Design Translation · 2006

Letterform

This project changed how I see typography. It pulled me into the processes of type designers.

Subject
Typography
Letters
H, E, A, n, o, p, e, i, x
Material
Paper drawings with pencil notes
Date
2006/05/12
The letters H, H, E and A in heavy black type on white paper

Finding H

Find my H, while some sketches look like I.

A wide H drawn in thin pencil lines
A tall H in thin black strokes with a thin crossbar
A very narrow H, two thin stems close together
A wide black H with a thick crossbar
A narrower black H with a short crossbar
A heavy black H with stubby stems and a thick crossbar
A black rectangle with small notches at the top and bottom
A black rectangle with small tabs at its corners
A wide black block split by a thin vertical gap
A slanted black block split by thin diagonal gaps

Counter space brightness

A black H with handwritten measurements above it
A black H on white paper
A black H with an arrow and the note 33.5 in pencil
A black H with a crossbar slightly above the middle
A black H with a crossbar slightly above the middle
A black H set lower on the sheet

Crossbar height

A black H with a small pencil note beside it
A black H with the notes 5 mm, 1 mm and 31.5 in pencil
A small black H with two pencil strokes below it
A black H under pencil notes reading .25 pt and space ± 3 pt, with a question mark
A small black H between two thin guide lines

Space between H and H.

Two black Hs with a wide gap between them and a pencil mark above
Two black Hs set close together
Two black Hs with a column of pencil numbers, -.5 to -2, above the gap
Two black Hs with a medium gap between them

E and A

Letterform E from the optical rectangle shape, then letterform A from the rectangle triangle shape.

Letterform E from the optical rectangle shape.

H, H and E in black, with a question mark in pencil by the E
H, H and E with pencil arrows beside the arms of the E
H, H and E with pencil marks above the letters and a white gap in the E
H, H and E with handwritten notes on vertical, horizontal and letterspace values
H, H and E with pencil tally marks beside the E
H, H and E with the pencil note horizon weight 30
H, H and E with a 1 mm pencil note beside the E
H, H and E with a 0.5 mm pencil note below the E
H, H and E with the pencil note horizon weight 31
H, H and E with a handwritten note and three numbers beside the E

Letterform A from the rectangle triangle shape.

H, H, E and A with a pencil measurement under the A
H, H, E and A with the A overlapping the E and a 10 mm note
H, H, E and A with a handwritten note about the height of the crossbar
H, H, E and A with a small arrow above the A
H, H, E and A with small triangle sketches above the A
H, H, E and A with a short pencil note beside the A
H, H, E and A with pencil measurements of 14 and 12
H, H, E and A with pencil measurements of 35 and 14
H, H, E and A with a pencil arrow and the fraction 2/4 beside the A

Lowercase

The first lowercase n

H and n in black with a +10 mm pencil note
H and n in black with pencil measurements beside them
H and n in black with small notes below
H and n in black with pencil notes about the n and the letter O
H and n in black with a boxed pencil sketch of the arch of the n
H and n in black with a small mark in the corner
H and two n in black

The lowercase O and P by the n

The letters H, n, n and o, cropped, with pencil notes about the width of the circle
The letters H, n, n and o, cropped, after reshaping the circle
The letters n, o, h and p in black
The letters o, h, p and e in black, with a pencil mark on the e
The letters o, h, p and e in black with pencil marks below
The letters h, p, e and i in black
The letters p, e, i and x in black
The letters p, e, i and x in black with pencil marks
The letters p, e, i and x in black with a pencil note about reducing weight

Composition

Crafting the ultimate lowercase letterform for optimal spacing and visual balance between counter space and the darkness of the typeset.

Four sheets of paper, each with a small black square at a different place in a pale square
Two sheets of paper covered in rows of small black block shapes
Two sheets of paper covered in rows of small black dashes and dots
A sheet with a grid of small black shapes that shrink toward the bottom
Lines of lowercase letters set in black, made of h, n, o, i, p, e and x

Closing

Every letter is a decision about space.

2006/05/12

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