Fontastic
Educational project about font elements
for children and adults.
for children and adults.
Fontastic
Educational project about font elements
for children and adults.
for children and adults.
Fontastic world
According to science
All graphemes of symbols of the alphabet consist of elements, the unity of forms of which ensures the unity of the pattern of the entire typeface.
Typography has terms that describe the structure of letters. The font elements have special names, many of which match real-life objects
Typography has terms that describe the structure of letters. The font elements have special names, many of which match real-life objects
Ears, legs and tails
The terms correspond to the selected elements:
apex
bar
drop, ball
arm
arm
leg
leg
arm
tail
tail
hairline
eye
drop
spur
ear
loop
shoulder
tail
beak
crotch
tail
Welcome to Fontastic Reality, The Journey Begins!
To be more precise, it continues: the world around us practically consists of fonts, and we encounter typefaces every day, without even knowing about it. A huge flow of information that a person perceives daily is transmitted using a font. And the quality of the visual environment we are in depends on how well the font is made.
The Fontastic project aims to improve visual ecology and develop typeface culture.
To be more precise, it continues: the world around us practically consists of fonts, and we encounter typefaces every day, without even knowing about it. A huge flow of information that a person perceives daily is transmitted using a font. And the quality of the visual environment we are in depends on how well the font is made.
The Fontastic project aims to improve visual ecology and develop typeface culture.
Let's take a closer look
apex:
a point at the top
of a character where two
strokes meet
a point at the top
of a character where two
strokes meet
bar:
the horizontal strokein letters
the horizontal strokein letters
beak:
a type of decorative stroke
at the end of the letterform, similar to a spur or serif
a type of decorative stroke
at the end of the letterform, similar to a spur or serif
ball:
a type of curve, a circular form, the end of any stroke that doesn't include a serif
a type of curve, a circular form, the end of any stroke that doesn't include a serif
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
spur:
a small projection off a main stroke
a small projection off a main stroke
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke
or stem on the both ends
leg:
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
leg:
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
hairline:
the thinnest stroke found
in a specific typeface that consists of strokes of varying widths
the thinnest stroke found
in a specific typeface that consists of strokes of varying widths
eye:
the enclosed space
in a lowercase e
the enclosed space
in a lowercase e
drop:
end of strokes in letters
of some typefaces
end of strokes in letters
of some typefaces
loop:
the enclosed or partially enclosed counter
the enclosed or partially enclosed counter
ear:
a small stroke typically found
on the lowercase g
a small stroke typically found
on the lowercase g
shoulder:
сcurved stroke aiming downward from a stem
сcurved stroke aiming downward from a stem
crotch:
an acute, inside angle where two strokes meet
an acute, inside angle where two strokes meet
apex:
a point at the top
of a character where two strokes meet
a point at the top
of a character where two strokes meet
bar:
the horizontal stroke in letters
the horizontal stroke in letters
beak:
a type of decorative stroke
at the end of the letterform, similar to a spur or serif
a type of decorative stroke
at the end of the letterform, similar to a spur or serif
ball:
a type of curve, a circular form, the end of any stroke that doesn't include a serif
a type of curve, a circular form, the end of any stroke that doesn't include a serif
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
tail:
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
decsending stroke, often decorative, on g, j, p, q, y and Q
spur:
a small projection off a main stroke
a small projection off a main stroke
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
arm:
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
a horizontal or upward, slopping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem
on the both ends
leg:
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
leg:
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
a lower, down slopping stroke
of the letter
hairline:
the thinnest stroke found
in a specific typeface that consists of strokes of varying widths
the thinnest stroke found
in a specific typeface that consists of strokes of varying widths
eye:
the enclosed space
in a lowercase e
the enclosed space
in a lowercase e
drop:
end of strokes in letters
of some typefaces
end of strokes in letters
of some typefaces
loop:
the enclosed or partially enclosed counter
the enclosed or partially enclosed counter
ear:
a small stroke typically found
on the lowercase g
a small stroke typically found
on the lowercase g
shoulder:
сcurved stroke aiming downward from a stem
сcurved stroke aiming downward from a stem
crotch:
an acute, inside angle where two strokes meet
an acute, inside angle where two strokes meet
Let's take a closer look
Fontastic learning
The advantage of Fontastic is visuality. Visual memory is the strongest.
It allows for easy retention and memory reproduction of previously received information, as well as a clear and vivid impression of what needs to be remembered.
A reliable way to remember a certain fact is to associate it with another. Therefore, it is on associations that the entire fontastic cognitive process is built: scientific terms are identified with well-known objects and remain in memory.
Such a system of presenting information fits well on different media.
It allows for easy retention and memory reproduction of previously received information, as well as a clear and vivid impression of what needs to be remembered.
A reliable way to remember a certain fact is to associate it with another. Therefore, it is on associations that the entire fontastic cognitive process is built: scientific terms are identified with well-known objects and remain in memory.
Such a system of presenting information fits well on different media.
Fontasy on the wall
For experienced dinosigners and young mousigners.
Fontastic Anatomy of Letters poster.
Fontastic Anatomy of Letters poster.
Fontastic wooden kit
Better once to touch, than hundred times to see.
While promoting visual ecology, Fontastic is not oblivious to the sustainability and the environmental friendliness of materials: the designer kit is made of wood.
On the front, the letters are black and the spaces inside the letters are white. Each element is labeled with its name. Before starting the game, all the pieces must be faced up.
