Speculatype: A Transformative Approach to the Perception, Understanding and Creation of Latin Letterforms

It is not commonplace to engage in a line of questioning that provokes a creative response that departs from the foundations of the Latin letterforms and their history. However, it's by taking something as implicitly known as the Latin letterforms and applying a completely new interpretation to their creation, perception and understanding that I contribute new knowledge to the field of typographic research. Based in creative and reflective practice, this research focuses on the transformation of my perception and understanding of letterforms, through my constant interaction with compositions and shapes that deviate from those expected in the Latin alphabet. Embracing a bricolage of research methodologies, theories and concepts, this thesis presents nine of my typeface designs and documents the ways that I have been inspired and influenced by each exploration, as well as the reflective observations and discussions that have transformed how I engage in the act of creating letterforms. Deviating from the usual models of typographic research through its novel approach to the investigation, this study employs an open and speculative perspective towards letterforms and separates them from not only contexts and influences such as language, history, reading and print, but most importantly, any expectations of form. I argue that the associated "baggage" that can extend into the design of their forms due to these environments and the minimal tinkering with the strokes and shapes of the Latin letterforms will potentially lead to a creative "dead end". The reasons for this are that it enables an investigation of letterforms from an experimental and speculative viewpoint and that these investigations present little to no limitations from which to create. First and foremost, this is not a study about fonts, nor a study about alphabet, language or printing history, as many other authors have already comprehensively covered each of these topics. This thesis explores the letterforms of our alphabet, not as a problem-solving project, but instead as like a scientific lab experiment or an artistic body of work and from a position that enables creativity through open thought and investigation with the potential to extend into innovation and unknown possibilities.

About the Author :
Calling himself a Speculative Type Designer, Barry states that he often makes letters that may or may not look like letters. For over a decade he has researched, explored and played with the Latin letterforms and through his research and exploration he has been able to reach a point where he believes he has fundamentally altered the way that he creates, perceives and understands the shapes of the alphabet.Barry continues to explore the potential of letterforms while also writing and lecturing on graphic design, typography and type design.

Review :
Nicole Arnett Phillips - TypographHer/TYPOgraph.Journal Speculatype goes beyond making an original contribution to knowledge, by taking a brave leap into entirely new territory. Rather than question what a letter 'should' look like, Barry ambitiously explores what letters 'could' look like, establishing a radical model, where the designer actively erodes their preconceived expectations of typographic form.