Typography: Typography : (Week 1) The 27th Alphabet

20.1. 2016 (Week 1)

Name: FATIN NADIA BINTI ISHAK (300 422 242)

Typography

(1) Lecture:

The first class of Typography for this Spring 2016 semester, Mr. Vinod our typography lecturer was giving us a brief explanation about what the subject is consists of, the coursework, and background of typography. Basically, in the class we need to bring our own device, for instance, laptop, calligraphy pen, other stationery and others. As a typography student, we need to have eportfolio throughout the semester (a blog) , we need to update it each week and upload task that were given to us each week. For the first task, Mr. Vinod wanted us to view and understand two YouTube videos, title 'Alphabet, the story of writing' which explain about the origins of written letter, duration for both videos are about two hours. So for the first task, we need to design 27th Alphabet.

(2) Instruction:

Task 1 (5%): No 27.

Instructions: Your first task is to understand the written letter, its origins and evolution over time. You will complete viewing the following youtube video, understand, analyse and reflect on the knowledge in your ePortfolio under the reflection tittle. Please view the sample eportfolio to understand how to write your eportfolio (and reflection).

After viewing the video and other videos of your own finding (please document the other videos you watched in your eportfolio under the lecture title) design the 27th alphabet. You will present this new letter to the class and describe your thinking or reasoning for its introduction.

Please draw the final 27th letter on an A4 graph paper using black marker or ink. Ensure that the letter is centered within the A4 graph paper and does not exceed 7cm in height or width. Please document the entire process; research, explorations, trial and errors, thoughts and epiphanies in your eportfolio.

Marking criteria: You will be judged on your creativity: the rationale (in writing 250 words) behind the 27th letter and the argument for its consideration. The aesthetic appeal of the shape of the letter and the process work behind the outcome. It’s visual and logical relevance when compared to the other 26 letters.

Process of Creating a 27th letter :

Research:

I went through Google, and trying to find out what is the 27th letter, than according to some webpage that the '&' or known as ampersand was used to be the 27th letter.

I refer to this link, http://nowiknow.com/and-the-27th-letter-of-the-alphabet/

Honestly, for me the strokes of the '&' (ampersand) has really inspired me since it looks different than other alphabet, it has more curves than other alphabets.

Thought Process:

According to Mr. Vinod we cannot simply create the letter, so I try to figure out what kind of letter can be useful and sufficient, on which actually represent a sound.

From there I try to make a comparison between normal alphabet by Turkish alphabet, in their alphabet, they don't have x and w but they add few alphabets for the sound ‘YEE’, 'SH, 'CH', ‘UH’ and few others.

Refer to the link below:

http://looklex.com/e.o/turkish_l.htm

IDEA

Based on my perception, I think that two vowels should not occur together, because each of it will pronounce as a separate sound. I get the idea from Turkish alphabet, so I have decided to choose a combination of the letter 'C' and 'H' together. For instance, in English word we will frequently combine both letters and pronounce it as one same 'phonic', so I thought that it will be better to combine it both ‘CH’, by creating new letter. So instead of using the 'CHAIR' , 'CHOCOLATE', 'CHOICE', 'CHARM' and few others, we can simply replace 'CH' with the new letter that I have created below (…......) and pronounce it as one letter (one sound).

FIRST ATTEMPT:

(1)

SECOND ATTEMPT:

(2)

I have realized that most of the normal alphabet we use shows that each stroke need to be stuck to each other, so to make it look less awkward, i have decided to let those stroke stick to each other.

THIRD ATTEMPT:

(3)

Final Submission

RESULT:

(3) FEEDBACK

"Nadia the rationale underpinning your letter is acceptable however your letterform needs more working on when compared to the set of roman letter forms".

(4) Reflection

Experience:

it was such an interesting experience, but kind of challenging for me, since this is my first time doing things that related to art, also it is not easy to create something new too. after receiving the task, the first thing came to my mind is that 'wow, i have a freedom to create it, my choice will obviously be something that curvy and cute'. however, when i start to draw, i get confused and the drawing get complicated too, but then after referring back to the videos that provided and doing more research, i become more confident.

Observation:

Honestly, i am not sure on how to start, i made a few attempts, but, it doesn't seem right because of the strokes and the curve that i have tried to look awkward. it is my first time using the calligraphy pen, my hand was shaking, and i waste a lot of graph paper too. i also found that to create an alphabet that looks similar or perhaps suitable with other roman alphabet was rather hard, the alphabet and the sound need to be compatible with each other.

Finding:

I found that the task is challenging, i believed that actually the process was really fun and challenging. i need to do a lot more practice, especially on how to use the calligraphy pen, and i need to be more confident of my drawing.

Submission after the feedback

LAST ATTEMPT (Within 50 minutes)