According to instructions, we have to create a font from one of the 3
options:
✦ Create a font that is intended to solve a larger problem/ part of
a solution in the area of your interest.
✦ Explore existing letterforms in an area of interest.
✦ Experimental design
We were told to present a proposal during tutorial/practical
including our ideas on what we want to create.
Below is my Proposal:
Fig 1.1. Proposal Slides, Week 9
After presentation, I decided to go with Idea 1. Which is creating
pictograms with Victorian symbol and motifs.
Mr. Vinod suggested I create a lowercase font along with the
symbols so it can work as the answer key.
Fig 1.2. Sketch of Font Idea (17.06.2025)
➤ Research/ Collecting References
As my font is to create Victorian motif symbols, I looked for
common victorian symbols and designs for inspiration. I also
looked for references I wanted for my lowercase font design. I
decided to go for unicase fonts so that it can be consistent like
my uppercase fonts which would be symbols.
Fig 1.3. References for Pictograms (23.06.2025)
Fig 1.4. References for lowercase unicase (23.06.2025)
➤ Sketches
Before sketching, I decided to make things more easier by
compiling a list of possible references I can use to create each
pictogram. I searched in dictionaries and history of England to
find prominent words or elements in the Victorian Era.
A - apothecary
B - betrothed
C - circus
D - dog
E - Epidemic
F - Factory
G - God
H - Horse
I - Ink
J - Joker
K - King
L - London
M - Mail
N - Newspaper
O - Opium
P - Penny
Q - Queen
R - Royal (orb)
S - Sun
T - Tea
U - Unicycle
V - Victoria
W - Wine
X - Xylophone
Y - Yorkshire
Z - Zoo
After deciding on the motif for each letter, I did a sketch for
all of it.
Fig 1.5. Sketches for uppercase letters
(29.06.2025)
Based on my mood board, I also did sketches for the
lowercase letters. Which in this case will be
uppercase letters used as the answer key for the
cipher.
Fig 1.6. Sketches for lowercase letters
(29.06.2025)
➤ Digitalization
I first created a standard grid for all the
ciphers to keep consistency.
Fig 1.7. Grid for uppercase letters
(29.06.2025)
For uppercase, I used the Pen tool for simple
shapes, shape tool for geometrical shapes and the
brush tool for everything else. The brush tool was
extremely helpful for complicated patterns and
inorganic shapes.
Fig 1.8. Progress for uppercase letters
(29.06.2025)
After illustrating all the pictograms based on my
sketch, I used the pathfinder to merge everything
into one shape.
Following Instructions from a senior's blog, Rhyanne C. Lowe, I imported my font as svg into Font Forge. I used the
transformation tool to make all my unicase letters
smaller.
Fig 1.15. Kerning of lowercase letters (07.07.2025)
Fig 1.16. Bearing of letters (07.07.2025)
After adjusting the bearings, I put the uppercase above and
lowercase below to compare. Make sure it i consistent. Then I
exported it, testing it again by installing and using the
font.
Fig 1.17. Exporting Viciphorian (07.07.2025)
Fig 1.18. Viciphorian Test Run (07.07.2025)
I realized some of my uppercase letters were too close to each
other and decided to adjust the bearings again.
I decided to add gradient and textures with film grain to make
things look more interesting and to imitate the vibe of a
breakout room. I imported everything o photoshop to add the
filters and textures.
Fig 1.23. Texture in Photoshop (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.24. Embossing (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.25. film grain (15.07.2025)
Mr. Vinod suggested I make the font bigger to showcase my
pictograms. I also edited the crossword puzzle to have more hidden
words inside.
I decided to make a Cipher with one of the presentations
for interpretation, presenting a storyline. With J=Joker
and the Pictograms spelling out "Save the Queen".
