“Shui Sans” Typeface

Concept:

The idea was to create a typeface based on a location. The subject of my typeface is on the Forbidden City, a 600-year-old palace complex meant only for the elites. The architecture and design of the palace is meticulous and symbolic, so it would make for a very specific and recognizable typeface.

Jobs:

Research

Ideation

Glyph design

Subject representation

Editing

Process:

As I learned about the Forbidden City and the heavy symbolism the complex has, I had more and more to go off of for the typographic design. The biggest motif from the city that I wanted to include is the practice of feng shui. This practice emphasizes polarity, using opposites together for a sense of balance; where there are man-made structures, there should also be elements of nature. The city itself deeply integrated plants and nature, so I concluded that the typeface should be a balance between organic and inorganic form with an overall elegant look. The vertical strokes throughout the typeface are thick and have 90° angles to represent that man-made quality. The other elements, particularly the shoulders and ball terminals, have a rounder, thinner form that is evocative of natural elements. When combined, the high contrast in stroke width gives the entire typeface an elegant look; possibly handwritten by a calligrapher.

Made in Glyphs Mini 2 and Adobe InDesign.