Advanced Typography: Task 3 Type Exploration and Application
Chan Zhi-Ren Zenndan / 0369069
Advanced Typography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's UniversityType Exploration and Application
Table of Contents
1. Instructions
Document 1.0.1 Module Information Booklet (19/06/2025).
Task 3 — Type Exploration and Application (30%)
For this assignment, I’m applying the typography knowledge and skills I’ve developed so far to create a complete, functional font. There are three options to choose from:
- Design a new font that addresses a specific problem or serves a particular field such as graphic design, animation, or new media.
- Refine and build upon an existing letterform by identifying areas for improvement and enhancing its overall design.
- Experiment with a novel or unconventional approach, using unique materials or formats like 3D, projection, or digital augmentation.
I’ve chosen the second option, where I’m continuing work on the letters I designed in the previous Typography module last semester. My focus is on improving elements like stroke thickness and visual consistency, as well as completing the full uppercase, lowercase, numerals, and symbols to produce a polished, usable font.
Submission requirements:
- Link to download font
- 5 font presentations
- 6 font applications
Fig 1.1 Type construction in Sem 1 (24/06/2025).
Fig 1.1 Type construction in Sem 1 (24/06/2025).
Using the same guides from last sem, I first worked on the uppercase letters as requested by Mr. Vinod.
I made sure the gaps/holes are well-consistent and maintained smooth corner radius values in most letters.
Fig 1.2 Progression check #1 (24/06/2025).
As per Week 10's feedback, I looked at letters that had inconsistent stroke weights and adjusted them.
I resized the bowl of 'B', which automatically helped resize the bowls of 'R' and 'P' as well.
Fig 1.3 Resizing the bowl of 'B' (27/06/2025).
With that change, I started reworking the original set of letters (because I wasn't satisfied with it), and only then proceeded with the remaining letters.
I added gaps to 's', 'c', and 'g' and ensured that the gaps for each letter were consistent and not too narrow.
Fig 1.4 Adjusted first set of letters (29/06/2024)
With that adjusted, I can use that as a base reference to finish up the remaining letters. I also worked on a few numbers as requested.
Fig 1.5 Progression check #2 (01/07/2025).
After Week 11's feedback, I was asked to finish up the remaining numbers and symbols.
Fig 1.6 Finishing up numbers and symbols (04/07/2025).
Once that was done, I watched Mr. Vinod's attached video on how to export letterforms into FontForge.
Fig 1.7 Importing letterforms into FontForge (04/07/2025).
It took a while to import everything properly, and then I worked on the kerning for each letter.
Fig 1.8 Testing strings to adjust kerning (04/07/2025).
Once satisfied, I extracted the font in the OpenType format.
Fig 1.9 Extracted the font (04/07/2025).
Font Presentation
After installing the font on my machine, I started preparing for the font presentation.
Following the sample font presentation (FP) given, I applied the same format.
The first panel highlights the letter that 'stands out' and best represents the font's design.
Fig 1.10 FP panel #1 (10/07/2025).
The second panel shows the font in black and white against a red background, styled to resemble body text usage.
Fig 1.11 FP panel #2 (10/07/2025).
The third panel explores abstract typography through varying font sizes and freeform letter placement.
Fig 1.12 FP panel #3 (10/07/2025).
In the fourth panel, I explore the font's potential within typographic layouts by applying the axial system introduced in Task 1.
Fig 1.13 FP panel #4 (10/07/2025).
The fifth panel builds on the design from the first panel, this time displaying the full alphabet and numerals.
Fig 1.13 FP panel #4 (10/07/2025).
Font Applications
For our font applications (FA), Mr. Vinod encouraged us to participate in HONOR's 'Global Design Awards' competition. We were assigned the 'Standby' category where we design how interface elements appear on the phone's standby screen using our custom font and a provided HONOR phone template.
We are required to create 6 font applications in total.
4 applications are for HONOR’s design competition.
- Clock Design
- Personalized Signature Design
- Overall Visual Design
- Animation Design (Video)
2 applications are for original, intended uses.
- Visual Identity
- Sci-Fi Movie Advertisement
I decided to work on the animation first. I started by creating the background on Illustrator. I decided to only use numbers, as I didn't want the background to complicate and distract the viewer too much.
The idea here is that I tried to connect the numbers to each number
Fig 1.14 Overall design draft (13/07/2025).
After making a draft, I imported the design into After Effects.
Fig 1.15 Aligning in AE (13/07/2025).
Changes in design were made multiple times throughout the process.
Fig 1.16 Animation progress (13/07/2025).
After spending a bit of time on the animation, I moved on to the other HONOR applications. Fig 1.17 shows the provided Photoshop file to apply the design on.
Fig 1.17 Provided Photoshop template from HONOR (13/07/2025).
While working on the Personalized Signature Design application, I introduced a sense of movement to the text.
I felt this enhanced the visual appeal, so I carried this approach through the rest of the designs for consistency.
Fig 1.18 Adding movement (13/07/2025).
