OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
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Simplex Typeface
Brief
Deliverables
The brief is to create a fully usable typeface which is contemporary, professional and clean in design. The typeface is to have variations in weight and style and must include numerals and a series of glyphs.
Fully usable typeface Typeface specimen publication
Emily Lodge
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
Initial Research With the initial starting point to this brief being to create a slab serif typeface, I looked into pre-existing slab serif typefaces to give myself a clear idea of what style of letterforms I wanted to move forward with. With a large collection, I went about editing these down to select the elements of characters which I liked and disliked. This way it will help me decide how to go about creating certain characters in my own typeface.
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Emily Lodge
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
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Existing Typeface From the research, I set about creating this initial typeface. The main use of this was to be used in my own self branding, and to create something contemporary and readable, mainly for headings. This existing typeface started as hand drawn, created to a grid. Experimentation with the letter width and serif style was done, with a focus on a slanted serif, before a decision to move forward with a straight serif for usability reasons. The serifs are all on the outside of the characters, giving a unique appearance.
When digitised, refinement was done to create a more consistent appearance, and numerals and glyphs were added. Small flourishes are made in the ‘Q’ and ‘R’. The ‘M’ and ‘W’ middles also stop half way. These elements create a more individual appearance for the typeface and differentiate it from those which are already out there.
Emily Lodge
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
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Updating The Typeface Taking the already existing typeface, refinement was clearly needed to create a more consistent and professional appearance. The typeface was simplified down to a sans serif and to a thinner weight so the main focus could be on the letterforms with inconsistencies not hidden by the serifs. Each letter was created to the same grid, however it became clear that working to the same measurements for the widths of every letter was not necessary or working well, with some letters looking uneven.
In taking each individual letterform into account and changing their widths, the overall typeface moved towards looking much more fluid. The lowercase was also added following this same structure.
Emily Lodge
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
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Emily Lodge
Numerals, Glyphs & Foreign Letters
Variations
Weights
Following the completion of the base typeface, the numerals were updated to follow the same structure and decisions made when editing the individual characters before. The width of the numerals was changed to create a thinner and more sophisticated appearance. A variety of glyphs and foreign letters were also added to create a fully typeface.
With the completion of the entire base typeface, style variations were added. As the original intention was a slab serif, this style was added. A rounded style was also added. These variations show the versitility of the base typeface.
Four different weights were also added, making the typeface fully versitile in its uses. The thickest weight is designed to work with the All Caps setting, but can still be effective in lowercase as well. The two thinnest weights are designed to be used for body copy and smaller text, with the two larger weights to be used for display and heading text.
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
Simplex Typeface Publication To display the entire range for this typeface, a specimen publication was designed. This shows all characters, variations and weights in different situations to show the versitility of the typeface and how it can be used.
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Emily Lodge
OUGD603 - Brief 15: Simplex Typeface
Project Expansion Expansion of the specimen publication would consist of posters and a pack which shows how the typeface can be used and how it was designed.
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Emily Lodge