Mike Tully
French
Source material: J. Vinycomb's Modern Roman French (L.F.D., 1906)
Fall semester 2020
“French” is based on a Modern Roman French alphabet drawn by John Vinycomb. It was published by Lewis Foreman Day in Alphabets Old & New – For the Use of Craftsmen in 1906 and possibly originated before the 20th century. John Vinycomb worked as an engraver, illuminator, and heraldic designer in Belfast and London during the 19th and 20th centuries.
I was drawn to the delicate nature of this type and its contemporary sharpness yet rounded, sturdy proportions. The most challenging aspect in choosing to draw this type was its limited specimen—the single page in L.F.D.’s Alphabets Old & New—which includes a somewhat inconsistently condensed set of lowercase letters and no punctuation, figures, or additional glyphs.
The first step in drawing was to widen the lowercase letters towards proportions more harmonious with the capitals. In drawing the capitals, it became clear that smoothening some of the severity of some of the original letters would lend itself to a more cohesive and contemporary appearance. Overall, I decided to adapt its hairline weight to a thicker, less contrasted weight more appropriate for setting body text in addition to headlines.
With guidance from Tobias, I began to infer drawing decisions from additional sources, including ATF’s Lining Cushing No. 2 (1912). This was particularly useful when improvising characters that weren’t previously drawn such as the figures, punctuation, and additional glyphs.
An early version of French in use for an announcement for Nico Wheadon's lecture at the Yale School of Art, Fall 2020.
These student typeface designs created at Yale School of Art are noncommercial academic projects, commonly revivals or reinterpretations of historical typefaces. Read more about this typeface design course at Yale School of Art.
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