TYPEFACE DESIGN
2025 2024 2023
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
QINGYANG (HELEN) LIU
PIKAKE
INSTAGRAM
WEBSITE
DOWNLOAD OTF
My typeface is based on Perpetua, a serif typeface originally designed by Eric Gill. I chose Perpetua as my source material because of its refined elegance, classical proportions, and the sense of permanence it evokes—qualities that align with the conceptual goal of bridging timeless aesthetics with contemporary needs. The name itself, meaning "everlasting" or "eternal," inspired me to explore how traditional forms can endure and adapt through thoughtful redesign.
Pikake type specimen by Qingyang (Helen) Liu
Perpetua type specimens
I was drawn to Perpetua’s sharp serifs, high contrast, and dignified structure, which evoke a formal, almost literary tone. However, I recognized that its original design, while beautiful, can feel rigid or less legible in digital contexts. My intention is to update the typeface by subtly adjusting stroke weights and proportions to improve legibility on screens, while preserving the grace and personality of the original. For example, I’m experimenting with slightly wider letterforms and more open counters to aid readability in smaller sizes or web applications.
Visually, I am exploring the tension between classical and contemporary design elements—maintaining the authoritative feel of a traditional serif while introducing cleaner, smoother curves and more geometric structures where appropriate. In addition, I want the typeface to reflect a dialogue between history and innovation.
Pikake type specimen by Qingyang (Helen) Liu
TYPEFACE DESIGN
2025
2024
2023
INSTRUCTOR
Christopher Sleboda
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Amanda Mundy (2025), Ash Wei (2024)
DESIGN
Erica Pritchett · Built with Cargo
ABOUT
This site documents student work from an advanced typeface design course taught by Christopher Sleboda and open to students in the MFA Graphic Design and BFA Graphic Design programs at Boston University, as well as students in the School of Visual Arts—including those in the new Visual Narrative MFA. The course provides a rigorous introduction to the conceptual and technical processes involved in creating original digital typefaces. Students explore the foundations of letterform construction—including structure, proportion, counterform, spacing, and rhythm—while developing their own typefaces.
Through research, sketching, and the use of digital tools like RoboFont, students engage with typographic history and contemporary practice to design functional and expressive typefaces. Each student produces a working font and a printed type specimen. This site showcases the results of that work, reflecting diverse design approaches and a deep engagement with the craft of type design.