Contents
- 1 Throughout my research I made notes of various pieces, practitioners and other bits and bobs which I thought noteworthy. These links then lead onto other areas of more focused discovery, which I’ve made note of on this blog page.
- 2
- 3 Transforming Type by Barbara Brownie:
- 4 The 3D Type Book by FL@33:
- 5 Jonathan Hoefler:
Throughout my research I made notes of various pieces, practitioners and other bits and bobs which I thought noteworthy. These links then lead onto other areas of more focused discovery, which I’ve made note of on this blog page.
Transforming Type by Barbara Brownie:
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Sort of unrelated to typography but an intriguing video of Brownie talking about designing for space ventures. (Clothing etc.)
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That video of Metamorphosis in Fluid Typography.
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Led onto this video regarding Pragnanz, one of the Gestalt Principles.
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Another video mentioned was this Buchstabengewitter by Ingo Italic, in which “Each letter is animated and morphed in vvvv. I tried to push the limits of a readable animated glyph. Each letter can be morphed into any glyph of the alphabet”.
And below, a video by Maxim Ivanov and two by FMK7 respectively. Both were mentioned in the book as examples of fluid typography. Both, truly technically incredible:
A number of web links were mentioned by Brownie also. I’ve listed these below:
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http://www.ekac.org/allholopoems.html (which is kinetic type projected onto a screen).
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https://www.moma.org/collection/works/2724 (this Bauhaus Stencil lettering from Josef Albers is a truly incredible example of how few shapes are needed to created an entire alphabet).
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https://anthology.rhizome.org/death-imitates-language (these wild prints created Harm van den Dorpel who I then watched a video about:
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http://graphiconions.com/design/the-letter-r/ (this example of Construction in Fluid Typography, which actually appears on the cover of the book itself. Annoyingly cant share video as a separate link to appear here).
Colleen Ellis:
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http://www.abseeing.com This interactive website by Colleen Ellis. I loved this project so much, I bought the book and wrote about that here: https://www.aalvkdotcom.com/post/theoretical-research (you’ll need to scroll down a bit).
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I was thinking of writing to Colleen Ellis to ask a few questions about the project:
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Firstly, how it was initially conceived? Something randomly came to her or it was through being out and about? A eureka moment etc.
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What the rest of her practice is like? (Can’t seem to find much info online).
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Advice for students and more specifically a student interested in building a career in experimental design? Studios or freelance…
The 3D Type Book by FL@33:
I sourced a lot of inspiration from this book and I’ve noted down here all the various videos I came across after scouring the web for more information on some of the practitioners:
Marion Bataille:
Who made the genius book, ABC3D. A truly incredible publication that I saw whilst at school. I found more of her recent work:
As well as the original video of ABC3D here:
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Her work is truly mesmerising
Andrew Byrom:
Through The 3D Type Book, I also discovered Andrew Byrom who creates experimental type designs (mentioned in previous posts). I was really curious to know more about his approach to design, and I read much more about it through various blog posts which feature interviews:
(I enjoyed this section taken from the interview linked above, in which talks about how it all started).
“As a student studying typography at the university of east london I developed an interest in finding typographic forms in everyday objects. I’d study things like band aids, road markings drinking straws etc. and find inspiration for digital fonts. at that time I would bring these new forms back to traditional ‘flat’ typeface design. I still always produce a 2D version of my designs – but over the years I’ve started to view the physical objects as the end result”
“The initial breakthrough came when I designed a typeface based a simple chair in my office – almost twenty years ago. after generating the digital font I decided to actually contract the design back into real furniture. I collaborated with a welder and we constructed twenty-six full-size tables and chairs that represented each letter of the alphabet. this project opened up a new area for me that felt unique at that time.”
I watched, also, a couple of TED talks. They’re basically the same but I’ll post both anyway…
What I like about Andrews 3d type work is his ability to place it (at times) in a suitable commercial context. Whether that’s inside an exhibition or as signage or furniture for a university campus.
In each of his videos he talks also (and mostly) about his process This started with his observation that an office chair he owned; looked a lot like a ‘h’.
This then became a full alphabet. It initially started with sketches in 2d and then 3d.
After them he modelled them with the help of a steel technician to create the full set we see here (to the right).
He displayed this work in an exhibition…
This then sparked another idea. He pondered the use of a new material. Neon. And called what was firstly named ‘Interiors’, now ‘Interiors Light’…
A great pun. And equally great work. Interiors Light also featured a 2d version and Byrom this led on to see this 2d face to look quite similar to hand rails we might see in public spaces. So he designed yet another alteration…
What I love about this thread of work, is how his typefaces bread typefaces. The connotations of text seem some what unstoppable. This seems to happen with all his work…
This lettering with an existing grid shape (I think it might have been for storage), is great. Byrom said people kept asking him if they were kites. His response?
Yes. Brilliant.
The email:
Now, the waiting game.
The response:
Encouraging words! I would have asked more about his work, but he has released so much information online (through talks and interviews) about it already. I’ll keep in touch with Type Cube progress though for sure.
Misc:
I’ve also found various bits and bobs of 3d type work off of the internet that I’m a huge fan of…
I read a bit more into the 3D type work of Kellenberger-White and I found interesting, their process for the piece linked above (called Alphabet). I’ve shared images below of the work…
“The site-specific installation “came about through visits to Broadgate and conversations around the space of the site combined with our interest in typography”, explains Eva and Sebastian.”
I really enjoyed this hole punched identity for Goldsmiths I saw on their website too…
Gives me a little wave of my ‘Connect Four Type’.
And this work by Tim Fishlock:
I LOVE these. They are so fresh and crisply painted. Truly incredible.
I’m actually quite keen to talk to this guy too, to ask him how these came to be (what the inspo was) because there is very little written info online. I’m also curious as to why this seems to just be the only time he ever ventured into 3d type. Such a random but lovely set of letters…
The email:
More of the waiting game.
Jonathan Hoefler:
http://www.typeroom.eu/article/paula-scher-jonathan-hoefler-abstract-and-art-design-returns-netflix
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I also watched this episode about Jonathan Hoefler in the second series of the Abstract Netflix series which was EPIC. What I took from this was his sourcing of physical inspiration/research for his work. Super important if you want to create something original. This resonated with me because of all the practitioners I’ve been looking at.
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Which is cool, but I made important note to look at the world first.
