Medici
Medici is a display typeface inspired by the mind and achievement of Galileo Galilei.
PROBLEM
This project is about the experimentation of letter form/structure and conceptual type style design. We set a strategical development of a promotional application package for a font foundry (company) as a hypothesis project. Create a typeface based on research, analysis, and experimentation of fundamental lettering principles. You are encouraged to enhance your creative thinking process for letter design and visual identity design. Your draft typeface should emphasize symbolic and meaningful representations of a person or his/her work's characteristics.
Based on visual principles and anatomy of letter form and book design as a verbal and visual communication media, explore the expression of the identity of a famous figure and their works using a range of communication forms based on a letter structure. Translate an abstract idea or image (characteristic) of the person into visual form, making an obvious and powerful communication vehicle. Realize of hierarchy and symbolism in visual communication. Find a way to make a planned structure of a page, and develop the ability to produce a complex composition.
SOLUTION
Medici is a display typeface inspired by the mind and achievements of Galileo Galilei. The deliverable consisted of a finished, useable typeface, as well as a few elements of design collateral: a 6x9 specimen book printed and bound, a large format poster, and t-shirt design. Compositionally, interdependency of shapes, and vast use of negative space throughout the project allowed for the essence of the deep night sky allegory to be conveyed through concept.
All for the Concept...
The letterforms were designed outside of a traditional type module, instead experimenting with a radial grid module to design each letterform out of specific characteristics of several letter groupings. Rigid base shapes form the structural foundation of the letterforms, while complimentary accent shapes inform the eccentricity of Mr. Galilei's tenacity with his findings. Spontaneous as it may seem, each "orbital" motion of dots follows a very specific path, counter-balancing the forms themselves as planetary satellites would. I imagined a way each satellite would be bound by its parent shape as it fell continuously in motion.
Letterforms
I started with A, B, and C. Unorthodox as it is for designing a typeface design system, the first three letters of the alphabet had the 3 of the major letter grouping structures I needed to capture the mood and structure of the typeface, and they'd later come to staple its legibility as a display typeface.
letters are grouped by base structures.
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Type Specimen Book
The type specimen book acted as a vessel to describe the typeface anatomy in greater detail, and explicate the conceptualization of the entire project. The book spreads are laid below.
20 x 34 Poster
The poster was designed to be easily recognized as a part of the set of design materials.
T-Shirt Design
The shirt required a wraparound design element engaging both sides. I perpetuated the idea with these constellations engaging the would-be viewer.
Craft
Some images of conceptual development, from the abandoned 3-dimensional components.
creating a perfect-binding for the specimen book.
book production.
an idea of how mechanical tools inspired letterform design.
and a glimpse of the work that inspired me!
Special Thanks: Chang Sik Kim
Chang, thank you for all of your guidance and direction.
and a thank you to Mr. Galileo!
