OVERVIEW
Role: Designer & Illustrator I Year: 2022 I Services: Typography Design I Program: Adobe Illustrator
DESIGN BRIEF
The goal of this project was to craft a captivating type specimen book that seamlessly blends the essence of Indigenous/Native American music with the Univers typeface, while respecting and avoiding cultural appropriation. With a focus on universality, the project aimed to create a font that resonates with the spirit of Indigenous cultures while preserving the core values of inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. In addition to the font, the project expanded to include an array of coffee products, a unique coffee venue, and vibrant posters – all infused with the harmonious fusion of Indigenous melodies and the timeless Univers typeface.
FONT
Vast is a striking and culturally sensitive font that draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of Indigenous/Native American music while paying homage to the timeless Univers typeface. Rooted in a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, Vast captures the essence of Indigenous melodies through its intricate letterforms, evoking a sense of cultural reverence. The font's design is a bridge between Univers's classic elegance and the soulful rhythms of Indigenous music, resulting in a truly unique typographic experience.
GENRE & SKETCHES
The genre of Indigenous Native American music, a profound wellspring of inspiration for "Vast," holds a rich heritage marked by its deep connection to the land, spirituality, and communal storytelling. Its rhythmic complexities and emotive melodies have indelibly influenced a spectrum of musical genres, including rock, jazz, and blues. This cultural cross-pollination was pivotal in shaping "Vast" into a font that transcends boundaries, making it universally relatable.
During the font's creation, the design process embarked on an exploratory journey, evolving through various iterations and sketches. Drawing from Indigenous motifs and the foundational elegance of the Univers typeface, each draft infused an evolving narrative of cultural homage and contemporary versatility. The meticulous refinement of these designs ensured that "Vast" could resonate across diverse contexts, blending its Native American roots with the adaptability required for modern typographic expression.
ALPHABET
The Vast font encapsulates a captivating fusion of sharp edges and delicate, thin strokes, lending an air of refined sophistication to each letterform. Its distinct allure lies in the seamless integration of circular shapes within the alphabet, imbuing the characters with an unconventional yet harmonious charm. The sharp edges exude modernity and clarity, while the thin strokes evoke an ethereal grace. This careful interplay of geometric precision and circular fluidity grants Vast a unique visual identity that is both bold and elegant, appealing to a wide spectrum of design applications
CENTERFOLD
NUMERALS
In numerical form, Vast extends its stylistic excellence, mirroring the same captivating essence as its alphabet counterpart. The font seamlessly integrates sharp angles and slender strokes, maintaining a consistent design language that exudes both modernity and finesse. Embracing circular motifs within the digits, Vast achieves a harmonious balance, infusing each numeral with an alluring blend of geometric precision and fluidity.
COFFEE SHOP/VENUE NAME & PRODUCTS
Sunrise, the enchanting coffee shop and venue name, resonates harmoniously with the spirit of the Vast font and draws inspiration from the evocative melodies of Indigenous Native American music. Just as the font blends modernity with cultural reverence, Sunrise captures the essence of dawn's promise through its inviting ambiance and soulful aesthetic. The meticulously crafted menu and coffee bean packaging echo the genre's rich heritage, seamlessly weaving the visual language of Vast with Indigenous motifs, resulting in a sensory experience that pays homage to tradition while embracing contemporary coffee culture. The thoughtfully incorporated illustrations infuse each element with an authentic connection, harmonizing the entire brand identity around the captivating narrative of Indigenous music and the font's artistic allure.
COFFEE CUPS & PERFORMERS
The coffee cups and mugs designed for Sunrise coffee shop exude an immersive aesthetic that mirrors the captivating essence of the Vast font and the Indigenous Native American music genre. Each vessel carries a harmonious fusion of geometric precision and fluid circular motifs, offering patrons a tactile extension of the venue's soulful ambiance. Complementing the experience, the promotional posters showcasing the performers maintain the genre's distinctive style and the font's unique look, creating a visual synergy that invites customers to step into the world of Indigenous rhythms.