Fig 1.26. Edits (16.07.2025)
➤ Finalized Font Presentation
Fig 1.27. Font Presentation 1 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.28. Font Presentation 2 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.29. Font Presentation 3 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.30. Font Presentation 4 (16.07.2025)
Fig 1.31. Font Presentation 5 (16.07.2025)
➤ Font Application
Since my font is a cipher made for escape rooms or games,
preferably Victorian themed ones. So I decided to create a few
visuals and 2 edited screen recordings from escape/puzzle
games.
First are the visuals of breakout rooms. I made a mockup of a
hint cards using just the elements from my font.
Fig 1.32. Font Application Progress 1 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.33. Font Application Progress 2 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.34. Font Application Progress 3 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.35. Font Application Progress 4 (15.07.2025)
Next, I created the "props" needed for the video edits on
the games. The games I chose was Rusty Lake Hotel and 50
rooms.
Fig 1.36. Rusty Lake Hotel & Escape Game 50 Rooms 1
(15.07.2025)
Fig 1.37. Font Application Progress 5 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.38. Font Application Progress 6 (15.07.2025)
Now that I have all the needed elements, I imported the
screen recordings of the games and edited the puzzles
with my font. This way, I can showcase how it would look
in gameplay. Edits were done in Alight Motion and Adobe
After Effects.
Fig 1.39. Font Application Progress 7 In Alight
Motion(15.07.2025)
Fig 1.40. Font Application Progress 8 in After
Effects(15.07.2025)
➤ Finalized Font Application
Fig 1.41. Font Application 1
(15.07.2025)
Fig 1.42. Font Application 2 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.43. Font Application 3 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.44. Font Application 4 (15.07.2025)
Fig 1.45. Font Application 5 (15.07.2025)
➤ Final Outcome
Download font here!
[Click Me] Viciphorian [by Loh Kai Xuan 2025]
I enjoy the mysteries of escape rooms and puzzle games, and I
love the Victorian Aesthetic even more...
So I thought, why not create a Victorian themed Cipher that
can be used in both escape rooms and games?
Introducing... "Viciphorian" ! A Cipher font where you have
to guess what each pictogram represents in the Victorian Era,
in order to find out what letter it is. Enjoy~
General Feedback:Mr Vinod went through some of our blogs for Task 1 and 2, Feedback were
given for all Task 3 proposals. Specific Feedback:I should go with idea 1 as idea 2 would make me suffer. Mr Vinod
suggested I add lowercase alphabets for my idea to act as the answer key
for my pictograms.
➤ Week 10:
General Feedback:Mr Vinod gave feedbacks to everyone's progress. Specific Feedback:Mr Vinod said to continue to proceed on my letterforms.
➤ Week 11:
General Feedback:Feedbacks were given to all the students. Specific Feedback:I was told to complete my lowercase and start on generating font.
➤ Week 12:
General Feedback:Briefing for font presentation and application. Specific Feedback:Mr Vinod told me that I did not need to join the Honor Competition and
to make 5 font presentation and application instead.
Experience This task was challenging and fun. Creating a whole font was not an
easy task, giving a valuable experience, using all the abilities
learned from both Typography Course and Advanced Typography.
However, Font Forge was difficult to use and slow to process. One of
the things I found frustrating since I cannot use
Fontlab.
Observations This task forced me to look around for many references and even
observe many senior works. It was enjoyable to see how everyone
created their own font and apply the knowledge learnt from them on
my work.
Findings At first, I thought it would be similar to our Final task in
Typography Course but i proved to be a lot more work. I learnt to
keep consistency throughout all the letterforms and it was fun to
find out how to apply my own font. Overall, I'm proud of my final
outcome. It may not be perfect, but what we did in this short time
was a great experience.
Fig 2.1, Typographic Design: Form and Communication (2015)
PG 12- 16: I looked through the book above, and found out about
typography evolution from the past, mostly the ones from
1822-1892.
I was surprised that industrial revolution had such impact on the
typographic and graphic design community. And that it spark so
many innovative designs.
I personally enjoy the fonts from that era, it gives a very bold
and impactful impression.
Fig 2.2, Typographic Design: Form and Communication, PG
12-16 (2015)
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