Arch-able Lettertype by Takafumi Miki and Tomoki Mitsuhashi

Arch-able Lettertype by Takafumi Miki and Tomoki Mitsuhashi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award in Brons in Grafisch, Illustratie en Visuele Communicatie Ontwerp Competition Category.

BronsGrafisch· 2020

Arch-able Lettertype

by Takafumi Miki and Tomoki Mitsuhashi

Client: Arch-Able

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Grafisch Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Arch-able Lettertype

Arch-able is een sjabloonlettertype ontworpen voor digitale fabricage. Het lettertype ondersteunt het Arch-able platform, dat digitale ontwerpgegevens van architecten archiveert en distribueert. De tekenset omvat 26 letters, 10 cijfers en 26 symbolen. Alle hoeken zijn afgerond, zodat boorkoppen, lasersnijders en andere gereedschappen elke hoek kunnen bereiken en volgen. Veel sjabloonlettertypen hebben rechte hoeken die niet gegraveerd kunnen worden. Arch-able heft deze beperking op en helpt beginners om met gangbare gereedschappen driedimensionale belettering te produceren.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

Arch-able Lettertype is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. Arch-able Lettertype wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. Arch-able Lettertype bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
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.
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.
Patents: Copyrights belong to BANANA inc., 2020
Team Members: Art Director: Miki Takafumi
Designer: Miki Takafumi
Designer: Tomoki Mitsuhashi
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Kyoko Munakata, ARCH-ABLE, 2020.
Image #5: Photographer Kyoko Munakata, ARCH-ABLE, 2020.