A Path to Type

Moved

2011-02-22T19:40:00.003+11:00

Hey everyone,

I moved here! http://blog.davethedesigner.net

Hope you can come by.

AGDA Talk

2009-05-11T22:53:00.000+10:00

I saw Tobias Frere-Jones talk at the Maritime museum tonight. wow. Plus a sweet specimen book. wow. ... fuck yeah.

Be you tiful

2009-04-14T14:38:00.003+10:00

Slowed on posting of late. Taking a break from the typeface for awhile to regain my objectivity about it. Still sketching though, scans to come. Until then, my entry for National Youth Week 09.

B

2009-03-30T16:42:00.000+11:00

Hola!

2009-03-25T22:44:00.002+11:00

Gday everyone. I have some pleasing progress. 9 Characters left (K,k,W,w,X,x,Y,Z,z) until my first roman weight is drafted. Numbers and punctuation too, of course.

More steps forward

2009-03-22T23:45:00.003+11:00

Today I got a big chunk of the upper case done. About 15 letters still remain to get the first draft of the regular weight cut. Trying to get the hang of using a broadnib too.

Rollin'

2009-03-16T01:05:00.005+11:00

Today I spent most of the day recreating grids from The Typographic Grid by Bosshard, published by Niggli, a documentation of some really fantastic grid systems and how they were made, with specific details about the typesetting. Learned heaps, especially about subdivision. Highly recommend it if you can get your hands on a copy.

Lowercase c,y and e have been drafted. That leaves 4 lowercase still to do. This week I hope to get through a substantial chunk of drafting the uppercase. Another sketch page on the side too.

Uppercase rocks up

2009-03-13T01:26:00.003+11:00

Today's changes and additions. Thanks to Thierry who helped with the following.

H and O added (capheight and ascenders tweaked)
r width reduced
dot height and width changed
top of t changed
f arc reduced (just lookin at the jpg now, the terminal needs to be darker)
g bowl altered
s 'leaning to the right' fixed (hopefully)

Lookin forward to getting more done over the weekend.

Welcome some new characters to the family

2009-03-11T22:43:00.003+11:00

Today's progress.

44 letters to go

2009-03-11T02:03:00.003+11:00

G'day, today I began digitising some sketches from my book and I'm really enjoying it so far. Nothing too big/detailed yet, as I'm definitely still deciding on things. I'm trying not to get caught up too much in minor decisions at the moment and just get momentum. Luckily I now know a few short cuts from my last experience. Still drawing in illustrator not fontlab though, gotta shake that habbit. At least this time I'm drawing at the right scale.

On another misc note, check out Kutiman's music. What a talented guy.

Gettin' there.

2009-03-06T22:27:00.004+11:00

First, apologies for not updating, I left my sketchbook at work. So this (the first pic) is the first sight, after a moleskine and a bit, of something I could foresee turning into something worth spending time on (digitally). I hope I can turn it into something worthwhile. The rest of the stuff is just progress bits and pieces.

More to come.

D&AD to Australia

2009-03-02T22:13:00.003+11:00

Just a quick poster idea, a twist on the Design and Art Directors Club logo that eloquently expresses how I and many other designers feel about it. If you don't get it, here's the original

Go Font Urself

2009-02-26T18:15:00.006+11:00

The lovely GO had a few kind words to say over at her blog about the exhibition last night. I had a great time checking everyone's work out, catching up with friends I haven't seen in ages, meeting new people and drinkin' free booze. Thanks for everyone who helped organised it.

It was a great chance to start my experiment, Good Type. It's easy to perceive design as self serving, egotistical even. Design wank. Type nerd. Who cares if it's Arial or Helvetica if I can still read it? Sadly, it's often true.I accept this but it's a point I'm unwilling to concentrate on. I don't have time to write a thesis on the effectiveness of design. It was, however, the spawning moment for the experiment and anyway, you can talk or you can do.

I want see what can be done with type, to achieve good things. So, to start it off, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal will be receiving all profits from the sale of A-Z. Unfortunately I don't know the figure, as the paintings were silently auctioned but I do know it was bid on.

If you're a typographer, type designer or letter lover, this is my challenge to you. Set some Good Type! For those who couldn't make it along, my entry (photo and typography by G.O):

Marblin'

2009-02-25T01:06:00.002+11:00

Obviously inspired by Si, thought I'd have a play, nothing I'm gonna pursue though.

