H.R. Giger
Tribute type design and animation
Overview
This self-initiated photographic, type design, and animation project pays tribute to the visionary works of late Swiss surrealist painter, H.R. Giger.
The project began as a series of digital manipulations applied to a photograph I took of grungy architectural details in the DC Metro underground subway system, and evolved to include type design and an animation that subtly references the opening title sequence of the 1979 Sci-fi thriller, Alien — in which H.R. Giger's designs were featured heavily.
Animation
Watch in HD, and crank the volume!
Type design animation.
Music: "Keep It In The Family" by Hybrid
© Distinctive Records, 2006. All rights reserved.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Photography
The creative catalyst for this project was the culmination of multiple rounds of digital editing and manipulation of a photograph I took of gritty Brutalist style architectural details in the DC Metro underground subway system.
After several rounds of editing, I noticed an unintentional emergence of Giger's signature dark, "biomechanical" aesthetic — which was very interesting to me — so I pushed further into this territory. When I was happy with the editing results, I realized there was opportunity to pay tribute to Giger's revolutionary work by using this image as the basis of a larger scope of creative work. It was then that I decided to set Giger's name in a custom built typeface, and build a dramatic animation around it.
Original photo of DC Metro architectural details.
Photo edit process.
Photo edit process.
Final edited photo.
Sketches
Original sketches of the Giger type design.
Thumbnail sketches.
Thumbnail sketches.
Type sketches.
Thumbnail sketch detail.
Type sketch detail.
Type sketches.
Type sketches.
Type sketches.
Type sketch detail.
Type sketch detail.
Electronic type development
Type design.
Type design.
Type design.
Type design detail.
Type design detail.
Type design detail.
Type design detail.
Final design details
What do you think?
atomicvibe would love to know your thoughts on this project!