Sheepfold Font
Project Overview ︎︎︎
Sheepfold draws inspiration from reverse contrast typefaces like Gopher and Antipol. It merges elements of a slab-serif typeface with intriguing ink traps.
The style boasts high weight contrast, with horizontal strokes often heavier than vertical ones. Crossbars of letters are thinner compared to other strokes, while intentionally added weight to vertical strokes enhances visual balance and small text readability. Thicker serifs against the stems resonate with the core concept of reverse contrast. The addition of ink traps at 90° and steep angles adds playfulness and uniqueness to the font.
Sheepfold is crafted for an upcoming fashion accessory brand aimed at a younger audience. Tailored as a versatile typeface, it's poised for use in packaging, website design, logos, and more.
Responsibilities:
Typeface Design, Poster Design, Brand Identity, Project Research
Typeface Design, Poster Design, Brand Identity, Project Research
Tools:
Glyph mini 2, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Glyph mini 2, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Duration:
3 Months
3 Months
Type:
Custom Font
Custom Font
Challenge ︎︎︎
The business owner seeks a font with subtle ink traps in a minimalist style. After some research, I found that most ink trap fonts in the market are essentially sans serifs. This indicated that creating a 'traditional' ink trap font wouldn't significantly differ from what was already available.
Solution ︎︎︎
To address this, I integrated features from diverse fonts, including slab-serif, reverse contrast, and ink traps. This approach elevates the font's uniqueness in the market while meeting the client's specific needs.
Process Overview
Research ︎︎︎ Ideation & Concept ︎︎︎ Visuals ︎︎︎ Refinement
Reseach ︎︎︎
Before initiating the typeface design, I delved into an in-depth exploration of letter anatomy, studying stroke relationships, the origin and function of ink traps, and contemporary typographic strategies employed by leading brands. Understanding that ink traps are essential in preventing ink spillage during small letter printing, maintaining sharp edges, I crafted the typeface with ample stroke width to accommodate this necessity. Aligning the typeface with the brand's essence, I drew inspiration from 80s fonts, echoing the brand's use of retro elements like cartoon-style logos and halftone backgrounds.
Ideation & Concept ︎︎︎
This project commenced with a deliberate selection of a distinctive font style. Experimenting with high-contrast strokes in serif, sans serif, and slab serif variations revealed their unique potentials. Ultimately, I opted for slab-serif as the initial direction due to its adaptability over the other two typefaces. Both uppercase and lowercase letters were sketched to lay the foundation for further development.
Visual ︎︎︎
I initiated the design process by crafting two short phrases ("hamburgefonstiv" and "SAVEMNBOUGHT") to establish foundational elements for the letters, including the bowl, stem, serif, etc. This stage revealed structural issues; for instance, in the initial version, the serifs of 'a', 's', and 'S' required additional weight for improved visual coherence. Moreover, a slight ink trap was necessary at a 90-degree angle (e.g., interior angle of 'E') to enhance vertical balance.
Refinement ︎︎︎
Throughout the refinement phase, multiple iterations of the font were developed, each undergoing tweaks primarily in weight and stroke relationships. Notably, the bowls of letters like 'o', 'd', 'b', etc., were maintained at the baseline, potentially causing them to appear smaller in x-height compared to other letters. Also, given the unique nature of reverse contrast fonts, the stroke structure deviates from conventional fonts. Consequently, despite setting all vertical strokes to the same width, some letters' bowls, such as 'o', 'p', and 'd', might still seem comparatively thinner. To address this, I intentionally increased the bowls' weight by 10% in the final version. For your information, there are ten iterations in total, with version 1.0 representing the current final edition.
Final Outcome ︎︎︎
︎ Sheepfold is still under development and will have more weights in the future! If you are interested in getting a copy of Sheepfold Slab, feel free to contact me through email :) hello@ronldes.com
Personal Takeaway︎︎︎
This project proved to be both challenging and time-intensive, spanning approximately three months from the initial research to the completion of the current version. Throughout this journey, I embraced the opportunity to think creatively and approach problems from diverse perspectives. It led me to question the conventional notion that an ink trap font must be a sans serif font. To challenge this, I dedicated myself to creating a font that not only exhibited cohesiveness but also possessed a distinct style. Analyzing existing fonts, I sought the best solutions to align with the brand identity, ensuring the font's versatility for both display and small text.
The most significant lesson learned from this undertaking was the value of persistent trial and error in refining the font. This process sharpened my ability to discern subtle design differences and find effective adjustments. While perfection remains elusive in design, this experience taught me how to extract the best design solutions through multiple ideations, contributing to my overall growth as a designer.