CSS Typeface

Instructions

1. Create a typeface using only HTML and CSS. It should have a complete character set.

2. Once you've designed and built your typeface, create a website to display your complete typeface.

Goals

Through this project, you will experiment formally in HTML and CSS through creation of your very own typeface. That said, your typeface should somehow take advantage of its unique material. How is a typeface online (on a screen) different than one in a book (on a printed page)? How do the media differ? What are the dynamic properties of the web that printed matter lacks? And vice-versa: is there anything that printed matter has that the web doesn't? The concept for your typeface should come across formally and also allude to the way it was created (programming HTML and CSS).

When it is time to create the website to display your typeface, consider its subject. How can your website's focus not only reinforce but push forward the concept of your typeface? How will your typeface be used? What material can you present in your typeface to take it to a new level? Can the website surprise viewers in some way to further explore the concept even more?

Examples of innovative typography specific for screen

• Enter the Void Trailer by Gasper Noe, 2011
• Watch Wyoscan by Dexter Sinister, 2012
• Letter & Spirit by Dexter Sinister, 2012
• Rhythmetic by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart, 1956
• Now by Weiyi Li, 2011
• Now Is More Than Ever by Damon Zucconi
• Unicode by Jörg Piringer, 2012
• Sweethearts by Emmett Williams, 1966, and Mindy Seu, 2014
• Whitney's Responsive W by Experimental Jetset, 2013 — more
• bOOg by Freeware/Delaware, 2012
• tylermadsen.com
• Typatone by Jono Brandel, 2015
• Computed Type by Christoph Knoth, 2013 — more
• Instructions for a Typeface by Laurel Schwulst, 2010
• Memoire Typeface by Ryan Bugden and Michelle Wainer
• Radim Pesko's typefaces
• Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference

Schedule

First Sketch — Due Tuesday, February 16
Create three unique directions for your typeface. Begin by sketching the letters H O D N O P. Conceptually and formally, each direction should be uniquely different from each other. While sketching, consider how each typeface would exist as code and in the browser space. (Do this in InDesign or Illustrator, and come to class on Tuesday with a PDF.)

Second Sketch — Due Thursday, February 18
Based on feedback of your three "HODNOP" sketches, select one direction for your complete typeface. Complete your typeface drawing (in Illustrator, etc.) as much as possible. Here are the characters I would like you to have:

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
or
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
(choose either lower or upper case)

0123456789 (numbers)
.?!,”“ (punctuation)

Website development — Due Tuesday, February 23
Please create two unique proposals (using InDesign) for the website your typeface will live on. How can your website's focus not only reinforce but push forward the concept of your typeface? Remember to upload the PDF to your class website.

Tips:

• Revisit the examples on this page (above)
• Ask yourself: What makes a typeface specific to the screen or the web?
• Think about your typeface in two states. (How does your typeface "breathe"?)
• Think about what your typeface would do if it were a screen saver.

Final — Due Thursday, March 17
Present a final website containing typeface.

Credit

Adapted from Brian Watterson's project.