Modular Type

Modular type is a design approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts called modules, that can be independently created and then used in different systems.


FF ThreeSix 30 type system;


MuirMcNeil ThreeSix is a type system consisting of six typefaces in eight weights. Their project explores legibility and readability of geometric typefaces in long extended pieces of text instead of heading display purposes 


We will work on 5 x initial ideas this week;

1. 50 x gridded words
2. Make your own out of physical objects and documented them decaying, moving, breaking etc.
3. Work on my own ideas
4. Modular typeface - made using 3 shapes (sponge?)
5. Drawing machine

Machine to make a typeface

Our first task of the week was to interpret the idea of a machine which is dependent on rules and instructions, in a drawn grid system which we would manipulate to create a typeface out of modular forms.

I started off with patterns and rearrangement of previous pieces which gave me a slightly varied set of finishes, but they were all still pretty similar and there wasn't much experimentation. This led me to distorting the form of the grid, which gave me a much more varied set of result as the whole text form was a different shape and weight with each word. I liked the idea of changing the form of the grid, so i attempted to create pieces which looked 3d or skewed enough that you would have to read it from multiple angles to get the full picture. I feel this idea could be developed in a physical sculptural way through the use of shadow and silhouettes.

This led me to experiment with negative space, as I wanted to see what the opposite effect of using as little shading and filling of space, would effect the layout and feel of the text. This gave m,e a set of words which felt more open and symbolic instead of being a definitive letter or word. This idea of symbolism in the word could be developed in a physical format through using a shapes and objects to convey the word and typeface. i.e. objects which convey the same meaning letter.

I then moved onto to line drawings of the text. Here i experimented with line weight, scale, angle and colour. I liked the outcomes of some of these as I was able to create more variation in the type as I was really following the set grid given, as I was able to play with line width and shape more, allowing me to create even more symbolic pieces.

This task has given me an insight into how type can be more symbolic than plain fact that a letter has look a certain way to communicate the meaning to the viewer/ audience.