Type masterclass with Tobias Frere-Jones

Whether designing for web or designing for print - typeface selection is paramount to readability and personality.

By Brad

So when the master of modern type, Tobias Frere-Jones, swept into Melbourne this month for agIdeas I leapt (parachute in hand) to share a day developing a typeface and to grasp all I could from The Master.

The task:
Using a Cap “R” as seed character. The DNA of a typeface is born.

The methodology:
Chaos often rules control. With a seed established - now’s the time to explore creative development of the typeface using the simple structure of the upright, diagonal and the round (found within the seed character capital R).

The sweat:
Damn… I’m on the Adobe® tools and surrounded by the type-elite. Be cool, be fluid… remember to breathe, you know your stuff! Anyways it’s only a typeface. It’s only 26 characters (kinda). It’s only Tobias. It’s only the eyes of the Design World who will forever judge the outcome.

The outcome:
Too much for a single day by anyone’s standards. As the sun set of the Masterclass the Upper-Case forms of my typeface is forged - and its name  “Phoenecia” is born. Characters are anchored by strong slabs and then characterised by bulbous and cheery curves to liven their personality.

Related links:
Embrace the limitations of type on the web. Read article
Tobias Frere-Jones