Typeface Design - Research
The brief, to design our own bespoke typeface which should effectively communicate my given word, 'Nostalgic'. To make the task a little easier we had to base our choose typeface on one of Müller-Brockmanns classic and lead typefaces - Garamond, Caslon, Baskerville, Bodoni, Clarendon, Berthold, Times, Helvetica, Universe. Essentially I am repurposing individual shapes (letterforms) to work together in endless combinations.
To start with I guessed the best place to start would researching into Müller-Brockmann and his classic typefaces. As this would help me when it comes to creating my bespoke typeface. Josef Müljer-Brockmann was a Swiss graphic designer and teacher, he studied architecture, design and history of art at both the university and set up his own studio in Zurich in 1936. In 1958 he became a founding editor of New Graphic Design along with other curatives. Today he is recognised for his simple designs and his clean use of typography, shapes and colours which inspire many graphic designers in the 21st century.
Garamond //
Garamond is the overall name given too many old-style serif typefaces named after the 16th-century punch-cutter Claude Garamont. The typeface has a few unique features, for one the a has a very small bowl and the e has similar sized eye, this also is part of the old-style that is meant to represent handwritten type with the change in stoke for letter to letter. Garamond is used through a large range of texts books and used a lot for body text because of its ease for reading.
Caslon //
This is known as being the first original typeface of English origin, it is a group of serif typefaces designed by William Caslon in 1700's. Then used in the 18th century throughout the British Empire, following that it was widely used in the early days of American Colonies. The typeface has been revived i few times it most noticeably in the British arts and crafts movement. A couple of design notes about the typeface are, The A has a concave hollow at the apex, the G is without a spur. Caslon's italics have a rhythmic calligraphic stroke. Characters A, V, and W have an acute slant. The italic p, Q, v, w, and z all have a suggestion of a swash.
Baskerville //
A serif typeface design by John Baskerville in 1757,then hand cut by John Handy. This is also considered a transitional typeface. This typeface has more contrast between the thick and thin strokes on each letter, making the serif sharper. Baskerville typeface has continued to be a very popular book design. this typeface is used by University of Birmingham and a modified version is used by the Canadian governments corporate identity.
Clarendon //
This is a whats known as a slab-serif typeface created by Robert Besley for a letter foundry often known as the Fann Street Foundry. Clarendon was considered the first registered typeface this was in 1845. This typeface is used for signage and to be displayed on large objects where it can be see, one of these places that is it is used is the Great Western Railway.
Bodoni //
Designed by Giambattista Bodoni in the late 18th century and then frequently revived since Bodoni's typefaces are classified as Didone or modern, Didone referring too genre of serif typeface. Bodoni took inspiration from John Baskerville and studied the work of French type founders, but he still developed his own style to produce the wonderful typeface that we use today. Bodoni is now used for high fashion brands and fashion editorials as it gives that clean elegant look too a brand/print.
Berthold //
Times //
Times is a serif typeface that was mad for a purpose, this was the British newspaper
The Times in 1931. Victor Lardent was commissioned to design the typeface for the newspaper after the paper was criticised for being badly printed by Stanley Morison.
First printed on the newspaper in 1932 and then put upper commercial use a year later, although no longer used by The Times is a massively used by publishers all over the world, and it now one of the most widely used typefaces in history.
Helvetica //
This is the most widely used sans serif typeface and it hasn't been around for that long, it was designed in 1957 by a Swiss designer Max Miedlinger. The type was created to be simple and not give any impression or meaning, this is what has given it so much success.
Nowadays you see Helvetica everywhere and specially as a design student you pick out where it looks best and where it looks bad, it has been used for signage on the New York metro to the side of planes for American Airlines. The typeface can look almost look good on anything, it doesn't need to be a complicated serif typeface when you can use Helvetica, because it just works.
Univers //
Designed before Helvetica, Universe was completed until 1957. Universe had one of the largest type families with 44 different weights and styles. But universe didn't quite make the impact that Helvetica did, so the designer Adrian Frutiger had been trying to work on it to make it work harmoniously until his recent death.
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My Word - 'Nostalgic'
I have started my research into my word by look at the definitions of the word and what the word means (synonyms), this would then help me when I have to design my typeface as I will be able too make it fit with the word better. I also needed to start thinking about which one of Müller-Brockmann typefaces that I will be using and what will best fit.
Nostalgic Definition -
Adjective -
1.experiencing or exhibiting nostalgia, a sentimental or wistful yearningfor the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation.
2. of or characterized by nostalgiaNoun -
1. a person who indulges in nostalgia
Synonym -
To continue my research I deiced too look at my word in more depth by creating a mind map, doing this I thought of synonyms and other things that relate too my word 'nostalgic'. I took down the definition from the Internet as a starting point and then from there I just mind mapped words and feelings that I related with 'nostalgic', I feel that this helped me a lot because now I have done this I can see what direction I should take my typeface in and how it might look. The next step from this would be too look at images that relate to the 'nostalgic' and then also different type.
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These are some styles of typeface that I found online, I would like to push my ideas in this direction. I like the idea of the signage type and an old style of embossed type that can help reflect the nostalgic feel. As well as looking at typefaces, I looked at Google images this just showed images of nostalgia. These help me to relate more too the word because when you see something visually it bring out the ideas better rather than just thinking about the word and tying to put it on paper.
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Interim Crit - 06/11/2015 - Idea Development
Today was our second interim crit, where we all shared what ideas we have and what direction we are thinking of going in. These cries are very useful for further development of ideas as you are able to get more ideas from others. I started by showing how I had started my research, which was looking at all the different typefaces and seeing how the word 'nostalgic' word best. Everyone agreed with my theory about how my word shud have very elegant feel as when you say the word it should very elegant so therefor a light version of Bodoni enhance the word.
