Vala Typeface

Overview

Designed a custom hand-drawn blackletter typeface—reviving a classic style for today’s designers and artists.

Client

N/A - Personal

My Role

Typeface Designer

Timeframe

1/2022 - 4/2022

Project Brief

This exploration reintroduces 12th-century European design to the 21st century. In today’s fast-paced design world, staying relevant means constantly adapting to new trends. Blackletter typography, born in the Middle Ages, is rarely seen in modern design. Reimagining it today allows for a design that feels both luxurious and accessible.

Vala, my hand-drawn typeface, blends classical blackletter elements with a contemporary twist, reconnecting designers to the roots of typography. I drew inspiration from the calligraphic DTL Flamande for its handwritten quality, and incorporated modern influences like Myriad for its legibility and refined letterforms.

My Role

How I contributed to the project’s success

Designed a functional typeface, starting with hand-drawing letterforms, and refined using ProCreate, Adobe Illustrator, and Glyphs App.

Created a set of 7 posters as a type specimen, showcasing the typeface in use and promoting its unique qualities.

My Process

Discovery & Research

Explored the origins and evolution of blackletter script, first popularized in the Middle Ages and prominently used in texts like the Gutenberg Bible.
Observed the decline of blackletter in modern design, despite its rich history and visual beauty.
Reflected on the fast-paced nature of current design trends and questioned whether historical styles like blackletter are being overlooked or undervalued.

Synthesis & Strategy

Identified an opportunity: reimagining blackletter could bridge the gap between tradition and modernity—offering a fresh, luxurious, and accessible aesthetic.
Defined a design direction: create a typeface that honors the historical roots of typography while adapting it for contemporary use.

Design & Iteration

Drew inspiration from DTL Flamande for its elegant contrast and historical character, and referenced Myriad for modern legibility and accessibility.
Sketched letterforms by hand in Procreate, focusing on consistency, balance, and usability.
Refined and vectorized designs in Adobe Illustrator, then built the full typeface in Glyphs App with custom spacing and kerning.