Inventing Language

In this project, we selected a subject as a starting point and then used it as a foundation to turn items into pictograms. I chose pizza toppings as I was working at Domino’s at the time and I thought it would be a fun and different way to approach the project. We started by sketching the topping then looking at them closer and getting the essence of the item, not necessarily what it looked like but how it is represented. We created pictograms of the items and then abstracted them, I did this by drawing them loosely over and over again until I had a glyph that was based on the ingredient but so far removed from it that it could have its own meaning.

  • Drawing Pizza Toppings

    I chose Pizza toppings as my starting point, then drew them.

  • Creating Pictograms

    I took my drawings and then converted the drawings into pictograms. Theses were the most simple that I could make them whilst they still had the original meaning.

  • Abstracting Pictograms

    I drew all of my pictograms over and over again making sure to not be too rigid with my drawing it out. I used a brush and ink to make sure that it would properly flow onto the page.

  • Finalising Glyphs

    I grabbed the biggest piece of paper and the biggest brush I could find then really let go and allowed myself to create a set of glyphs that were free of all meaning. I did this so that I could infuse my own meaning onto them.

  • Final Glyphs

    I wanted to modernise my glyphs so I took inspiration from Monospaced typefaces and created a geometric grid to finalise my set of glyphs.

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