Abstract Letteform

This project explores abstraction, typographic form, and visual storytelling through the deconstruction of letterforms. In the first phase, I sketched 60 abstract letterforms within 2-inch squares, experimenting with shape, balance, and rhythm while moving away from traditional legibility. In the second phase, I selected 20 of these sketches to develop into unique poster compositions, each exploring different visual relationships between form and meaning. From these, I refined one final design for presentation.

The final poster centers around the verb “yo-yo”, meaning “to move up and down.” It combines typographic play and narrative to express motion and emotion within a static composition. The abstract letter “Y” is inverted to resemble a finger, with a yo-yo tied to it — represented by the word “verb” forming the loop of a yo-yo string. Supporting elements include the word’s definition and a short story about a boy named Tim discovering an old yo-yo in his attic. This project demonstrates how abstract form and conceptual storytelling can merge to convey movement, personality, and emotion through type.

Tools: Adobe Illustrator