Marbles Award winning typographic experiment

Whilst developing a typographic style for a US editorial client, the proposed design solution was relegated from the process. The original proposal – see last 100 numeral visual – was based on 3D numerals with an organic hollow centre, inadvertently reminiscent in style of a Barbara Hepworth sculpture. This idea still had potential, so I decided to use it as the starting point for a new personal project. I stripped everything back to flat 2D and started to develop a complete set of numerals.

As the typographic designs developed, the internal forms within the body / counters of the numbers started to become more intricate and a reminiscence to the internal patterns of classic marbles emerged. This was a perfect name for the project, so the letters required were also developed, which inevitably led to the design of the complete alphabet!

The freedom of the paths allowed for experimentation across a variety of graphic styles. The first experiment formed the basis for my Max Richter – Dream 3 sleeve submission to Secret 7" 2016.

With Marbles now the designated name for the project it would be remiss not to experiment in C4D to create the marble style for real. The numbers 7, 8 and 9 were tested. The results were surprisingly powerful and truly connected to the project name.

Further design experimentation with flat colour also led to interesting results – obscure geometric forms tessellating like a brain teaser puzzle.