Challenge: Create a Typeface purely out of the manipulation of paper
Experimental Driver: Depth, Light & Shade
[ Typography_2017 ]
Goal: How does one go about manipulating paper in such a way that it does not feel like 'origami'? The aim here is to find an interesting way to create a typeface without a difficult folding technique. I will share with you, the challenges I had through my process as well as the outcome. This is all about experimentation and controlling several elements, heading in an undefined direction.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/76d955c2db938e0d0bb5997ced6928784d2ef40cf3468d5a22d69af51e0db1e134240e2660748bb0_rw_1920.jpg?h=72eaf1e9f7d4718037e604742eb2851c)
Process_Conception
"Where to begin?" < This has to be the hardest question in the experimental process. After surveying all the supplies I have, bluefoam looked most attractive. But there has to be a control: "Bluefoam is not paper"...crap. I worked with it anyway. Never know where it could lead. Main thing to watch out for is potential. So many possibilities!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/5e5ab7e6592ba7abb0672af934749ee17fcb4c15fc6691ab312e3e2c90e549708a5bae2876a09a1f_rw_1920.jpg?h=fe9035210acad033720675b44b2dcd22)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/cde72f6d7f80b268d1aed3ba3685ff5c9cd5c4c9e0186114bedccfce446db23c88a92275d2bc9a44_rw_1920.jpg?h=2f51b74924313a46d3490bd3c8a96dfb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/40277c10355781b2a65a74e60d890beff7cf353ec7cf2ef2f5d9e628fc986ce67d6723e312ccc9ab_rw_1920.jpg?h=fdb1c4757ec1ca549492f7325373617b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/b3840dd29023d4255985ecc287f65f4b326fe4b6f4b80457ef9bbbf4cbd5f974b51f53f3bdc46130_rw_1920.jpg?h=1435b0b1ed313cfee52191193d61305c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/5563137cfb10ed500673d20e1da062d1f4166d87cdb7fb6c4e0a011f2f3b89038c81c13e5a551ea9_rw_1920.jpg?h=7cdb553e67690945fda107166dfdeccd)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/b098b31132e6431b4615c71a0c73f5b19d557b10596c697f0fc837667f4f69326a1491dcfed75e36_rw_1920.jpg?h=85e7f1ac7f206b0c4326b753ec8a4149)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/e3bb9909ce9d0bb5057cc0ad17f81c2019007d35014899b8251c9eb8b20402984a633fd698e7f14e_rw_1920.jpg?h=a5a43e82dd4413b4e4cba668b599e842)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/ec9f9bed2d7acae90145a107befbd34ec950ccacc6ebf521b543230730a64c92fac9ceb6eab9dac1_rw_1920.jpg?h=c666fc76065a82ef371ef05c3f4c8475)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/18958014d5a42aa2bc09bdbc8816fe716643cf210ee0c416624233630d4d2000833136a5613dd0a4_rw_1920.jpg?h=6716446bd7db4197f33a61d0088883ca)
I tried different things too >>
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/97b9d927b2848f4e3b763f0dac99eceeda804d2a5f862b8ce08b8f064ce6bac44454b09134a338d3_rw_1920.jpg?h=065c57f1360a74959ced19031522e4f8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/f38265b20e5983b0b123adac9a23af828e8e1d0e91b51ab4443bdf53563603bb1bc800801f9bd765_rw_1920.jpg?h=86bb4137829f1024231c3c84d90ccbd8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/7bb010abe117187d2dc3dd44e00bd93db911562a77b4326a02c573a0708418c030cb9eb916aa592e_rw_1920.jpg?h=3c45d86da131212fdcd62f6aafc310dd)
What started off with bluefoam, evolved to an exploration with tissue, paper towels and other interesting things. The foam became the mold that helped create the forms.
Ingredients: Paper, Water, Salt
Tools: Craft Knife, Pen, Ruler and a "Stove" (The stove was a bad idea. I burnt the "O")
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/b9311a144fb7c8db4cc8228d17a877f88aa4526a685a3cace1a750eee916b98bc4d3ec763345f72c_rw_1920.jpg?h=a6eabbfe4d8c530e6cc3581b43898e99)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/e0cd8cdd714d44656660eebcf33b73032472470ea9bd7c48f91868379ae7d9fe8af033e52e7d77c8_rw_1920.jpg?h=3960b829d0aff7957bffa3d0110388e0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/91d83077f7fc059b84a0f152ed41848fdd0e24fea93495b586ae49ceb151158ccfc946a9b7835d93_rw_1920.jpg?h=ef1d8decbb34dce7dcbd789790e658b4)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/73c6a058fead2f7b62bcd0a039107fab416a65cb25e14e9a7558fde84ce1883196fd3c68f9dafa50_rw_1920.jpg?h=b58a20665923214a628f3a8ba9d4a623)
Building Cohesion
I ended up with this. 26 Uppercase Letters of the alphabet. Now to make it all work together >>> Photoshop became my best friend.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/7ef20946ca423ccbb205db3ff99003df2dd56fc9af15303ec8b6af4ff57fe3182b245b4a814f1ceb_rw_1920.jpg?h=c91953b586b65cdd1e45e25358f57d3a)
The Outcome
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/687ae9fb490f440471bf670160bfb815/430e4f1e6646bf7cd2719f6290287c9c6f25025a3a416790e88041b2393502d6fce6e72518164621_rw_1920.jpg?h=fc71068b6b2c4daaa8f7f313dbff89e3)