Typography | Task 3: Type Design and Communication
Typography | Task 3: Type Design and Communication
|| 6/6/2025 – 7/19/2025 (Week 8 – Week 12)
|| BAI ZHUO QING, 0370042
|| Typography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylors University
|| Task 3 / Type Design and Communication
|| BAI ZHUO QING, 0370042
|| Typography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylors University
|| Task 3 / Type Design and Communication
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
3. Process Work
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
6. Further Reading
1. Lecture：
Typo_Task 3A Typeface Construction (Shapes)
First, in the font construction stage in Illustrator, we created a 1000pt ×
1000pt artboard as required and drew a 500pt × 500pt square as a reference
for the x-height. Then, based on the baseline of the selected font, we used
the Ruler tool to draw the Ascender Line, Cap Line, Mean Line, Baseline, and
Descender Line. By using the [Ctrl+Y] shortcut key, we can freely switch
between the Preview mode and the Outline mode to check the accuracy of the
letter shape. This part of the exercise helped me establish an understanding
of the font structure proportion and baseline consistency, and also allowed
me to master the skills of how to use basic graphics to construct font
shapes.
Typo_Task 3A Typeface Construction (Strokes+Brush)
In the stroke and brush construction section, we further learned about the
details of the font, including how to use the brush tool to adjust the
thickness of the strokes to make the font more personalized and unified. At
the same time, this session also emphasized the fine-tuning of the sketch
after digitization to ensure that the final font has visual consistency and
clarity.
Typo_Task 3A_Illustrator to Fontlab5 Demo
Afterwards, we learned how to import fonts designed in Illustrator into
FontLab for further development. Although we actually used FontLab 7, the
teacher also provided a tutorial for FontLab 5 as a supplement to help us
understand the basic logic.
Typo_Task 3A Illustrator To Fontlab7 Demo
In FontLab 7, we learned how to set the side bearings for each letter,
adjust the letter spacing, and export the font file for use. This process,
while highly technical, is a critical skill for type designers.
Typing Task 3A (optional) - Previewing and typing fonts on Blogger
Finally, as an optional content, we also learned how to display our font
works through the Blogger platform. The video demonstrated how to embed the
font preview in the form of HTML into the electronic portfolio blog, so that
we can present the font results more intuitively.
2. Instructions：
3. Process Work：
TASK 3：Type Design and Communication
Research
First, before I completed the font design, I looked up some information
to help me better understand and learn the basics of font
typography.
1.Five reference lines：Ascender Line, Cap Line, Mean Line,
Baseline, and Descender Line.
2.Serif and Sans Serif
I prefer the style of sans serif fonts to serif fonts.
3.Letter Deconstruction
First I used Adobe Illustrator (canvas size: 1000pt x 1000pt) to analyze:
ATGB
SKETCHES
We need to use three pens of different sizes and widths to write
different styles of fonts on graph paper, such as broad-edged pens,
soft-tip pens, and fountain pens.
After giving Max the basic direction, I used Adobe Illustrator to
design the fonts.
Digitalization
First time using Adobe Illustrator to create digital typefaces：
I then gave it to Max for review and suggested that the line thickness
should be kept consistent, and then I made some changes.
Next, I followed the video tutorial to import my font into FontLab for digitization and further refinement.
and balanced look when the letters formed words.
Once the font was finalized, we exported and installed it to our computer and began poster design.
FINAL：
1.Font download link：https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sc0aNDKIfvu7bFjnWECBgamRzR6sB-WF/view
2.Initial sketch:
4. Final Type construction in AI JPEG
5. Final Type construction in AI PDF
6. Final JPEG A4 black and white poster（JPEG):
7. Final JPEG A4 black and white poster（PDF):
4. Feedback：
Week 8：
General Feedback：
This week, Max explained the basic structure of English letters in font
design, especially the five key reference lines: ascender, cap height,
x-height, baseline and descender. At the same time, he also suggested
that we refer to font examples on the Internet to understand different
writing styles and structural characteristics, so as to broaden our
understanding and ideas of font design.
Specific Feedback：I gave Mr. Max my initial sketch to
review and he suggested some changes.
