Negative Space - Design Principles | OUGD404

In This design principles session, we were challenged to choose any word, and use the negative space to communicate that word. 

 

An example of a vector using negative space

Selecting a word was the hardest part as there are so many possibilities. I didn't want to choose a word and then find that I couldn't find a way to use the negative space within it. One of the first ideas I came up with was the word 'gift' using the space between the f and the t to create the silhouette of a present. However I rejected this idea because the shape of the bow on the gift was not strong enough.
I then moved onto animals as this seemed like an easier topic to try out. At first, I began using the word rabbit. I attempted to cut carrots, rabbit head and tails out of the counters and any other place which seemed appropriate. The result was okay but I felt that I could do better.

I then realised that the two n's in the word bunny offered the opportunity to create bunny ears. At first, I was unsure how to execute this as there was blank space underneath the letters. Then I came up with the idea to extend the descender on the y to the other side of the n's. This gave me a space to create my bunny within. I cut small feet and a fluffy tail out of this to create the shape. I then took inspiration from my first idea and cut a carrot shape out of the u. 

The issue I had was that if the kerning was too tight the n's looked like an m- meaning the word was not read correctly. I originally tried to make the space for the bunny enclosed within the lines but I then developed the letterforms separately so the word was readable. I was pleased that now the word could be read and the image inside it was readable too. 

Sketching ways to create the word

Tip-ex in between the n's to correct the design

One of my final sketches with a clear spacing between the letters. 

My tutor suggested that the carrot was not needed in the U for the image to be readable. 

I then took my idea to illustrator. To create this, I wrote the word bunny in helvetica. I then used the create outlines tool and dragged the edges of the n's to make ear shapes. I used the pen tool to create a curve that extended from the y. I then used the eraser to create the features of the bunny in the descender. To finalise my design I used the pencil tool to draw the bunny face. I'm not sure if the face is really needed but it adds a nice touch to the design.