Bah Humbug
A Custom Display Typeface that Causes a Buzz
Disciplines
Typography, Illustration
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign
Objective
What started as a tedious exercise in illustration and typography quickly became a serious passion project when I realized the many niche sectors it could represent, from gardening to zoology. In science and education fields, design and presentation are too often overlooked, so I sought to make a typeface that could take any plain signage, article, infographic, textbook, or diagram to the next level and spark audience interest!
Process
The letter forms were developed by hand, initially, and then refined and fully rendered digitally. The line work style is inspired by scientific diagrams and Victorian poster illustrations. Fluctuating line weights and organic shapes were used to maintain a natural feeling. I took artistic liberties with the insect forms to ensure the font’s weight and x-height were consistent, for optimal legibility. Restricting the typeface to all caps allowed for greater detail, anatomical accuracy, and cohesion, and is fitting for its intended purpose as an attention-grabbing display typeface.
