This project is a type design project, we were tasked to design and construct our own typeface which will be influenced by architecture within South Africa. As well as focusing on exploration and experimentation into mark-making and the various ways in which I will be able to express my identity as a designer. The typeface design and exploration will allow me to depict a personality to enhance my designs. The design process will consist of different mark-making techniques and materials in order to explore and discover new found shapes within South African architecture that will influence my design.
The typeface will need to be one of the two classifications, Sans Serif or Serif. It will also need to read well as body-copy, thus the typeface will need to be legible in small sizes. The typeface will consist of a-z in lowercase and uppercase, numbers, punctuation, symbols and glyphs. The final output of the typeface will be portrayed on a Brochure and Posters which display the typeface and the personality it holds.
Anno is a modern serif typeface designed specifically for bodycopy and headers within a traditional, formal and elegant space. It contains oval counters with a rectangular touch, with thick stems that transition into delicate shoulders, bars and serifs. All of which emulate the specific details from the specific building it was inspired from.
The Old Netherlands Bank is a historical landmark in Church Square, Pretoria, built in 1896. The building was designed by an Amsterdam born architect known as Wilhelm Johannes de Zwaan. This building carries the name of the former Nederlandsche Bank voor Zuid-Afrika which is known today as Nedbank. The Netherlands Bank was designed in the Neo-Holland, Flemish Renaissance Revival and Dutch Renaissance style with the top of the building being reminiscent of various buildings in Holland. As well as the cast-iron gates which are reminiscent of Netherlands and are thus rendered in Art Nouveau. This building is no longer used as a bank as it is now known to be Pretoria’s tourist information bureau.
The most prominent art movement is the Flemish Renaissance Revival. This style and architecture was inspired by the specific architecture found in Northern Europe within the 17th century. The Flemish Revival architecture started to appear within the 1870s-1880s, as a Belgian architect known as Emilie Janlet started to popularise it on various buildings.
The characteristics of this style include the stepped gable which is seen to be the most identifiable feature. Technically these stepped gables are just a parapet wall which was designed to hide a standard pitched gable roof, yet these parapets have been designed with quite some detail. This building is made out of red brick and raised stone quoins which add in some extra texture to masonry corners. Including further ornamentation through the use of carved terra cotta decorations combined with Dutch Baroque motifs. This style is also found within the decorative arts seen in the early 20th century.
The target audience of the Anno typeface is intended for designers who are captivated and interested in traditional and elegant serif typefaces. Designers who are inquisitive about the history of a typeface and what time period it was generated from. A typeface which holds structure and formality while evoking a sense of authority and sophistication.
The typeface has thereby been designed based on the time period of the Old Netherlands Bank consisting of old, traditional and formal characteristics. This typeface will be one from the past, taking on the various styles during this time period.
The grid was inspired by various features and decorative elements within the Old Netherlands Bank building. Through the thick rectangular block structure to the delicate, intricate and decorative details. The grid emulates a similar space to that of the cast-iron gates which finish off the building. In addition to various ovular and rectangular shapes which form the basis of the windows and stepped gables. Thereby portraying the classical and elegant characteristics through the use of shapes, curves and lines.
