36 Days of Type: Designing Systems Through Iteration and Visual Consistency

Project Brief

A system-based approach to typography that teaches students to build visual consistency through structured iteration, modular thinking, and strategic design methodology.

Typography is often introduced through structure, anatomy, and technical precision. While these foundations are essential, students must also learn how to develop cohesive visual systems and approach design with intention, efficiency, and clarity.

Inspired by the global 36 Days of Type challenge, this project reframes the format into a structured, multi-week system-building exercise. Rather than designing 36 individual characters,  students develop a visual strategy and design methodology through research, moodboards, and sketching, and then apply that system across all 36 characters (A–Z, 0–9).

At the core of this project is the idea of working smarter, not harder. Students are encouraged to design modular components, establish visual rules, and build a consistent typographic language that can scale across the full alphabet.

Over time, the focus shifts from individual letterform design to system-level thinking, where each character contributes to a unified and intentional visual outcome.

SPECIFICATIONS

Students design 36 characters (A–Z, 0–9) using a consistent visual system.

Production Schedule:

• Week 1: Research, concept development, moodboard, system definition, and sketches for 4 characters
• Weeks 2–5: 6 characters per week
• Final Week: 8 characters

This pacing allows students to gradually increase speed and confidence as their design system becomes more refined and efficient.

Media:

Main digital tool is Adobe Illustrator. Supporting tools are Photoshop, Procreate or equivalents.

Constraint:

Each character must maintain a recognizable connection to the chosen foundation typeface while adhering to a consistent visual system.

PROCESS 

Step 1 — Research + Concept Development + Moodboard + System Definition

Students define a creative direction supported by references, visual research, and conceptual intent. They create a moodboard and establish a design methodology, identifying visual rules, modular elements, and stylistic constraints. Students select a foundation typeface that will serve as the “bones” under their own design. This typeface will help students maintain a consistent type anatomy — cap height, x-height, baseline, ascender, descender, etc — throughout the design.

Step 2 — Sketching + Ideation

Initial sketches explore how the system applies across four different letterforms before moving into digital execution. Sketch 3 letters and 1 number across four distinct creative directions

Step 3 — Iterative Production

Students produce characters following the structured weekly schedule, refining their system as challenges arise.

Step 4 — System Refinement

As more characters are developed, students evaluate consistency, efficiency, and adaptability of their design approach.

Step 5 — Final Series Presentation

Students assemble a cohesive presentation demonstrating their full typographic exploration process with their designed typeface presented as a structured grid-based poster

Learning Objectives

• To understand typography as both form and system
• To develop a cohesive visual language across multiple letterforms
• To learn how to work efficiently through modular and system-based design
• To explore the relationship between letterform structure, consistency, and variation
• To strengthen iterative thinking through phased production
• To develop and articulate a clear design methodology

Deliverables

Students submit:

• The completed 36-character typographic system, presented as a structured grid-based poster
• An in-class presentation and accompanying PDF documenting the narrative and design decisions behind the project, including:

  • - Cover page with student information

  • - A page describing the project

  • - Moodboard and visual references

  • - Written design methodology

  • - Selected sketches and process work

  • - The completed 36-character typographic system presented in a structured 3x3 grid (9 characters at a time)

  • - Three mockups demonstrating real-world applications of the designed typeface

  • - A short reflection on system development, challenges, and iterative refinement

Selected work may also be shared in exhibitions or digital platforms.

Readings/Resources

• Article | We interviewed the creators of 36 Days of Type (turn on your google translate)https://tendencias.tv/people/disenadores/36-days-of-type/
• Video | 36 Days Of Type | Illustration & Animation https://youtu.be/HHupl8j-ZyU?si=vtvlmQ7Ze5v4SlbA
• Video | 36 Days of Type - 2020 - Vector https://youtu.be/q3QejzsBfmg?si=n9tG1b4Rixiwdc4g
• Video | A Tattoo Illustration #Day 1 of 36 days of type https://youtu.be/vkvzHhaamjU?si=5FFWZGBs2xGjiCaY
• Tutorial | 3D Design in Illustrator https://youtube.com/shorts/xOmfgM1TVk0?si=gyS-DQKLXy4hilqj
• Video | 36 Days of Type 2021 - From Sketch to Vector (Adobe Illustrator) https://youtu.be/QSiNAT-a1bc?si=xDSpdlRP4WPzFDjK
• 36 Days Of Type Showreel https://vimeo.com/577110012
• Designer Spotlight | Mario De Meyer | 36 Days of Type 2016 https://www.behance.net/gallery/44326131/36-Days-Of-Type-2016
• Video | I Did 36 Days Of Type Challenge (Blender) https://youtu.be/qru1s00_otk?si=yqR3LlbhXILCdrmX
• Video | 36 Days Of Type 2020 Reel (Animated Type) https://youtu.be/jUksGHwWLWA?si=7qJ5GoQMK4rUCUK7

Reflections

Typography education often emphasizes precision, hierarchy, and formal rules. While these are essential, students also need to understand how to build systems that allow design decisions to scale across multiple applications.

This project introduces students to system-based thinking through typography, using the alphabet as a structured framework for exploration. The challenge is not simply to design 36 characters, but to develop a methodology that supports consistency, efficiency, and clarity.

One of the most important learning outcomes is the shift from isolated problem-solving to system-driven design. Students begin by focusing on individual letterforms, but quickly realize that consistency requires intentional rules, modular thinking, and strategic repetition. Once they realize this they hit their stride.

The phased production schedule reinforces this learning. As the number of required outputs increases, students are encouraged to rely on their system rather than reinventing solutions. This helps them understand how professional designers manage complexity while maintaining visual coherence.

One caveat: some students initially experience anxiety because the task may seem insurmountable. It's important to walk them through the project breakdown and reassure them that the structure is designed to support them if they keep up with the weekly work. Despite these initial nerves, students grow in both confidence and ability as they progress through the project and learn to trust the process—and themselves. This has consistently resulted in student work that makes them proud of their growth and accomplishment, and has also gained industry recognition.

Ultimately, this project helps students put their design skills to the test and recognize that strong design is not just about individual outcomes, but about building systems that support meaningful and scalable visual communication. 

RECOGNITION & IMPACT

Student work developed through this project has been recognized beyond the classroom. Selected pieces have been exhibited in local showcases, including the Troy University Student Art Showcase and exhibitions at the Johnson Center for the Arts, and featured in university media outlets.

Additionally, student work has received recognition at the regional American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) in both the Dothan and Montgomery chapters, demonstrating the ability of system-driven typographic exploration to produce outcomes aligned with professional standards.

EDUCATOR'S PORTFOLIO: https://www.tbelda.com/