On the reverse side, each letter is painted in its colour – it is a kind of hint for beginners and cheaters; as well as the fact that the names of the elements are written strictly horizontally relative to the whole letters.
The constructor consists of 26 letters of the Latin alphabet.
Some letters have two interchangeable elements – regular and fontastic. For example, the letter "g" comes with two "ear" elements:
1) a small stroke that looks like a rain drop 2) a "real" ear.
You can build not only letters from constructor elements. Thanks to the modularity of the fasteners, most of the parts are freely connected to each other, which allows you to come up with your own fontasy creatures.
Due to the sufficient thickness, the letters are stable. Therefore, if you are tired of designing, you can just decorate a shelf or desktop with them, adding fontasy to the interior.
Some letters have two interchangeable elements – regular and fontastic. For example, the letter "g" comes with two "ear" elements:
1) a small stroke that looks like a rain drop 2) a "real" ear.
You can build not only letters from constructor elements. Thanks to the modularity of the fasteners, most of the parts are freely connected to each other, which allows you to come up with your own fontasy creatures.
Due to the sufficient thickness, the letters are stable. Therefore, if you are tired of designing, you can just decorate a shelf or desktop with them, adding fontasy to the interior.
I want this designer kit!
The Fontastic constructor is released in one copy.
To launch the production of circulation, thereby reducing the cost of the product, pre-orders are needed.
Place a pre-order in my shop or make a donation to the project implementation.
To launch the production of circulation, thereby reducing the cost of the product, pre-orders are needed.
Place a pre-order in my shop or make a donation to the project implementation.
Fontasy cubed
The heuristic principle used in cubes is the principle of discovering something new, in this case, with riddles. The riddle teaches the ability to observe, to see the essence of an object, to see its meaning. To solve the riddle, one must find the "key" to the metaphor, abstract the object or one of its characteristics.
Fontastic dice can be played in different ways:
1) Game for two:
One of the players shows the other a cube so that only pictures with objects are visible, and the other guesses from what letters these elements are. And vice versa: you can show letters, and guess the missing elements.
2) One player:
It's a normal blocks game for kids, and no rules needed here. Learning occurs by itself when interacting with the carrier. On faces of cubes we see a variety of pictures, but we don't see them completely. For to consider them in their entirety, you have to take an action – turn the cube over and look at it from the other side (literally and figuratively). Turning over (rethinking) the object, we realize that the object in the picture is part of the letter, an element of the font.
1) Game for two:
One of the players shows the other a cube so that only pictures with objects are visible, and the other guesses from what letters these elements are. And vice versa: you can show letters, and guess the missing elements.
2) One player:
It's a normal blocks game for kids, and no rules needed here. Learning occurs by itself when interacting with the carrier. On faces of cubes we see a variety of pictures, but we don't see them completely. For to consider them in their entirety, you have to take an action – turn the cube over and look at it from the other side (literally and figuratively). Turning over (rethinking) the object, we realize that the object in the picture is part of the letter, an element of the font.
Fontastic book
Wherever there is text, there are fonts. It means every book.
But most of all it is contained in the Fontastic game-book.
It consists of images-riddles full of metaphors and personifications.
Each unopened page contains a question that requires imagination. Fantasizing about the subject of the picture, we associate it with certain ideas, and therefore remember it. And when we open the correct answer, we associate it with the image we have just invented and easily assimilate the material received.
But most of all it is contained in the Fontastic game-book.
It consists of images-riddles full of metaphors and personifications.
Each unopened page contains a question that requires imagination. Fantasizing about the subject of the picture, we associate it with certain ideas, and therefore remember it. And when we open the correct answer, we associate it with the image we have just invented and easily assimilate the material received.
Fontastic location
All of these principles can be scaled by building a font playground with additional objects from Fontown. So, investors, welcome to contact me.
Collaboration
Don't worry, your data will remain confidential.
Collaboration
Don't worry, your data will remain confidential.
Fontastic outfit
Fontastic is not only educational but simply beautiful.
A capsule collection of 23 Fontastic T-shirts is featured in my shop.
A capsule collection of 23 Fontastic T-shirts is featured in my shop.
Sunhoo Industrial Design Innovation Park
For the first time, the Fontastic project was released at the exhibition in the innovative design cluster Sunhoo Industrial Design Innovation Park in Hangzhou during my art residence.
In its original form, Fontastic was presented to viewers as an installation of objects with font elements.
Another luck was the windows of the exhibition space with roll curtains. I put images on them in such a way that viewers could discover letters that at first glance seemed to be something or someone else.
The same thing happens with all fontastic objects: we can only speculate and guess what an object is all about until we start interacting with it.
In addition to the installation, I printed an edition of image postcards that demonstrates the principles of Fontastic.
A few days later, Fontastic appeared on the streets of Shanghai as street art.
Stickers and stencils are of particular interest in terms of communication. Gradually spreading in the urban space, they demonstrate how fonts have become part of our daily lives and draw our attention to them.
Stickers and stencils are of particular interest in terms of communication. Gradually spreading in the urban space, they demonstrate how fonts have become part of our daily lives and draw our attention to them.
Respect the fonts and remember that the fonts are always with us.
As the main carriers, I used the metal structures left from the construction (at that time there were several working buildings in the Sunhoo design park, and construction of new buildings was actively underway). The project was partly conceived as an act of street art, and this kind of urban aesthetic fitted well with my idea.
At the exhibition, European participants of the art residence appreciated the project about their native Latin alphabet, and local Asian designers got acquainted with the peculiarities of foreign typography.
© Julia Chaicyna