Type 38 is a modular design that is designed around a 3 by 8 grid. The restrictive grid system forced me to be creative with designing in such a tight form. It made me understand better the intricacies of letterforms, readability and recognisability. Working in the grid however has created the typeface's unique identity.
This is was a personal project that aimed to better communicate my interests and personality as a designer, out of frustration from the lack of internship offers during summer.
The specimen follows a 3 by 8 design, same as the typeface, with a 3 by 8 grid structure for the content layout. The original grid size is displayed on the front. A neutral grey cover compliments the off white stock inside.
The subsequent pages are meant to best showcase the typeface to the reader. On the right are zoomed in views of the letterforms to show detail and shape.
This page helps to illustrate to the reader the various sizes of the typeface.
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| Tony Brook |
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| Sascha Lobe |
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| Mirko Borsche |
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| Patrick Thomas |
What makes the specimen unique is that each middle page is bespoke to the recipient. Each design is meant to reflect their style of work and content in order for them to better understand how the typeface will work in context.
The last few pages are decorative and are meant to showcase the typeface. The last page features several of the original grids to allow the reader the possibility of drawing their own letterforms.
The specimen comes in a custom envelope, demonstrating a level of effort to get a response from these designers.
The letter double as a decorative piece of design that the recipient can use as a artefact to remember me by.
A response letter was also included to persuade a response from them.
Studios & Designers Identified
Chris Ashworth, Creator Director of then RAYGUN Magazine
- 90s post-modernist approach to typography and editorial design
Mirko Borsche, Founder of Bureau Mirko Borsche
- Experimental typography, editorial and branding
- Previously contacted before
Idea Magazine, one of the first magazines in Japan that focuses on graphic design and typography
- Will be useful for CoP dissertation
Sascha Lobe, Creative Director of L2M3
- Typography, Exhibition branding, signage systems
Hagihara Takuya, graphic designer in Tokyo
- Colour theory, unique graphic compositions, useful for dissertation
MadebyAnonymous, multidisciplinary studio in Singapore
- Exhibition branding, typography
Studio Laucke Sieben
- Experimental typography, Identities, Editorial design
Patrick Thomas
- 'Graphic art', traditional print technique, typography
ZakGroup Office
- Art Direction, Exhibition design, Identities, Editorial
OK-RM
- Identities, Art Direction, Editorial
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| 8vo |
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| MuirMcNeil |
Hamish Muir, Co-Founder of then 8vo and now part of MuirMcNeil
- Experimental typography, technical design, process driven
- Previously interviewed
Tony Brook, Spin Studio
- Identity, Exhibition design, editorial, typography
- Practicing 'modernist' design today
These studios and designers were chosen based on personal interest within graphic design.
For this task, it would be appropriate to create a type specimen for a personal typeface designed during summer. The specimen will communicate my interest in typography, editorial design and my interest in the 'style' of graphic design I want to create.
