I designed 4 typefaces based on 3 different processes: working only with set geometry, using the website Fontstruct, and manipulating physical material. I then studied ESPN and their magazine covers specifically to develop an ESPN cover using a selection of 2 custom typefaces as well as one regular typeface. I then created an experimental variation of the cover.
a.tuda - Geometric Typeface 1
Blueprint - Geometric Typeface 2 (Collaborative)
Strugg - Pixel Typeface
LIVINLIE- Material Typeface (Yarn and Board, Scanned)
Resources and Sample Covers
ESPN Cover Notes
Sketch 1
Sketch 2
ESPN Cover
ESPN Cover Iteration
I initially experimented with placing Alex Caruso on a solid or gradient colored background, similar to most of the ESPN covers I studied. However, because this is an in-the-moment shot of Caruso, rather than a studio photo with him posing and looking at the camera, it was appropriate and consistent with ESPN's format to have a background with content. I used the background from the image that I sourced Caruso from and darkened it to retain focus.
I selected the Livinlie typeface to replace the ESPN logo for a couple of reasons. First, the movement and kinetic energy in Livinlie's characters paired well with Caruso's raw emotion and playing energy. Second, this issue of ESPN is about "glue guys", and Livinlie paired with that theme best: the typeface is flowing and wavy like liquid (I pushed this idea further by coloring it blue). But the typeface is also sticky, with some segments of the characters clumping and more concentrated. This corresponded to liquid glue's properties and so Livinlie was the right choice. One doesn't need to know the meaning of the term "glue guys" to understand the cohesion between theme and logo.
