Typeface Design: Calliribbon
This typeface design is inspired by the ribbon-like shapes created by calligraphy strokes. Practicing English and Arabic calligraphy helped me observe how stroke angles and overlaps just like the bends and folds of a ribbon. I experimented with physical ribbons to study their 3D dynamics, translating these effects into letterforms.
Key challenges included designing cohesive details like the dots in “i” and “j” and maintaining smooth, flowing connections in letters like “h” and “k.” Timothy Samara’s Letterforms guided my exploration of stroke continuity and dimension. As I refine the typeface in Glyphs, I continue to balance elegance with structural complexity, ensuring the design captures the fluidity and depth of ribbon forms.
Year: 2024
Type: Typeface Design
Tools: Glyphs
I was first inspired by practicing English calligraphy, where the parallel nib of the pen often gives a ribbon-like “three-dimensional shape” to the curves when writing. Very typical is the letter “a,” the first letter I learned when practicing italic calligraphy, which impressed me a lot. In the arabic calligraphy workshop, I became more proficient with the calligraphy pen and writing, so I’m getting to be able to write smooth strokes. I also found that because I used blue ink, the overlapping strokes presented the same visual effect as when the transparent ribbon was folded or bended.
Through practice, I observed how stroke angles influence the width and rotation of the “ribbon.” I experimented with ribbon pieces, sewing them into fixed shapes to study their 3D bends and twists. Translating this into letters like “h” highlighted the folding angles and bends, while “i” and “j” posed unique challenges due to their dots and differing structures. To maintain cohesion, I introduced sharp twists, creating thin joints that visually connect the ribbon’s flow while preserving its 3D form.
