Custom Type Logo (Update)

MichaelWied · 12-06-2012, 05:35 PM

Hey guys, just finished the typeface I was working on for my Fossil Arkitekt project. I'm really excited about this one, so let me know what you think.

Update from my previous post that has a few sketches.

<b> · 12-06-2012, 11:03 PM

It's very nice, and the overall look matches up perfectly with the styling of the watch itself. It also matches up with the kind of clean industrial look that I personally like a lot.

You've tackled some of the previous optical illusion problems pretty well. The bowl on the a, however, still seems to float a bit above where it ought to be. I can't really tell from what you've posted, but it might be because of the lowest point on the curved elements seeming to sit right on the baseline rather than extending slightly below, like would normally be the case. Then again, maybe I'm imagining things.

The ascenders on the k's are quite tall. I think the tallness works great as a logotype, but if you were to compile this into an actual font, those tall ascenders would force you into a very small x-height with lots of space between the lines — even if you set the type solid with no leading. I do like them in the stand-alone word, though.

Really, I think it's a nice look!

MichaelWied · 12-07-2012, 08:13 AM

Thanks <b>. I did start to notice some of the optical issues while I was playing around with other letters. Like how the "e" seems to float a little above the baseline, so I need to go back and adjust that.. I also cleaned up the "t" in the stem. Still have a few things to tweak but I wanted to get something but so I'd kinda be forced to finish something.

I'll also post some of my sketches and ideation so everyone can see the process and why some of the design choices are they way they are. Here's a little sample for ya.

Leyral · 12-07-2012, 08:54 AM

Don't really have any crit, but I just wanted to say that I love this. Really really nice.

skribe · 12-07-2012, 10:01 AM

Its my feeling that the a should be a bit closer in form to the e. e.g. with the small almost serif like bit on the tail of the e also appearing on the a. Almost as if you just take the e and turn it upside down. I may be entirely wrong though. But like the others I think it is very nice, and quite a smart piece of work.

**Red Kittie Kat** · 12-07-2012, 10:24 AM

Very nice work Michael

MichaelWied · 12-07-2012, 05:53 PM

Thanks for the kind words everyone, really means A LOT.

Skribe, I did try to base the E around the A, but I didn't really find anything I liked. I took a some advice from the Helvetica documentary and started with an "o" to get a basic letter form, and took the arc in the watch's face as the key component. Here's roughly how some of the letters got their look. The weird square lookin boxy type was me playing with weight and spacing before I went back to the drawing board when earlier concepts weren't working. The original concept was a much heavier weight and did not look good at all at small sizes (had to think if this would be carved on the watch in small type).

crdunsto · 12-08-2012, 07:34 AM

GREAT work on this!

rdan173 · 12-08-2012, 10:23 PM

I've never done custom typhography but some of the letters look like they aren't lining up on the base line since curved lefters should be slightly lower. Maybe its just me. I think most of the letters with the curves after the t ahould be a bit lower or have the bottom stretched down a bit. Maybe the t should be stretched down a bit too.

*Maybe its fine. I think it was more pronounced in the first wordmark.*

MichaelWied · 12-08-2012, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdan173

I've never done custom typhography but some of the letters look like they aren't lining up on the base line since curved lefters should be slightly lower. Maybe its just me. I think most of the letters with the curves after the t ahould be a bit lower or have the bottom stretched down a bit. Maybe the t should be stretched down a bit too.

*Maybe its fine. I think it was more pronounced in the first wordmark.*

No you were right and I've been working on those. Yes it was basically happening with all of the shapes such as the a, o, e etc, since they all seemed to look like they were floating. Mechanically they were lined up, but optically is looked off. The small "t" needed dropped a few points too. I also decided to stick with the 30 degree slant and not a 45 degree.

Still not sure about making this into a full typeface. Would like too but don't have the software to set it up.