Rudy G Typeface
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Fontlab
This typeface was created in response to an assessment brief to create a typeface representing the theme of "symbiosis" for a Typographic Design unit at QUT. I was interested in the interpretation of symbiosis as meaning a ‘close physical association’. Delving into the dynamics of parasitic relationships prompted an exploration of the idea of influence.
Rudy G illustrates the symbiotic connection between the 1980s Club Kids subculture and the substances use. The cultural affiliation with substance use, along with its parasitic impact, played a role in both the establishment and deterioration of the Club Kids' identity. It's namesake - mid-nineties New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Quality of Life campaign demonised nightlife and eradicated a source of income for many of the creatives.
A distinctive visual theme revolved around deconstructive fashion, where Club Kids transformed materials to create garments with a 'disposable' quality - designed to be worn for one night.
I pinpointed materials, textures, and behaviors that could be adapted from Club Kid fashion and design, with a particular focus on concepts like disposable, deconstructed, and dramatic.
Found items such as fishnet, wire, beads, fabric, and duct tape evoke their gritty material and style. Hair, spit, chewed gum, and smoke serve as references to the bodily aspects of the culture. Relationships were established between letters with similar geometric features by emphasizing the fluidity of glyphs with counters and bowls through organic forms - while the rigidity of glyphs without was highlighted using constructed forms. Characters interact in a dysfunctional, but consistent manner.
I collected textural photos and sculpted materials to form the foundations for my letterforms.
