Hi There

It is hard to be original.

What I always try to do is design a concept first and then the actual design.
Everything you do has been done before by an other. Being 100% original is impossible.
You could try, but it is hard.

It is no shame looking around for inspiration. But, be aware of copying.
If things have no purpose, just leave them out.

I a way trends are an example of this. Light letters, gradients ... you see them around.
Are you less original when using that? I think it is about communication.
What is it you want to communicate.

If you can start a trend, I think you are original. Even though the actual trend has been done before.

I hope this helps.

If you’re not sure, you can always post it on Typophile. You can also use WhatTheFont to see if your first sketches match other designs.

I cannot speak directly about type design but as a musician, there was a moment in my mid-twenties when I stopped practicing and started playing. That’s also when I stopped being a fan.

After that I was not interested what other musicians were up to, especially those that were doing something close to what I was trying to do.

Being a primarily an ear-trained musician means that whatever I hear, I play. So I have to be really careful not to get poisoned.

pbc

I think Paul’s comment That’s also when I stopped being a fan. is right on the mark.

I’ve had this conversation with many of my type design colleagues and the consensus is that not looking at other peoples work is the best way to stay true to your own ideas. I suppose it is easier if you only design type and do no graphic design. But I stopped doing graphic design years ago, so I have no need or desire to look at other contemporary work,

James

but there must be unknown type designers out there doing fantastic work

I would think that if someone out there was doing “fantastic work” they would not remain unknown for very long.

Instead of NOT looking at the work of other professionals you could try to look at the work of a LOT of your peers — that will be a lot more instructive that shutting out everything.

And then there a lot of ‘laws’ in (graphic) design; learning them and especially learning to recognize them will help you knowing to decide whether you will adhere to them or not.

Nothing wrong with learning from the masters…

. . .
Bert Vanderveen BNO

It’s very easy to make your glyphs original.
Just don’t refer to other types when you’re drawing them.
If you start with a concept, and then work it out by drawing the glyphs, then the natural personality of your “hand” (including eye and brain) will express itself in an individual creation.
You will get the shape of the glyphs “right” not by comparing them one-on-one with the glyphs of other typefaces, but by trying to make your face work in various text settings.

Consider the featured face Netto. It looks to me like “Dax meets DIN in a Rapidograph template”. That’s a sufficiently original concept, if drawn out the way Daniel Utz has done it, with his own taste in the proportions of the letters, the quality of the curves, and the “speed” they transition into the straights. Then there is the question of fit, determined by the width of sidebearings among other things.

It’s very easy to make your glyphs original. Just don’t refer to other types when you’re drawing them.

Really? How did that work out for Figgins, Bodoni Egyptian, Walburn, Nicholas and Scotch Modern?

—K

As you have noted Kris, I have indeed designed a few revivals.
But what has that got to do with my advice?

It’s a bit harder to make revivals “different enough”.
So beginners seeking originality should avoid them.

However, taking a crack at reviving an incunabula face might not be a bad idea—the print quality is so rough that a lot of interpretation is required. If you’re going to do that, best to avoid Jenson and Griffo.

I combat unoriginality by copying original designs!

Mikey :op

I don’t partake in type design, but do in graphic design. The best way I’ve found to combat unoriginality is to accept I’m most likely not going to design something that is 100% original in every aspect of it’s being. By accepting that, I’m not worrying about something so much, and can instead focus on what the design can be and not what it can not be.

“You can also use WhatTheFont to see if your first sketches match other designs.”

Awesome idea.