Sugar Water Typeface &
Stereotype C Cafe
The Task:
For this project I was assigned a random typeface and random musical genre. I received Scala Sans and Trip-Hop. From there, the goal was to create a custom typeface that embodied the spirit of Trip-Hop using Scala Sans as a starting point. With that typeface, I was to create a brand identity for a cafe/music venue that would feature Trip-Hop artists. Sugar Water is the display typeface I created from this, based on the Cibo Matto song of the same name. Sugar Water is the official typeface of Stereotype C, the venue whose identity I created for this project, based on the Cibo Matto album Stereotype A. I can confidently say that this was the most challenging design process and creative endeavor I have faced as a student. I can also say that I believe it to be my best work to date.
Sugar Water Typeface Overview
Type Specimen Book
The final deliverable for this project was a type specimen book. With this, I wanted to really showcase the characteristics of Sugar Water in a way that went all out in celebrating what the font can do while paying homage to the music that inspired it.
Early Drafts
In the initial stages of designing the specimen book, I went wild with it. I find Trip-Hop to be a fascinating and excellent genre full of funky, declarative musical statements and personality, and I wanted to reflect that visually. Although, I perhaps went too bold and designed to my heart’s content at the expense of cohesion.
Final Draft
After some feedback, I dialed back a bit of the excess in the specimen book, and created a more unified, cohesive experience that still exuded the spirit of Trip-Hop.
