Unit 1: Methods of Investigation: Implementing font and expanding visually 

Having illustrated my handmade font, inspired by my illustrative investigations, I wanted to implement this typeface in to a more illustrative designed artefact – based on feedback from my tutor group. In order to do this, I began by arranging my typeface into vector graphics SVG files – seen below.

It was initially my intention to export these files as a .ttf font file, which could then be distributed and used as many other fonts can be. However, as seen below, FontForge could not process the number of points and texture for each letter to export to a compressed .ttf file, and so, in order to maintain the visual integrity of these graphics I chose to keep them as SVG files to implement in to designs.

From here, in order to streamline the design process, I chose a direction and an identity that these designs would take on. As this project was primarily about investigating and observing space, the outcome was intended to reflect the space back on itself, and involve a spatial community in the observing process. In order to initiate this, I intended to design a series of coasters which could be quickly placed in the space itself, and initiate conversations between customers of The Good Mixer.

I began this by taking colours from my photographs to bounce off, and laying out my type to be further experimented with.

I then used Adobe Illustrator to distort, overlay, and manipulate my type in a series of experiments. Overlays and layering were a primary point of interest in these designs, as a significant observation at The Good Mixer was the nature of overlapping conversation and isolated moments.

The most successful of these was then overlayed with blurred block colour, intended to visually communicate the interaction of light between outside areas and the windows of the pub itself.

Having received feedback stating that this work would be most successful with the continued implementation of my illustrations, I took the vector versions of these illustrations, and overlayed them in to the typography design. They were then repeated in a variation of colour and size, to further emphasise the nature of overlapping conversation and experience found in The Good Mixer.

Having created an outcome (above) that I felt was ultimately successful in communicating my experiences of observing and investigating at The Good Mixer, I applied this technique to some of my other organised sketches, producing the outcomes seen below.

I felt that this was an ultimately successful series, however wanted to further expand on my visual outcomes with variation of colour, lighting, and texture. In order to do this, I took these experiments in to Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, and adjusted these elements until I felt they were indicative of the different experiences found, depending on time of day, day of the week, or location within The Good Mixer.

This resulted in four series of four designs. While these designs were, commercially speaking, potentially too maximalist to be considered ‘Good’ Graphic design, this series speaks to my own experience of investigation at The good Mixer. Each set of four designs can be seen below.