Ahoyhoy

2009-02-22T17:58:00.003+11:00

Things are good. Fell off my bike yesterday in the wet so I'm a bit sore.

OH NO!

2009-02-18T23:41:00.000+11:00

I go you go we go

2009-02-18T19:45:00.003+11:00

Getting busy, hopefully I don't slow down. Today at the cafe.

Allez Allez

2009-02-16T21:44:00.003+11:00

The research continues

2009-02-15T13:02:00.002+11:00

Analysing the key features on some popular typefaces. Some interesting numbers appear around the most unique typefaces like Mrs Eaves and Feijoa. This is an on going database for my reference to check how on par I may or may not be. I think a line has to be drawn however, not to get TOO swept up in the maths and always trust the eye.

HVD

2009-02-14T19:39:00.004+11:00

Happy Valentines Day

Sorry

2009-02-08T22:25:00.003+11:00

I feel shit. I haven't updated in so long. I apologise to the very few people genuinely interested in following what I'm doing, I know there aren't many of you. The truth is I've lost my wind a bit, but things are picking up.

The type sketches I'd been doing stopped because I'd finished my book. I bought a new one and things are rolling again. More scans to come. I'm also part of go font urself, run by the lovely peergroup in sydney, which I've finally started workin on. I don't know if my work will really be up to scratch with the other artists exhibiting.

More to come soon, promise.

I'm out for a month!

2008-09-08T22:24:00.002+10:00

I'll be back soon, I just got a sweet gig as a freelancer and I'm booked every day this month inc weekends. Will report back in October!

The Death of Procrastination

2008-08-22T00:01:00.005+10:00

Gday (if anyone is out there)

I have set in place a timeline and waypoint list that will hopefully let me accomplish completing my first typeface.

By the end of this week I will have decided what type of font I want to create. Serif, sans, display. With how many weights and elements like small caps, uc/lc numerals if needed, ligatures etc. Following that goes:

31/8/8 - Reference material sourcing
19/10/8 (the day before my bday) - Basic alphabet, numerals and punctuation sketches complete
21/12 (about xmas time) - Digitising of the sketches in fontlab done
30/9/9 - Spacing and kerning done with any reiterations of letter forms

The above timeline is based on one weight, if I go for a serif face and I need bold, with sc and all the shibang, I will take longer. If anyone with any experience reads this blog, while laughing happily while I learn the hard way, please chirp in as I need advice. I'm thinking it's probably wise that while I learn font lab and a bit of coding that I undertake a smaller, display type project. That way it isn't such a waste of time.

Anyway! A good video from ILT on how to make auto ligs and discretionary ligs in OTFs here something thats been bugging me, finally I know how.

Sketchbook update

2008-08-16T16:28:00.001+10:00

HERE!

It continues

2008-07-27T13:36:00.003+10:00

So, not many posts have been made. Although I have been sketching my discipline in recording them has lapsed. Basically, not much type design has been done of late but I am trying to go a step backward towards typography. 1. I want to see if I can make a living as a typography specialist, as opposed to a graphic designer and 2. I'm re-reading many of my books on typography as a refresher. Especially the element of style. I believe this will help me a lot as it's been a few years since I have done this and will inform me of what I need to include in a typeface to make it successful i.e titling and old style figures, small caps, the right diacritics and ligatures.

The first job!

2008-07-03T17:22:00.004+10:00

It's basically 95% done! My first type design commission. Modifying a weight of a font and adding a few bits and pieces. Bastardisation really. But I'm cool with that as I learnt heaps along the way and am much more comfortable in fontlab now. Hopefully one day I can be paid to build my own. A satisfying, steeping learning but slightly guilty experience.

The light

2008-07-01T03:40:00.002+10:00

So, upon taking my portfolio around to design agencies expressing a keen interest in type, but also expressing how new to this I am a kind Sydney studio has seen my potential and hired me to do my first type-only job. They know I'm learning, so it's all out in the clear. Basically I've been hired to create a midweight between two weights of an existing font, and to develop some additions to it such a few serifs. The design is not mine, but I am building the font.

It's 3:40am, I've been working all day and I've sent a test for approval. Hopefully all goes well. I have struggled to remove the excess characters that I didn't alter as when I try to export it with the glyphs deleted I get an opentype error. I think perhaps I will look back and laugh at the round about way I did this in. However, I was slightly pinned into it because the alterations and design had already been approved.

My speed and comfort levels in fontlab, and also moving between illustrator and fontlab is so much better now. It's been a great exercise. A bit of a botch job, but a foot in the door.

