Purrfect Type Safari

Date 12/4/2024

The Brief 

Design an engaging and informative font book that presents classic typefaces through creative, cat-inspired metaphors. Each typeface is paired with a specific cat breed, using the breed’s personality and visual traits to highlight the unique characteristics of the font.

Team Members 

Myself (Graphic Designer & Illustrator)

 My Responsibilities as a (Graphic Designer & Illustrator ) :

Concept development

Typeface research

Visual metaphor creation

Illustration & layout design

Typography pairing

Color palette development

 Tools: 

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign,

Procreate 

Timeline: 

3 weeks 

Concept

Font Safari: The Cat Chronicles an engaging journey by pairing each typeface with a unique cat that embodies its traits. This approach makes type design more relatable and visually memorable while blending education and creativity.

Typeface-Cat Pairings

  1. Bodoni – The Elegant Leopard
    A high-contrast serif font matched with the poised, stylish grace of a leopard. The sharp serifs echo the animal’s sleek movement and timeless charm.

  2. Helvetica – The Urban Alley Cat
    A versatile and neutral font likened to a resourceful alley cat navigating the modern city. Helvetica’s clean lines reflect its adaptable nature.

  3. Avenir – The Friendly House Cat
    A modern sans-serif font with geometric warmth, paired with a cozy, lovable house cat. Avenir’s friendly curves bring comfort and approachability.

  4. Caslon – The Majestic Lion
    A classic serif with dignity and strength, mirrored by the regal lion. Caslon’s historical weight and authority are reflected in the lion’s presence.

  5. Futura – The Sleek Siamese Cat
    Geometric and minimal, Futura mirrors the sharp, futuristic elegance of the Siamese cat. Its structure and balance express refinement and innovation.

  6. Rockwell – The Bold Jungle Cat
    With strong slab serifs, Rockwell takes on the bold personality of a tiger. Its heavy forms demand attention, just like a jungle cat in the wild.

  7. Didot – The Mysterious Panther
    High contrast and chic, Didot is captured by the panther’s fluid and shadowy elegance. Its refined structure enhances the mood of mystery.

Design Approach

Illustration Style: Hand-drawn cat characters tailored to the feel of each typeface

Typography: Each spread highlights the featured typeface in both display and paragraph use

Color Palette: Tailored to each cat and font pairing—e.g., moody tones for Didot, warm neutrals for Caslon

Layout: Clean, engaging spreads with a consistent visual rhythm to guide readers through the font safari

Outcome

Font Safari: The Cat Chronicles is a playful, visually engaging book that combines type education with character-driven storytelling. It makes learning about fonts fun and memorable by connecting typography with feline charm. The project showcases the power of metaphor in design, while demonstrating creative thinking, illustration, and typographic skill.