Final Designs

I have attempted to unify these stylistically into a system by using a thick to thin brush stroke in each, making sure they each are a similar width and variation. In several of the symbols there have been line indents from using a brush to create them (show in the P, plus sign and toliet figures.) These designs give extra intricacy and if I was to develop the design further I would introduce these dents into each.

Final hospital symbols

Improvements:

The arrows in these designs could have been further developed to be more consistent. The diagonal arrows especially feel unrefined and don't show angular, contrasting line in the style of the others. The horizontal arrows also feel inconsistent and too stretched, they're not horizontally and vertically equally which hospital symbols are likely to be.

The toilet figures especially feel almost ancient in their appearance, akin to cave man drawings. Although this fulfils a contemporary take on the brief, in a hospital the designs need to also maintain a clean, organised appearance which isn't immediate with these designs. It is important to remember the purpose of the signs. Perhaps they would work better in a cafe or relaxed setting, not somewhere like a hospital where a seriousness needs to proceed.

Blackletter Hostpital Signs

For this study task we used several black letter techniques to create authentic symbols in the style of traditional blackletter. These included compressing some of the forms so that they became tall and narrow and making sure some of the elements had contrasting thin lines.

Compression technique

Contrast technique

For some of the symbols I composed the images with the brush immediately, however the purpose of the task was to create random forms and textures- rather than individual designs. This wasn't raw

enough and appeared too constructed in some ways.

However, I found the symbols that I made most spontaneously with the brush (like the women/man toilet signs) had the most energy and originality. The ones that I composed afterwards with random elements seemed inconsistent and disjointed. 

P and Toilet symbol composed with random elements

This task was useful as it felt natural and meant that for my own wayfinding work I realised contemporary designs could come from very spontaneous experimental work. For the next task I will create many experimental designs so that I can pick the best elements of each. 

Selection of marks made in the workshop

Black letter Research

Task: Design a set of pictograms and a signage system for a hospital that uses blackletter typefaces and calligraphic flourishes as its foundation.

Moyenage by Fraoktisek Storm

For part of my research I looked at an interview with Fraoktisek Storm who had created a modern blackletter typeface called Moyenage. The typeface's shapes are 'tightly fixed with a strict rhythm of line' and derive from French medieval textura. Despite this traditional background, it is clearly modern and applicable to current design.

This is because the stereotype of blackletter has been broken yet it still appears classic and modern. The face is wider and the edges are rounded, making it more legible.

For my own work I intend to make the design using a similar thickness and flourish, yet maintain the contemporary feel by using rounded line. 

Emmerik Regular by Vincent Deboer

I also looked at Vincent Deboer, who has created a typeface which was influenced by blackletter, called Emmerik Regular. This uses far more angular shape, probably following a grid to make sure it is consistent. Despite how effective this is, our project involves creating subjective shape and the work needs to have some inconsistencies and derive from natural shape. Deboer is also passionate about brushwork and this work shows far more fluidity and subjectivity. This flow is important for my own work, although I need to make sure there is certain order and commonality between the symbols. 

Deboar brushwork

Emmerik Regular