Week 9：
General Feedback：
At the beginning of this week's class, Max explained the specific
requirements of Task 3 again and provided feedback on each student's
font sketch. He also pointed out common problems in everyone's
design.
Specific Feedback：
My design is generally okay, but some letters do not seem to be in
the same series and need further improvement
Week 10：
General Feedback：
This week, Max emphasized the importance of documenting the
entire design process, which not only demonstrates the
originality of the creation, but also helps to review and
optimize our design ideas. Under his guidance, we officially
began to convert hand-drawn sketches into digital fonts in
Adobe Illustrator.
Specific Feedback：
I gave the first version of the digital font to Mr. Max
for review. Mr. Max pointed out that the lines of my
letter shapes were not uniform enough and needed to be
modified, and guided me on how to modify them.
Week 11：
General Feedback：
This week, our focus shifted from Adobe Illustrator to FontLab
7. Max demonstrated how to import the designed letters into
the software and explained the basic steps and considerations
for converting glyphs into usable fonts.
Specific Feedback：
After finishing the letter designs in Illustrator, I
successfully imported them into FontLab and started
adjusting the spacing between letters. Max reminded me to
pay special attention to the kerning and side bearings of
the characters to ensure the consistency and visual balance
of the overall typesetting.
Week 12：
General Feedback：
This week we continued to work on the typeface in
FontLab. After fine-tuning the letter spacing, we
exported the font and installed it on our computer for
real-world testing.
Specific Feedback：
The overall design is very good and the import into AI was also
smooth.
5. Reflection：
Experience:
In this font design project, I not only mastered the basic knowledge of
font structure, but also practiced the complete process from hand-drawn
sketches to digital presentation for the first time. Although some small
mistakes were inevitable during the operation, I felt a sense of
accomplishment when I saw the font gradually take shape and gradually
acquire personality. It is exciting to be able to design your own font. It
has aroused my stronger interest in font design and made me confident in
more complex design tasks in the future.
Observation:
Throughout the process, I gradually realized that designing fonts is not
just about art creation, but also a job that requires rigorous observation
and technical thinking. For example, the height and width of the letters
must be consistent to maintain the overall style of coordination, and
these subtle differences in proportion are often overlooked in my previous
studies. In addition, I also deeply understand the importance of the
contrast between the thickness of the strokes. If there is a lack of
contrast between the strokes, the overall font will appear dull and lack a
sense of rhythm.
Findings:
Through this project, I not only learned the design process of fonts, but
also truly understood the logic and artistry behind fonts. This process
made me understand that good fonts are not the product of random smearing,
but are based on repeated deliberation and continuous modification. This
project not only laid a solid foundation for me, but also inspired my
passion and motivation to continue exploring font design in the future.
6. Further Reading：
Picking up where I left off last time: "I.D.E.A.S Computer Typography Basics" by David Creamer.
Special Styles
Through studying special styles such as underlining, small caps, and all
caps, I understood how subtle stylistic adjustments significantly impact
readability. Specifically, I recognized the importance of proper
underline placement to prevent visual interference, as well as the
limited and strategic use of all caps to maintain legibility.
Special Styles
Through studying special styles such as underlining, small caps, and all
caps, I understood how subtle stylistic adjustments significantly impact
readability. Specifically, I recognized the importance of proper
underline placement to prevent visual interference, as well as the
limited and strategic use of all caps to maintain legibility.
Text Scaling
Examining text scaling methods provided valuable insights into
typography's nuances. I realized the necessity of selecting true condensed
or extended fonts instead of applying artificial horizontal or vertical
scaling. This practice preserves the integrity of font designs and
enhances visual harmony.
Outline and Shadow Effects
Learning about outline and shadow effects increased my awareness of the
risks associated with their misuse. I recognized that overusing these
effects can create visual clutter and clichés, detracting from the
text's clarity and readability.
Character and Word Spacing
The exploration of kerning and tracking significantly improved my
understanding of effective typographic layout. Adjusting spacing between
characters and words is essential for achieving optimal readability,
visual balance, and aesthetic appeal. This knowledge will allow me to
enhance the professional appearance of text layouts effectively.
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