More sketches coming soon.

Some sketches

2008-06-21T16:23:00.000+10:00

Momentary lapse

2008-06-18T15:10:00.002+10:00

My pen has dried up and I'm too poor to buy a new one. Never the less there has been much sketching done over the last few days. I feel this is perhaps the first instance this blog has saved me from slacking off. I have been quite busy trying to organise what will be my future job arrangement to allow for type design time. I will setting up HQ soon. I will try and scan in my sketches soon, right now I need to do some freelance work and pay the bills.

Structural similarities

2008-06-12T23:10:00.000+10:00

Today, sitting at a cafe I realised that while the artist within me wanted to sketch people, I had just as much fun drawing the letters that surrounded me on the street. On the vans going past, the signs, in windows, the numbers on the buildings, even the specials chalk board hand writing.

On another note, David Ross kindly wrote in to let me know interpolation can be achieved through using python and Robofab in Fontlab. So all hope remains to still work on a PC. Python is a large wall I will need to climb. I'm struggling, I could hardly run the python script to install Robofab, or install python for that matter.

After reading Martin Majoor's Type Design Philosophy I have thought about doing a sans and serif project. Although I feel this is quite a large undertaking for a second project. A smaller, more practical exercise might be to draw a companion serif or sans for a much used typeface that lacks the right partner. The risk of offending many type connoisseurs is frightening though. Research needs to be done here.

Plodding along

2008-06-11T15:45:00.000+10:00

Good day all,

Last night I learnt about class based kerning and the metrics window in font lab and the usefulness of the sketch mode to get those subtle curves that can be hard to achieve. I'm still at a loss as to what my second attempt at a typeface will entail.

I'm annoyed they don't make superpolator for PC. Because unless I do a lot of reading fast, I think I will probably need to end up hand crafting the different weights. Which will probably be a good learning experience though. I doubt it will be worthy of going to market either but I hope I can get something out of so much work.

I think I may have found a way to work, while not making much, but giving me at least 2 days that I can work on type design. If I really need money, I can book them out as freelance. I will announce it when I have more details, but it could be the answer for many people in the same position as me.

I've done more sketching. I have a feeling this is going to give me the most progress as a type designer. After all, it's good and well to build the backend of a typeface, but who cares if the letters are ugly.

Inspirational Words

2008-06-08T17:40:00.001+10:00

Lots of sketching has been done today and after reading this fantastic article I feel inspired but also scared about how little I know. I've always known how much work goes into building a typeface from previous research, but my god am I NOT looking forward to kerning. That's a long way off though. Right now, I'm struggling with creating something unique or original. But perhaps that's not the point. Perhaps the point is to do it WELL and that is original enough.

I have stumbled upon the word Figaro, a very attractive and distinctive name, perfect for a typeface. Then I looked at the origins of it, from the Barber of Seville and the Marriage of Figaro, two very old plays. Then I saw the wonderful names of all the characters. It would be fantastic to build a typeface for each name, Marceline, Antonio, Fanchette, Bartholo. However, someone has already claimed figaro, and in my subjective opinion the font couldn't be uglier. Another one in the stomach! Not the end of the world though.

I'm also still wondering whether what I want to do is possible if I don't quit my day job. I just can't seem to see how I can make a sustainable living while learning this craft or even until I have at least 2 typeface released for that matter. Graphic design might always have to be my bread and butter, not that I mind.

The First Stroke

2008-06-07T15:48:00.000+10:00

After deliberation I decided I must make a commitment, set goals and get this done. Yes that's right, I love type, it's what I eat for breakfast, it's what turns me on but I am also human which means I am lazy. I need to prove my love for type to myself. It's very easy to say you do, almost every designer does. As aluminium on Typophile in this thread eloquently said:

"I have a hunch it’s like being a rock star. Everyone wants to do it, but only a select few make a living at it. But even if you don’t make a living at it, at least you’re enjoying yourself."

So without further delay, this evening I have been reading Leslie Cabarga's book: Learn FontLab Fast. I hope to finish reading it... fast. So obviously, FontLab is the standard type tool. There are alot of buttons, coding, measurements. But I love that stuff. What I've been finding more challenging is transferring my entrenched 6-7 year habits developed by using beziers in Illustrator. I was planning on learning how to create type directly into FontLab to save time, but it's definately going to take an investment to shake these habits. Who the hell puts Redo as Shift+Alt+Backspace?

More soon but for good-byes, some sketches.