The client, Taronga Zoo decided to place large pieces of typography outside each animal’s exhibit that are designed in the theme of that animal.
I am required to design and construct a scale model of an animal-themed piece of type (1 singular letter) for your client to approve prior to construction of the larger sculpture.
The client, Taronga Zoo, commissioned human-scale signage for outdoor display in front of an animal exhibit. The signage had to incorporate the first letter of the animal’s name and some characteristics of that animal. The Zoo required a 3D scale model at 1:10 of the final size, constructed using cardboard, paper, glue, clay, paint, and scissors.
Creating sculptural typography involved transforming 2D letterforms into 3D, tactile, or expressive physical objects, bridging the gap between graphic design and sculpture. The letter I chose was “E” for Emu. The emu is a large, flightless bird endemic to Australia and capable of running at impressive speeds of up to 50 km/h.
In addition, the emu embodies a profound spiritual energy that symbolises resilience, strength, and survival.After selecting the letter, I designed the sculptural typography in Adobe Illustrator using CMYK. The emu was designed as part of its alphabet form, incorporating emu feathers and a small emu resting on the top. The next step in creating the 3D sculptural typography was measuring the size and constructing the sculpture using cardboard, paper, clay, paint, and a glue gun.
Adobe Illustrator: The 2D sculpture was illustrated.
Art & Craft: Sculptural typography was handmade, blending 3D techniques.
