Abbey Sans - More Initial Ideas 2

After looking at some post modernist type and doing some more research on Abbey Road, these ideas and experiments were the result. 

This idea plays with the weight of the type, more specifically just one part of the letterform, creating a contrast; this was done a bit with 70’s type and can be seen in the typeface ‘Zipper’ used on the cover of David Bowies Album ‘Hunky Dory’. While in the 70’s this was seen with quite bubbly rounded text, weight contrast in type is used in a contemporary setting but m ore with geometric sans serif type. While the resulting type is interesting and reminiscent of the era, it doesn’t quite represent the grandeur and scale that the Beatles and Abbey Road would require.

This idea took inspiration from one of Milton Glaser blocky geometric stencil typefaces. Similarly to the previous idea, while this is an interesting visual concept and could be explore further, it’s not instantly visually representative of Abbey Road.

After really considering and reviewing why these ideas just didn’t represent Abbey Road visually, I thought about what would. The album is harmonic and orchestral yet groovy and upbeat, it ranges from delicate vocals and melodies to howling vocals and guitar solos. Yet still, this more delicate and beautiful side of the album is more apparent when listening to the lyrics - and thats what the typeface needed to show. 

This idea for a typeface really gets across the correct style and message of the album. Half of each letterform is unaltered lateral sans serif type, while the other is curved, psychedelic and free. It represents the contrast between the A and B sides of the album, references the Beatles visually through curvy psychedelic strokes and accents and also works in a contemporary setting. After asking for peer feedback, the consensus was that it was very evocative of the 70's.