ONE >>> TWO >>> THREE >>> MORE

Step 1Find a motif
(10 min)You will look around the building. Select one element that inspires you as a motif.  Take some pictures. 
Step 2Observation & Visual analysis
(15 min)Translate your motif into a few quick visual sketches. This step is about seeing better, not perfect drawings. No pressure, no overthinking, no perfectionism, just fast visual notes.

Considerations:
  1. What is the dominant gesture you see? (line / curve / angle / dot / texture)
  2. Where is the rhythm? (repeated units / spacing / irregular beat)
  3. What is the scale feel? delicate vs. chunky; tight vs. airy.
  4. What is the attitude? (playful / loud / calm / strict / soft /  mechanical)
  5. How about color? 
Step 3Make a stroke family
(40min)Expand your sketch to a stroke family (12 pieces). The strokes will work together, connecting to each other to build letters. (e.g. map tiles in map design; furniture joints) 
Follow the stroke family template below.



Download stroke family template & example

Considerations:
  1. What is the core visual feature that must remain across all strokes? Where do contrast/moments of surprise happen? 
  2. How do your strokes, taken together, produce a visual rhythm? Think about density, weight, negative space, color, etc.
  3. How do two strokes meet? What is the connection logic?Does the entry/exit point land at the same edge positions across strokes? Or intentionally mismatch? Will stroke weights be consistent in connection?
Step 4Make some letters
(40min)Place your stroke family in grid to make the letters “A” “S” “D.” 
Begin with a large grid (more space, easier), then shrink to a smaller grid (less space, harder).



Download letter grid template & example

Considerations:
  1. How do your strokes behave inside different spatial constraints?
  2. A larger grid provides you freedom and redundancy; a smaller grid forces economy and decision-making. Think of this as zooming the lens: from a broad field where everything can spread out to a tiny box where every choice counts. 
Step 5Make the complete font
(15min)Get ready with your stroke family. 
Requirement:
  1. Export each stroke as a single 100x100 SVG. 
  2. Refer to the template above and name them correctly (a1-a4, b1-b4, c1-c4).

Download export template

Get the magic start!

After exporting your letters, please upload to this Google drive folder
Step 6Try your font
(15 min)$Make a poster, use the generated font and try them in context. 

Limitation:
  1. 18*24 inch size
  2. No limit in content. 
  3. Image-free or image-light: typography and motif do the heavy lifting. 
  4. You can combine your typeface with another text typeface if necessary.

Considerations:
  1. Where does the original motif reappear? How can you reuse the visual element from step 2?
  2. What is the largest/smallest size your letters go, and what job do they do there?
  3. How do color, layout, hierarchy, negative space, and even printing method extend your original motif and resonate with your typeface?
  4. If pairing a text face, what job does it do that your display typeface can’t? What one trait ties them (x-height feel, rhythm, tone)?

Further step:
  1. You are welcome to create more letters with alternative strokes.

Please upload your poster to this google drive folder.



(The project is inspired by Ramon Tejada’s  Fractal Typography class)