Current exploration: Modular type course (FVS)

Here is the current exploration practice that I have done so far within the modular-type course. Here you will see simple geometric shapes that formulate within a grid staying within 5x5 squares. 

Here is my exploration for this exercise from this course. 

Working practice research by Jordan Jones within the modular type course from FVS.

"Typography is hundreds and writing even thousands of years old. This makes it a very rich field of learning, investigation, and exploration but requires as well a clear focus on YOUR field of interest." (Lorenz,2023).

From what I have learnt so far shapes inform letters when designing a font. Lorenz talks about how "you would never design single letters, but always letter systems that work for every letter, in every word, sentence, and text. The shape of the letter is always influenced by the shape of the other letters and how they work together" (Lorenz,2023).

Whilst going through this course, I came across useful information on the different types of type that are used. One image in particular that I feel is relevant to my current research studies is an image showing a specimen of printing types, by Joseph Fry and Sons, dating from 1785. It visually highlights printed type, what I found most interesting was the fact it showcases both the Latin and Hebrew language from different type design styles. 

Image showing screenshot taken from FVS website of Type specimen by Joseph Fry for Joseph Fry & Sons from the 1780s.

Lorenz goes on to talk about another form of type, display type, which is bigger in size and primarily used for headlines. As the type is seen as much bigger than the body type, there is room for expression within the design making the display type memorable due to its size. This creates a visual connection towards the display type used within visual identity and how it can communicate to a given audience. 

Lorenz provides a great visual example that shows a display typeface that was used as part of a previous project designed by his design agency Twopoints.net. 

Typeface designed by Twopoints.Net for ESPN

What I found rather rewarding here was the informative nature of what display type actually can become and how a font can be a tool to work with. 

Designed by Twopoints.Net for ESPN

The image above visually shows how the display type visually works with the body type. The display type becomes part of the design, making it the primary focus that also gives it a visual identity through the page spread.

Below shows the exploration of using a modular approach from what I learnt from the FVS module on modular type design. 

The examples shown here outline the process of making letterforms within a modular approach. This method of designing letters helped me gain a deeper understanding of the overall shapes and compositions of each letter.

I wanted to primarily focus on the upper case being the main aspect of understanding modular letterforms from the perspective of display typefaces, this is because I am considering whether I should design my own modular typeface to be used within my practice.