27th Letter

Project Brief

Phase 1:

Create a 27th letter for a suffix, prefix, or ligature within a specific typeface, drawing on the glyphs within the typeface for inspiration.

Typeface chosen:

Garamond Premier Pro

Prefix/Suffix/Ligature chosen:

-ism: a system or practice; a philosophy, theory, religion, ideology, as well as a social, political, or artistic movement.

Phase 2:

Design a vertical, 18 x 24 type specimen poster to display the newly created 27th letter, as well as the supplemental information surrounding the chosen typeface.

Process

1. Font Exploration

Select three serif typefaces from the five classifications of Old Style, Transitional, Modern, Egyptian, and Contemporary that will form the basis of initial analysis. Narrow to one typeface.

2. Prefix/Suffix/Ligature Exploration

Form a list of potential prefixes, suffixes, etc. that could serve the basis of the new glyph.

Prefixes:

Mono—

Uni—

Psy—

Anti—

Pro—

Con—

Be—

Ex—

De—

Suffixes:

—ly

—ing

—ary

—tion

—tive

—cy

—er

—est

—ern

Number Suffixes:

—st

—nd

—rd

—th

Apostrophes:

‘s
‘nt
‘ll
‘ve
‘re

—ful
—ify
—gon
—able/—ible
—ine
—ily
—ion
—ism
—ive
—less
—oid
—th

3. Preliminary Sketches

Create 15 to 20 sketches for chosen prefix/suffix/etc. within the chosen typeface. Strive to use no more than four strokes in the creation of each glyph.