With that completed, I moved on to the remaining two applications.
Referring back to Task 2's mockup websites, I chose the following:
Cap — https://mrmockup.com/free-cap-with-patch-mockup/
Billboard Ad — https://mockups-design.com/underground-billboard-mockup/
For the cap, I added textures to achieve the embroidery look.
Fig 1.19 Adding textures (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.20 Cap Mockup application (15/07/2025).
For my ROBOCOP ad, I layered multiple 3D effects and materials over it to achieve the movie's theme.
Fig 1.21 Using 3D and Materials (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.22 ROBOCOP Mockup application (15/07/2025).
With all 5 presentations and 6 applications completed, I prepared them for review in Week 13.
Fig 1.22 Progression check #3 (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.23 HONOR Submission proof (21/07/2025).
Task 3 Final Outcome
The link to download the font can be found by clicking here.
Fig 1.23 Font Information (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.24 FontForge Screengrab (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.25 Font Presentation #1 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.26 Font Presentation #2 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.27 Font Presentation #3 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.28 Font Presentation #4 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.29 Font Presentation #5 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.30 HONOR Clock Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.31 HONOR Personalized Signature Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.32 HONOR Overall Visual Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.33 HONOR Animation Video (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.34 Font Application #1 (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.35 Font Application #2 (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.36 Font Presentation and Applications, PDF format (21/07/2025).
You may try out my font in the text box below. Both uppercase and lowercase letters are available.
3. Feedback
For the cap, I added textures to achieve the embroidery look.
Fig 1.19 Adding textures (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.20 Cap Mockup application (15/07/2025).
For my ROBOCOP ad, I layered multiple 3D effects and materials over it to achieve the movie's theme.
Fig 1.21 Using 3D and Materials (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.22 ROBOCOP Mockup application (15/07/2025).
With all 5 presentations and 6 applications completed, I prepared them for review in Week 13.
Fig 1.22 Progression check #3 (15/07/2025).
Fig 1.23 HONOR Submission proof (21/07/2025).
Task 3 Final Outcome
The link to download the font can be found by clicking here.
Fig 1.23 Font Information (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.24 FontForge Screengrab (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.25 Font Presentation #1 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.26 Font Presentation #2 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.27 Font Presentation #3 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.28 Font Presentation #4 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.29 Font Presentation #5 (17/07/2025).
Fig 1.30 HONOR Clock Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.31 HONOR Personalized Signature Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.32 HONOR Overall Visual Design (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.33 HONOR Animation Video (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.34 Font Application #1 (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.35 Font Application #2 (21/07/2025).
Fig 1.36 Font Presentation and Applications, PDF format (21/07/2025).
You may try out my font in the text box below. Both uppercase and lowercase letters are available.
Week 9
General Feedback: Start showing more of your personality across your e-portfolio. It helps recruiters get a better sense of who you are. When working on Task 3, make sure you're solving a problem. Also think about where your font will actually be used so it makes sense in context.
Specific Feedback: Blog looks fine, just need to update Task 1's submissions properly.
Week 10
General Feedback: The process of designing your font needs to be regularly documented to show proof that there is a timeline/journey of your design.
Specific Feedback: Some strokes appear thicker, particularly those with curves, creating a visual dissonance in weight. Consider reducing the corner radius to make this less noticeable.
Week 11
General Feedback: When working on the symbols, compare with existing fonts and look at things like if the stroke of a bracket ends on or before the descender. For font applications, read up how to participate in the HONOR competition and after that create two other applications that the font was originally intended for.
Specific Feedback: Lowercases are fine, put uppercase and lowercase letters together, finish the punctuations.
Week 12
General Feedback: If you like your designs used in the font presentation, you can use them again in your font applications.
Specific Feedback: Finish up font presentation and applications.
Week 13
General Feedback: Prepare for submission on Week 14, and start on Final Compilation & Reflection.
Specific Feedback: Font presentation and applications seem fine, finish up the e-portfolio.
4. Reflections
Experience
This task was about continuing a font I started last semester, where I had only designed a few letters. For this project, I refined the original set and completed the full typeface. There weren’t any major challenges, and the process felt smooth and enjoyable. It was satisfying to finally finish what I had left incomplete.
Observation
While working on the full typeface, I realised that the letter set I submitted last semester wasn’t as polished as I thought. Even though it was considered final back then, revisiting it showed me that there’s always room for improvement. This reminded me that design is never really “finished” and there’s always something that can be refined.
Findings
Working with both FontForge and FontLab 7 gave me a clearer understanding of the font creation process. FontForge helped me build the structure of my typeface, but using FontLab 7 in the past made me appreciate how important kerning and spacing really are. Comparing the two made me more aware of the small details that affect how a font feels and functions. It also reminded me that the right tools can make a big difference in refining a design.
5. Further Reading
I looked back at Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton (again) to get examples of how typography is used and presented. Seeing different layouts and styles helped me figure out how to show my font in a clear and interesting way. It gave me some useful ideas for designing the UI so the type looks good and works well.
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