illustrator and created a vector based typeface. When I was working on the font digitally I realised this technique was way faster than to keep drawing. So, I kept working on it in Illustrator.
I wanted to give this typeface a sharp but clean look. It doesn’t have to be very good readable as it is more for art than for publishing. I kept in mind that it would look best as a poster or framed rather than on a book cover or something similar.
Art, art
It took me some time to create this poster. The letters had a particular alignment. I was trying to find the right alignment so that it would empower the typeface. I looked for some inspiration online but nothing looked similar to this font. So I experimented. When I thought that I created the right angle, I repeated the word ART. It gives some dynamic and movement to this typeface and it looks really strong.
Be an Artist.
Again, I kept in mind that I want to use this style as artistic. So posters, frames etc. I mocked up my Illustrator file as posters to show how it would work in this context. I like this way of presenting work. I will probably print my work out on a big sheet of paper, and hang it somewhere or frame it for in my house.
Alphabet
The last thing I had to create was the alphabet. That took me some time to be honest. I only had done some letters and to create the whole alphabet brought me back to basic again. I had to think of how I would present it, how the letters will look all the same (same style). And then there were the lowercase letters. That was a big challenge. On this picture you can’t really see it, but I used a thicker line on one of the sides and thinner lines on the other sides of the lowercase alphabet.
I looked for inspiration on Pinterest and Google to see how graffiti artists designed their alphabets. I was doubting if I would keep some space between the letters or to stick them to each other. I chose the last one because the graffiti artists did use this. I liked it because it looked like all the letters were connected and with this typeface is looked very cool.