Typographic Task 3

For the third task on typography I chose the typeface design with which I would develop further into a vector alphabet. I chose the “Lewis Mechanics” as I have named it, sketches as I feel these would be reasonable to create as my first typeface. However from looking at my sketches it was apparent that I had issues in weight throughout the alphabet and therefore I chose one letter to base the width upon the rest. I chose the letter T for this as I felt it has a clear, crisp definition while also retaining a clunky, machine like feel.

Sketches For The Lewis Mechanics Typeface

Before creating each letter on Illustrator I first created the lowercase x. This was used as a guide for where the x-height appears, therefore giving me the median and baseline guides. As I proceeded with my designs I created the ascender height and descender height. These guidelines can be seen in use in my speed video where i created the G. I created the skeleton for the G using the letter D flipped horizontally.

Typographic Task - Part 3 from Nicole H.D.W. Sinclair on Vimeo.

Q Weight Measurements

In order to level the weight out as to be even across the alphabet I used a simple line as a guide to measure the width with. This is demonstrated in this image of my Q. As a stylistic feature on the font I incorporated a circle into each letter where appropriate, with the exception of the letter O. This was also to keep the feel of the inspiration to the font within the apparel.

Legibility Test & Background Variation

Above is a test I made to check the legibility of my typeface. Below you can see my final font, I have also created a few variations to show how it would work on different coloured backgrounds.

White and Grey Backdrops

Final Typeface Design for "Lewis Mechanics"

Overview of Workshop

I found this to be an interesting workshop to take part in and found the process of developing a font takes careful consideration. I enjoyed creating the typeface, however I feel I spent too much time on developing it, though this came out with the above outcome which i feel is successful.

P.S. 28th May - Upon searching for the image which I was inspired by for the above typeface I discovered it was not created by Wyndam Lewis but in fact Edward Wadsworth and is named "Newcastle". In conjunction with this discovery the typeface will no longer be called Lewis Mechanics but Wadsworth Mechanics instead.