Build: 3D Typography Class

Material

After I had decided on the structure I needed to consider material.

What material can hold another?
How can I manipulate the material to create space within?
What resources do I have at my disposal?

I knew that at least the external structure would need to be hard and retain it's shape so I chose acrylic both for it's strength and transparent quality. This material would also allow for the visual representation of "space." Next, I decided to chose wood for the internal space. It would hold it's shape as well but add another level of texture.

What resources do I have at my disposal?

Wood shop
Fabrication lab: Laser cutter

First attempt:
For my first letterform I chose the letter "B" in the typeface Helvetica Neue Lt Std 75 Bold

architecture

I decided to use UIC's Fab Lab Laser Cutting machines to help create the perfect shapes and letterforms. To make this piece I started with acrylic sheets cut into 6 whole circles, and 5 hollow circles. Next, I would take a letterform and break it down into 5 pieces. Then I cut those pieces into wood shapes. Then, I would begin to layer. First one lays down a whole acrylic circle and then a hollow one on top. Then you place the wooden shape within and cover it with another whole acrylic circle. Continue process until all wooden pieces sit within acrylic circles.

The Space within becomes the
reality of the building

Frank Lloyd Wright

Build is a piece I created in a studio-based 3D typography class. I was meant to find a quote and create a 3D typographic piece based on that quote. I chose a quote by Frank Lloyd Wright: ‘The Space within becomes the reality of the building’. Focusing on the phrase ‘space within’
I decided on an external and internal structure that would lay the ground work for the letterform.

Type Face & Word
Next, I decided on the typeface of Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk

I also chose the word "within" to serve as the basis for letterforms. I broke down each letter in the word and created the wooden pieces.