02: Easy As ABC

Time Limit: 120 minutes

Categories: Illustration, Paper Engineering, Physical Prototyping, Photography, Type Design

Challenge: Design a typeface that will be composed from elements in the world around you. Assemble your twenty-six-character alphabet using only found objects or environments. Letters may be documented through collage, photography, photocopying, digital illustration, and other appropriate mediums. Avoid examples of computer typefaces out “in the wild,” documenting elements of existing writing or signage, or pulling into your typeface anything that might be considered a traditional letterform.

My take away: I decided to make my typeface in the negative, taking white rice on a black surface and letting the negative space form the letters and then photographing them. It came out more consistent than I was expecting once all put together. Messy way to make a typeface, but very satisfying to draw into the rice. Glad I went with rice instead of sugar though, that wouldn’t have been fun to clean up.

01: Hello, My Name Is

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Categories: Identity Development, Illustration

Challenge: Spend 10 minutes answering the following questions. “What are my three strengths as a designer? My weaknesses? What’s my favourite colour? What designers do I love? What design work do I enjoy? What kind of work do I want to do in the future?” Then design logo that is clearly informed by your off-the-cuff responses. Be sure to stick to the time limit provided - don’t cheat!


My take away: It has been a while since I’ve done any logo design! I spend so much time in Photoshop and inDesign, it was nice to sit down with this book and my sketchbook on the couch and tackle a small quick design project. I like that it gives me a time limit. I am not looking for perfect designs, just looking for a design activity that is not the same as what I’m doing every day at work. Follow along if you’d like! This is 01 of 80 design challenges in the Creative Workshop book, by David Sherwin.