OUGD404 DESIGN PRINCIPLES - STUDIO BRIEF 1 - TASK 1

In my first Design Principles session we had the task of swapping the 3 letterforms we had prepared for the session following the briefing the previous week, and had to write characteristics on each of the different typefaces that we thought was appropriate, then give them back to the person whose letterforms they were and receive our own, and see the verdict. In pairs we then had to choose one letterform from our set of 3 typefaces that we thought fitted the characteristics it was given the best. The typeface I chose was called Kefa, and I chose the letter X because I liked the way one of the diagonal strokes was broken in two at the intersection so it was two separate lines rather than one continuous one. I also liked how not all of the terminals had serif's, which made it more unusual and wonky, which I liked about it, how it wasn't a serif or a sans-serif, but a mixture. 

As a group we then all had to design a new letterform in upper and lower case which used the best features of all our chosen letterforms, giving it a name. Our letterform was called Kefeirville, as it combined Kefa, Courier, and Baskerville.

This was the result. We took aspects from each, such as the slab serifs from Courier, the varying stroke weight from Baskerville, and the irregular stroke from Kefa. 

Following on from this task we then had to think of adjectives that described our new typeface, and choosing one word which we thought best fitted the design, making paper garments for one of our group members.

Our word was "irregular" so we tried to make our group member look irregular, by making him uneven, having a large shoulder pad on one shoulder but not the other, an eye patch not on his eyes, and a paper trouser leg only on one leg. 

I feel this definitely fitted the theme irregular, and got us working better as a team, all contributing to the outcomes. I think it also helped us to think outside the box, not just thinking of the obvious, or just sticking to typefaces, but in a broader perspective, which will be very beneficial to us all in our design briefs.