Key — Type Face
Typography Spring 2024
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Assignment: Make a modular type face and explore its use through a type specimen sheet. Then, create a place for it to live in the form of food/beverage packaging.
Initial Thoughts
For the modular type, I wanted to create something that felt sleek and bold. The main problem I faced was integrating typographic rules into my own system.
Type Specimen Sheet
For the type specimen sheet, I wanted to explore what my font can do. I created a system that could fit and interlock as if it was a puzzle or a key and lock. The poster is 11" x 17" and uses a cool color palette of reds and blues.
Packaging Design — Lava
Finding a place for this typeface to live felt limitless. I knew I wanted to make packaging for a beverage, more specifically an energy drink or alcoholic beverage. I ultimately decided to utilize it for an alcoholic beverage called Lava, a citrus hard soda. I began with sketches and tried to incorporate that same interlocking feel from the packaging onto the poster.
From here, I used a layout that I created in Adobe Illustrator. For drink packaging, I had to find a way to include the volume, alcohol content, nutritional facts, etc. in such a way that it was readable and harmonious with the overall design. I tried two different layouts that offered the use of different color and design elements such as illustrations.
Conclusion
Creating the type specimen Key helped me to understand typographical rules and how to use type as imagery. Understanding the foundations of typography has been able to help me in other areas of design and help me understand the importance of systems. Systems in design are a way to create cohesion and order which can be applied to branding. Overall, Key is a project I am very proud of, and it was a learning experience that helped me become a better designer.
