For initial exploration I started taking shapes
and seeing if I could create readable figures digitally. Now, geometric type is
typically modular and is created with a grid. But I entertained the thought of
a metaphorical grid. Meaning that I kept every shape’s size within the same
ratio. So if a square were 1x1 inches I would manipulate it by shrinking it in
half then do that again. And I would do that for circles squares and
rectangles.
After that I asked myself if I was answering my
original question and the answer was no. I hadn’t been using a rectilinear grid
and hardly any circles. So for the next phase of development I made several
different grids that provided opportunity to satisfy the question. What I took
from all of those experiments was that there was a bit of inconsistency from
letter to letter and what needed to happen next was more restriction.
These grids were larger scale and a bit more
elaborate. I found that the more restriction and rules that I had to follow,
the more consistent the shape be.
Out of all the experimenting I found that the
most functional letterform was not created from circles, but were formed from a
grid that had circles in it. And this provided a very reasonable response to
the question through a legible thin typeface.
To answer the question, I would say that there
is a large potential for experimentation with rectilinear grid and circles. I
learned that there is plenty to experiment when responding to the question, but
it does not always produce beautiful results. All of my experiments revolved
around restriction and that did not always produce something beautiful. I
believe once those rules have been established however, and that all the
experimenting has commenced, one can then break those rules, or tweak them, to
make their letterform more visually appealing. Where I go next will most likely
be trying to experiment with the potential of the stroke and weight of this
letterform and seeing how well it adapts to a heavier weight.