I showed the crit group my initial ideas and what I had changed too a couple of different typefaces, I had also looked at Garamond but I felt that it was too bold and Bodoni worked better for the word. So from this I started too sketching on Bodoni but trying too make it lighter by hollowing it out, too give the idea that you could see though the typeface almost like you are looking back into the past. With the first ideas of the hollowed effect I looked at adding a block part too the empty part of the letters. But this takes away the idea of being able to look though the type and it didn't link enough, which is what everyone agreed with. So from there I took my idea and made it even simpler this time I traced over the top of Bodoni but I used very straight, thin serifs instead of the more rounded style that Bodoni has. I was told the this type of letter is called hand-lettering and Bodoni doesn't have this as on of its weights so this is the right way to go.
After the the crit I decided to take the ideas that I thought worded the best (shown below) and then I started to develop on the type face further, through drawing and through using illustrator. I felt that the typeface would be most effective in lowercase, as of the meaning to the typeface, I wanted it too subtle almost sound like someone is whispering it. As well as this design wise I fell that the lower case looks better and is easier too read.
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Production - 09/11/2015
After the crit last week it enabled me too start my the production of my typeface, I started this by taking my sketches that I had done last week. To start producing the typeface I took the drawings of the developing typeface, and I scanned them in at a high resolution so that every part of the type was notice able.
Once I had this on my computer, I started messing around with 2 different ways that I could produce the typeface, this first was using image trace, I felt this might work as most of the lines were pretty straight and clear too see. As you can see below that this wasn't the case, the type became almost identical to the drawing, not as planned, even when I had created the lines into paths there were too many paths for me to make it look straight and clean so I deiced too move on too a different approach.
My next idea was too use the pen tool, the pen tool is a very useful but difficult to get started with. But I thought that this tool would be most appropriate too use as can do exactly what I want it to do, I wanted my typeface too be a clean and modern looking typeface so I needs to have clean serifs and therefore it would be the best tool too use. To start using the pen tool I made my scan a template on illustrator and locked it so that I couldn't move it around when tracing, then simply traced over the image with the pen tool using a 2pt stoke. I figured out that the less anchor points that you use the better yo;u can create more clean and nicer looking curves and this was exactly how I wanted it. As you can see below using the pen tool was a success and I feel that my typeface has started to become what I want it to be and what I want it to portray.
This was my first go at pen tooling my type, I wanted too see what it looked like when using my word that I am trying to convey, I feel that it suits the typeface and has the strong serif and geometrical design that I am after, next I will produce the full alphabet.
Above is my full alphabet, I have again highlighted the word so that I can look at it and see if it still works, I feel fr this typeface too work the letters can't stand alone they need to be together as they look more nostalgic. Now that I have completed my typeface, I need to start putting together a whole campaign, this will include a type specimen, manifesto and a GIF that will showcase all characters in a different way too the printed style. 
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Final Production - 11/11/2015
Above are my final resolutions, I have produced one type specimen this is a simple preview of my full typeface including glyph's that I have produced in homage to Bodoni. My typeface now has a name, the meaning behind the name - retrograde this means to 'go backwards in time or position' I felt that this was loosely linked to the meaning behind my typeface. As stated before, I wanted my typeface too be a look back at the past and I wanted the empty space in the type to represent memories and the past. So I feel that the word retrograde helps put the typeface into one word, as much as it can. The second specimen I have produced also includes a manifesto that I have created too try and sell my typeface to someone as much as possible, I didn't want it too be overly long as when someone reads something like this they my get bored, so it is short and too the point. I then produced GIF that would show off the typeface in a quick and easy way for digital purposes, I have tried too keep them all user them same style so that they almost come as a pack very similar to the way FontSmith produce type specimen.
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Evaluation - 13/11/2015
Today we had our final crit, this is were we could all comment on each others work and get feedback on our own from peers and tutors. We started our crit by displaying the work out on the desk, I put out everything that I had produced for the final outcome. This was the three pieces of work above, I then asked three questions that I wanted people to answer so the my feedback was more specific rather than just a general 'yeah its good'. Question one was, 'Has my typeface met the objective does my type face relate too the word nostalgic?' every repose to this question got a yes answer, the most common repose was that it was a modern typeface with an old fashioned feel too it which made it feel nostalgic, this is what I wanted too hear, I wanted people too see that I had taken the old typeface and then modernised it. One person identified that the 'hollow' parts could represent memories which was another of my persona aims for this project.
Question two 'Where is the most appropriate place for this typeface to be used?' my idea was that I would see the typeface being used on shop fronts for well known department stores as it could be used to display a new produce or a promotion, aseptically over the christmas period. The feedback that I got back was that It could be used for many things, from magazines like Kinfolk to hit fashion brand and shop fronts. Over all I was pleased with the feedback for this as I felt that I had achieved other aim of the project, although I did doubt myself and think that it wouldn't be strong enough for this but I believe
that it is now.
Question three, 'What could I have changed or improved to meet the objective better?' now this was something that I was keen to know as I did doubt myself a lot in this task whether the typeface was going to represent the word well enough, but it turns out that it is and there were only a few negative feedbacks about my final typeface. The main comment was that maybe that I shouldn't have modernised it as much as I did and it may have lost some of the feel of Bodoni, and I can see this but then I would like too think that I have managed too produce a decent homage to Bodoni and it can be used in the same was for heading type, if not more uses.
Overall this project had been a massive learning curve for me, I have learnt how to produce a typeface from start to finish. When I look back at the start and how difficult I saw this task and I see what I have produced I am happy that I feel the I have met my objective for the whole project. If I had to improve on one thing I would say that I should have produced more development word, I did not produce as much development work as planned but I will learn from this for future projects.
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