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A typeface design for Melissa Chessher, an outstanding writer and journalist.
Background
Assigned a muse, this typeface was created for Professor Melissa Chessher, Director of
Magazine, Newspaper & Online Journalism at Syracuse University.
‘Chessher’ is a novelty typeface created with a Japanese pen brush. Brush strokes were then scanned and digitalized in Glyphs Mini software. After it was created into a downloadable typeface by kerning each letter in more than 500 combinations.
‘Chessher’ is a novelty typeface created with a Japanese pen brush. Brush strokes were then scanned and digitalized in Glyphs Mini software. After it was created into a downloadable typeface by kerning each letter in more than 500 combinations.
Moodboard
Research
In order to create a typeface that fully represented
and respect Ms. Chessher, I conducted one-to-one Interview with her and sat in
one of Ms. Chessher’s 3-hour lecture. After drafting several mood boards later,
I had a late-night phone call, several emails, and finally came to a
conclusion.
The Process
In order to create a typeface that is fully representative
of Melissa, I decided to create a novelty brush stroke typeface. Despite the
fact that I wasn’t supposed to create a novelty font, I petitioned for this in
order to do Melissa justice.
Went out and bought a Japanese brush pen and then made a template on Microsoft Word to give myself some guidance. I then spent every minute in-between class and work breaks to experiment with various letters forms.
After many iterations of feedback rounds, I then scanned each letter into illustrator to adjust color issues and then moved into Photoshop to edit each pixel till cohesive letters started forming. Each letter was then kerned and created into a font for use.
Went out and bought a Japanese brush pen and then made a template on Microsoft Word to give myself some guidance. I then spent every minute in-between class and work breaks to experiment with various letters forms.
After many iterations of feedback rounds, I then scanned each letter into illustrator to adjust color issues and then moved into Photoshop to edit each pixel till cohesive letters started forming. Each letter was then kerned and created into a font for use.
The Result
Drawing inspiration from the interviews filled with
conversations of Basquiat and Alice in Wonderland, I create a two-piece
exhibition piece that reflects Melissa’s expressive and thoughtful character.
The first piece showcases the alphabet, the second piece is one of Melissa’s favorite
quotes that I find quite fitting for this typeface!
The typeface was exhibited in a university wide show and featured on Syracuse University news.
The typeface was exhibited in a university wide show and featured on Syracuse University news.