Typography
‘Elida’ was conceptualized to be a bold, geometric typeface of pre-Hispanic architecture. The jagged lines of traditional calligraphy found in market signs, and the playful, almost flowing curves of handmade art.
A typeface that feels both ancient and contemporary, a blend of the monumental and the intimate. My main inspiration stems from Northern Mexico, where shopping districts are abundant with signage screaming for attention. Another aspect I drew inspiration from was western display typefaces with the distinct serifs.
I named the typeface after my Mom, a hardworking mother of three children and a reminder to push myself to be a better person. She introduced me to many aspects of our family’s cultural heritage.
Typography
‘Kizi’ is a follow-up and expansion of my previous typeface ‘Elida’ but with a slightly updated scope.
While the other typeface had a focus on Northern Mexico, this project had influences from various source of South American Typography.
Sign painters began to have a more visual impact on my research, from market signage to modern digital fonts.
Type design has been a skill that I have recently developed. I don’t have a structured plans for these like the Elida and Kizi Typefaces.
Viceroy, KineticData, and Apparatus were developed in close proximity to each other. The designs were meant to compliment each other, an established grid system being the baseline I looked to as a guiding star of sorts.
ConfigNEUTRAL was throught up after I saw a screensaver with an endless series of tubes.
Lukbak and Trout have similar starts, I saw a random video with sign paintings and archives.
I wanted to challenge myself to try digitize/revitalize the design structures. Lukbak having a steakhouse and western feel to it, sharp with style. Trout is a bit lankier but has a midwestern sign painter influence, monowidth was a difficult aspect to work with.
Snapper and Bengal are the more recent of the fonts. Both being more experimental and display focused, with Snapper having an irregular structure but industrial in nature. With Bengal, I sketched it with the intention of being the polar opposite to Apparatus, rotund with heavier contrasts. 70s art direction and bubble letters definitely peeked its head in my process.