Object Typography - Tash Gate

From my previous research on ‘Illustration Typography’ my searches lead me to onto other tangents. One of the things my previous research led me to was Object Typography. I came across this blog ’41 creative alphabets.’ The Blog has a collection of different typefaces created using objects. It has a range of different creations from a variety of sources around the world. The blog includes letters created from things such as, flowers, rubber bands, birds eye views of cities, clothes even a mini-pocket tool. All are quite inventive and much more unique then the regular computer generated type. It is hard to create something today as a Graphic Designer that hasn’t been done before in some shape or form. I think that even just using an object as a basis to draw inspiration from when creating the form of a new typeface will give it some individuality.

Origami Alphabet Emma Downing

This is one of my favourite creations from the blog. It’s an alphabet created by Emma Downing from Origami paper folding. The artist used A4 sheets of card and folding them to create the forms of each individual letter. Once the basic shapes were worked out Downing’s process speeds up.

Working in this manner would be quite different to how typographers normally develop their fonts. They develop their fonts to maintain a continuity through-out, where they group letters together such as, bcdepq and mnru, which include some of the same forms. They work off the same basic forms through out to create a much more unified typeface. Using an object to create your letters will restrict you from using those conventional techniques, however even though the artist was unable to do this the typeface still maintains a continuity about it with it’s geometric, angular forms, restriction of round edges and folded corners. Following her creation she has produced to book to teach people how to make these letters themselves.

Take a seat and say something Amandine Alessandra

This is another series from the blog that caught my attention. Mainly because I made a typeface inspired by the form of a chair before. However even though they have used the form of the chair to create it as well both typefaces are still quite different. This font however is not as cohesive or readable as the previous font, but it is more inventive.

This typeface is created from a series of images of a chair where Amandine Alessandra has revealed and concealed parts of the chair. It’s interesting because when looking at it now you can tell it is the alphabet. However if you were to look at one of these images on it’s own you would see it as a meaningless installation. You would need to put the letters together to make words to by understandable.

            

These aren’t the kind of typefaces you could use like the standard typefaces you are given to use in Microsoft Word. They are unique and are to be seen as an art piece and to be appreciated on it’s own. So either just showed as an alphabetic series to appreciate it for it’s visual qualities. Or to improve a concept, with and object in the design of the letter it could enhance the meaning of a word even further and used in a poster or even just in a title.

Sources:

http://www.sharesomecandy.com/41-creative-and-unique-alphabe-charts.html

http://www.amandinealessandra.com/index.php?/project/take-a-seat-and-say-something/

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/origami-alphabet/136122

Artists:

Amandine Alessandra

Emma Downing