We where asked to create a new typeface in illustrator, using only 5 shapes, a circle, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, or a pill shape. I tried some different ideas but in the end I chose to use squares and the pill shape to create my alphabet. I found it quite challenging and at times stressful, especially when some letters just didn’t look right. I did in the end find the challenge enjoyable and I liked that I was made to think outside the box and get a grasp of just what was possible with geometric shapes.
Initially I tried using the geometric shapes of a circle and a square. Having the circle be the background shape and the square being the foreground shape But after creating the “A,B and C” I wasn’t happy with how the alphabet was looking. While it was creative I didn’t think it was very readable, if the alphabet isn’t readable then it seems pointless.
This is when I decided to change tack and instead use a Square and the Pill shape. This time making the Square the background shape and the Pill shape the foreground. I felt the elongation of the pill shape would work better than just using the circle. The letters I am happiest with are “A,B,M,N,T and Y”, I think these came out really well and tie in together nicely. I wasn’t so happy with the letter “Q”, I found this one really hard to recreate in my typeface. But overall I am very happy with my results.
Below is a wireframe diagram of how each letter was created. As you can see I had to change orientation, size and sometimes even cut the shape in half to allow me to create my alphabet. I also relied on over laying the shape to help create new ones.
