Yuh-Chyi Liou


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IRÓN


Photo by Sarah Koeke.

Originally published on:
https://ecal-typefaces.ch/iron/


IRÓN 是一種獨特的書寫裝置，由學生 Minjong Kim、Paul Sturm 和 János Hunor Vári 於 2021–22 秋季學期，在 Kai Bernau 的「工具造就造形」（Tools Make Shapes）課程中所設計與製作。這個工具本身是用當地 DIY 商店買的小型金屬零件，以及一個堅固的軸承（bearing）組裝而成，並用螺絲固定兩支鉛筆或麥克筆。IRÓN 的概念源自於我們所謂的「延遲線條」（lazy line）——意指書寫工具的兩個端點移動時不同步，或者第二個軸向未能精確跟隨第一個軸向的軌跡。

First trial with hair brush from the ‘lazy line’ concept.

First trial with hair brush from the ‘lazy line’ concept.

到達工具的最終形態是一段漫長的旅程，期間嘗試了不同的方法與可能性；從極度書法的路徑到完全數位的路徑都有。起初，我們實驗製作一種長毛短柄的刷子，但我們很快被迫意識到，我們在繪製過程中需要更多的控制力。接著我們做了一個大尺寸的刷子，但大尺度書寫的限制讓我們難以繼續。對我們而言，最大的挑戰在於理解「延遲線條」的邏輯，並找到工具的最終形式，以便應用其特性。我們必須找出 IRÓN 如何創造曲線，以及它如何生成有趣的形狀和字母元素。

To implement lazy-line’s calligraphic movement, ‘bearing’ was the key factors which can help rotating axis.
 透過練習，我們開始理解該工具的邏輯。在那一刻，我們決定每個人各自採取不同的方法——從基礎字母形式到實驗性繪圖——以測試這件新裝置的極限。

Trial of free sketches to figure out how Irón generates shapes.
Creation of a code following the logic of the pen.

Creation of a code following the logic of the pen.


透過練習，我們開始理解該工具的邏輯。在那一刻，我們決定每個人各自採取不同的方法——從基礎字母形式到實驗性繪圖——以測試這件新裝置的極限。

第一種嘗試：我們盡可能地進行實驗，不把工具當作筆，而是當作圓規來創造幾何形狀，不遵循嚴格的系統。這個方向與我們早期的草圖不同，但我們想探索工具的所有可能性。第二種方法：創造三個基本形狀，讓字母僅透過這三個形狀構建。我們試圖避免重複，但這種方法相當具有限制性。第三個方向：利用數位草圖工具。我們的目標是強調兩條線在交匯點的特徵，產生視覺上有趣的扭轉效果。

Possibilities of the shapes: when different approaches to sketches are digitalized.

Possibilities of the shapes: when different approaches to sketches are digitalized.


透過這三種不同方法的測試，引發了許多激發思考的問題。然而，我們在字母構造方面遇到了根本性的問題。基於第三種方法的啟發，我們基本上遵循書法原則來構建字母。最終的系統包含了從工具特性中繼承而來的極度簡化造形。

由於我們的目標是不破壞單個字母內的運動感，字母結構遵循了教廷體（chancery）或義大利體（italic）的手寫筆順（ductus），雖然它是垂直軸向的，但帶有寬尖筆描繪的特徵。寬尖筆的兩個邊緣總是平行的，而我們的工具則有兩個邊緣在某些點會互相交疊，從而在字幹（stems）中產生一種獨特的斷裂感。

最終，我們選擇了一種能展現 Irón 工具核心元素的基礎構造。從一個非常簡單的裝置出發，我們成功設計並探索出許多視覺上的變化。

Writing manual shows how letters were constructed based on a defined logic. Some refinements were required to polish broken parts by the intersections of the two pens.

Writing manual shows how letters were constructed based on a defined logic. Some refinements were required to polish broken parts by the intersections of the two pens.
Writing manual shows how letters were constructed based on a defined logic. Some refinements were required to polish broken parts by the intersections of the two pens.
Writing manual shows how letters were constructed based on a defined logic. Some refinements were required to polish broken parts by the intersections of the two pens.
Final characters and pages from the specimen.

Final characters and pages from the specimen.

About
Minjong Kim is a type and graphic designer from Korea. After working as a graphic designer in diverse fields for several years, he found a passion in type design.
               Paul Sturm is a graphic designer from Berlin with a focus on type design and typography. He recently graduated from the communication design program at HTW Berlin.
               János Hunor Vári is graphic designer from Budapest, with an interest in type design and art direction.
               The three of them are part of the Master Type Design at ECAL since 2021.

Keyword
Calligraphy
Tools

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