Arch-able Typeface by Takafumi Miki and Tomoki Mitsuhashi

Bronze Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2020

Arch-able Typeface

by Takafumi Miki and Tomoki Mitsuhashi

A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
Awarded April 15, 2020
CLIENT: Arch-Able
Estimated Number of Design Views: 8,916
Verification code 72E6FF8250 · Verify this award

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About Arch-able Typeface

Arch-able is a stencil typeface designed for digital fabrication. The typeface supports the Arch-able platform, which archives and distributes digital data of architects' designs. The character set includes 26 letters, 10 numbers and 26 symbols. All corners are rounded, so drill bits, laser cutters and other tools can reach and follow every corner. Many stencil typefaces have right angle corners that cannot be engraved. Arch-able removes that limit and helps beginners produce three-dimensional lettering with common tools.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: ARCH-ABLE is a platform to archive and distribute digital data of architects’ designs. Anyone can download and reproduce architects’ designs as long as they are following the creative commons license.
This typeface is digital fabrication friendly because it has stencil style shapes and all corners are rounded for all drill bits, laser cutter, and other tools.
It makes all users comfortable to reproduce their products easier.
Dimensions & Packaging: 26 letters, 10 numbers, and 26 symbols
Tags: Typeface, Typography, DigitalFabrication, GeometricDesign, Simple, Idea,GraphicDesign, Future, Friendly, Japan
Production Technology: People had a problem about making 3D typography because it must have stencil style. And some stencil typefaces couldn’t engrave all corners even inside or outside because they have right angle corners.
So ARCH-ABLE typeface solved all issues for making 3D typography because it has stencil style shapes and all corners are rounded especially for all drill bits.
Design Challenge: This typeface structure has very strict rules. It was really hard to make all the characters. It should be all rounded, 45 degrees, geometric, 4x6, stencil style, and stylish. So we have to make it conceptual but keep it beautiful typeface as well. It was a very important thing.
Project Duration: This project term was from November 2018 to January 2020 in Tokyo, JAPAN.
Operation Flow: People had a problem about making 3D typography because it must have stencil style. And some stencil typefaces couldn’t engrave all corners even inside or outside because they have right angle corners.
So this typeface is digital fabrication friendly because it has stencil style shapes and all corners are rounded for all drill bits, laser cutter and other tools. It means all drill bit can reach and fit all rounded corners.
It makes all users comfortable to make their products easier.
Research: One day I had a chat with one of my friend who is an architect in Japan. He told me that Almost times I couldn’t engrave the corners of typefaces because they have right angle corners. That was the starting point.
We started to search so many stencil style typefaces all over the world through internet. Then we figured out we have to make all rounded corners typeface for all digital fabrication creators.
Inspiration: Nowadays Digital fabrication DIY culture is a boom in Japan. Almost users can use digital fabrication tools but they can’t make original stencil typeface for it. This typeface is digital fabrication friendly and beginner-friendly as well.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Kyoko Munakata, ARCH-ABLE, 2020.
Image #5: Photographer Kyoko Munakata, ARCH-ABLE, 2020.
Patents: Copyrights belong to BANANA inc., 2020