Before I found out which word I decided to focus on, I had a lot of sketches for different words. Finally, I used “Strict” for further design. I increased the font of “C” and started placing the rest of alphabet on “C.” With different positioning, some alphabets were sticking out of “C” and it wasn’t balance. I came out of all kinds of designs and chose the two and shared them to my friends to ask for references. My sister who is majoring in art gave me some helpful ideas and encouraged me to play around the words.

I flipped alphabets horizontally and vertically to sketch out more ideas. Moreover, I rotated alphabets to see in different ways of designs. Finally, I put the rest of alphabets inside of “C” and put the “T” to close the brackets of “C.”

The meaning of the design turns out to be a softer way of strict. I want to emphasize that “strict” can be other form, either tough or soft. The entire design gives me an idea of a swan swimming in a pond with no freedom. A swan represents elegant and soft; therefore, the design shows the elegant creature is being controlled. All the alphabets are located in the “C”, which means that nothing is outside of box. It represents the characteristics of “Strict.” Another way to interpret the design, the “S” is not sitting straight and the “T” creates the connection of negative space which represents that the meaning of “Strict” is falling apart. It’s another way to say rebellion, to defeat the strictness.