As an introduction to typography, students were asked to discover and photograph letterforms found in their everyday surroundings — from campus walks to weekend travels to their dormitory environment. The challenge: create a complete alphabet by capturing shapes in the built or natural environment that suggest letterforms, without photographing actual printed type or signage.
This assignment emphasized observation, composition, and typographic awareness. Students developed their visual sensitivity by spotting implied forms in architecture, objects, shadows, textures, and urban structures. Each student submitted 30 photos, representing:
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A complete A–Z alphabet
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Additional punctuation or symbols of their choosing (e.g., ?, !, “, }, +, =)
This foundational exercise encouraged students to:
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See type as form, not just content
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Think about typography spatially and abstractly
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Practice framing, contrast, and photographic composition
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Connect design to their everyday lived environment
Some students also developed a second set of letterforms based on a theme of their choice.
Hira Syad, George Mason University, Fall 2025 — letterforms made from vines and flowers, “crafted from lush green vines and delicate white flowers”
Hana Diehl, George Mason University, Fall 2025
Emilie DonTigny, George Mason University, Fall 2025 — Letterforms made from books
Nazly ElShakankiry, George Mason University, Fall 2025 — Letterforms made with a continuous piece of yarn
Jon Lansberry, George Mason University, Fall 2025 — “… exposure rate of a picture reduced and waving light around to create a letter form”
Binglei Ni, George Mason University, Fall 2025 — Letterforms made with objects from a personal kitchen
Karli Young, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Sophia Winsand, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Faith Rude, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Erica Krahn, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Madison Kowalski, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Keshon Hughes, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
Brittany Davis, Univ. Minnesota, Duluth, Fall 2022
