This was originally written by Sayli on Medium.
So far we talked about the diversity of Indian scripts, so why not to take advantage of the same! This blog is about one of the ways you can explore diverse letter forms. Let us illustrate the same by exploring Devanagari script.
How do we take off to the journey of exploring Indian typeface using Indian typeface?
Following are few guides that can help you to start your journey to new territory.
Understanding the script
Everything in nature has rule, so does a script. Understanding the same is first step to proceed. Every letter should be drawn in specific order. Also a certain grid is defined to to acquire exact letter proportions. Understanding becomes easy if you compare the fundamentals with the ones you know. An example given below will clarify the same.
Understanding the order followed for particular letter form
Vowels and consonants
Unlike Latin script vowels are merged with consonants in Devanagari as shown below.
Letter Skeletons
Once the basics of word formation are understood, we can now try tweak the rules a bit. The skeleton and flesh gives character to person and differentiates individual. Similarly the process of letter form innovation can start off by playing with letter structure first and then with the weights.
Here the knowledge of language comes in a picture. As mentioned earlier, each script of Indian language possesses a unique character. Taking inspiration from the same, we can alter our letter structures. In the example mentioned below, Bengali script is taken as inspiration to play with skeleton of Devanagari letters.
Font family exploration
One out of the above structures was taken ahead and the process of font family exploration initiated. Simple rule of repetition was applied to explore the same.
Same formula was used to explore rest of the letterforms to complete the family.
Characterization
By playing with weights and graphic styles, a character was added to the family. Possibilities of coming up with new skeletons and styles is endless. Not every form one explores will work, but why not give it a try.
This was originally written by Sayli on Medium.
