For this project, I was attempting to capture the spirit of two very different typefaces, Neue Haas Grotesk and Stemple Garamond. I made abstract compositions to showcase the spirit of what makes these typefaces unique. None of my compositions were meant to be read as literal glyphs—I didn't want somebody to look at them and say, "there's a 5"— instead, I looked for the themes and relationships in the letters that embodied their typefaces. To me, the most interesting thing about a typeface is the bits and pieces that set it apart. It could be the intersection between a stem and a leg or the curve of a descender, whatever the case, that's what makes the typeface special. My hope is that you look at my work and struggle to pick out exactly which letters you are seeing, yet because you recognize those bits and pieces, you'd immediately know what typeface it is.

I began by doing some sketches, trying to find interesting relationships between letters, things that could embody the typeface. I'm sometimes frustrated by the sketching process because I'm excited to just jump into the actual designing, but I try to remind myself that sketching really does help my work. I use it as a very loose, uninhibited exploration of the theme, looking for ideas that seem to have promise. My end product almost never looks like my initial sketches, but they definitely inform my work and help define my focus. I find myself returning to the sketches over and over throughout the design process to look for ideas and inspiration.

After sketching, I moved to digital sketches, exploring ideas that I thought might benefit from more development. In my Neue Haas Grotesk piece I decided to focus on the interesting contrast in the typeface between the straight, blocky nature of the characters and the way circular elements of the typeface, like the bowls, counters, and loops, create warmth and friendliness. I was particularly taken with how the positioning of the counters in letters like p, q, and b created an unexpected thick and thin aspect, which I think makes this typeface extraordinarily flexible and likeable. I worked to make a composition that honors the straight lines and the overall geometrical feel of Neue Haas Grotesk, but that also showcases the way curves and circles humanize this type face and give it spirit. These are some of my initial digital drafts:

In my Stemple Garamond composition, I wanted to embrace the humanist flair this typeface has. It's lineage as a calligraphy-based typeface is immediately evident as you see its weight, thick on one side, thin on the other. Its graceful curves and gorgeous terminals make it feel almost alive, which I wanted to embrace. I tried to make a piece that flowed, that exuded motion and vitality, and that read as almost organic or botanical.

After focusing in on the designs I wanted to develop for my final compositions, I explored several variations to see if I could push my work further. Most of the changes are small and subtle, but I could feel the compositions speaking to me as I tried different things. It's as if they were telling me their true personality as we played in the sandbox together. Here are some of the many versions I produced during this exploration:

After evaluating my options, these are the compositions I chose for my final pieces. I feel like they are good representations of their respective typefaces, and that they also contrast nicely with each other. They both have a strong sideways motion that features prominently in the composition, which both unifies the pieces as part of a set, but also highlights how very different they are. Neue Haas Grotesk is orderly, strong, and bold, the epitome of a clean, minimalist design. Garamond is lithe, graceful, and organic. It makes me think of Spanish flamenco dancers and willow branches swaying in the wind. In many ways they are a yin and yang typography pairing, nearly polar opposites, and yet I feel like the pieces work well together as companions. 

I hope you enjoy hearing about my process. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!