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Elken Font - would love some critique
Hello!
I'm looking for a little feedback on a font I recently designed; Elken - a black, solid, display face with a stencil-type structure. (I didn't set out to create a stencil font, it happened by itself?)
Specifically, I know there are many problems with the spacing/kerning, and I have issues with c, g, s and t. I'd love to hear any comments or criticism... As it is my first font, I have much to learn.
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27 Aug 2009 — 1:12am
Could you share with us the concept, thinking behind this typeface?
I like the look of it. Look very industrial, like metal screw.
a, c and u look similar, just different width. What if you eliminate the top right serif of letter a. what is wrong with g ? s might look like o, but the diagonal cut help define it, try to experience with other shape instead of circle. t is different because it is 1 shape, unlike the other have 2 shapes.
I can't read the word elken, thought it was ellren. Maybe because the kerning and letterspacing is the same.
Small l look like uppercase I.
What do you think about r.
x and z has the same shape, but different cut.
7 Sep 2009 — 9:18am
I'd try the 'e' with the projecting nub coming out above the line and more horizontally, like the spur on a font like Jenson.
7 Sep 2009 — 9:28am
The shapes are great, IMHO. But the spacing do need some fixing. :D
12 Sep 2009 — 4:56am
hi! thanks for your comments... I haven't had time to look back at my work since posting this, and now things seem to be a little clearer..
the letter shapes grew out of some abstract-y sketching of mine based on the systematic/organic shapes of elk antlers - then I was looking at creating letters out of a modular sort of version of those shapes. but the final forms did turn out to be relatively.. hm.. cold, compared to the original scribbles.
I had a look at jenson; thats quite an unusual feature... haven't seen that before?
yes, the spacing is tricky - the letterforms themselves actually prevent the spacing from working out effectively. I'm thinking maybe a little bit of a redesign might be in order..