Typography · Aestive Typeface
A hand-drawn display font explored through branding, packaging and abstract composition.
Handcrafted Display Font & Visual Explorations
Aestive Typeface
Category: Typography, Branding and Experimental Design
Project Brief
Aestive is a handcrafted typeface based on my own handwriting. Its name, derived from the Latin aestivus meaning “pertaining to summer”, reflects the font’s warmth, ease and natural rhythm. This project explores both the development of the typeface and its creative applications in art and design. The first image shows my process: beginning with handwritten forms, refining them digitally and importing them into a Calligraphr template to create a functional font.
Application 1: Restaurant Branding
To test Aestive in a branding environment, I applied it to a fictional restaurant concept. The custom signage, menu layout and coasters use the typeface in bold, expressive headlines. Each piece is paired with clean typography and soft colors to reflect the approachable, handcrafted feel of the font.
Application 2: Product Packaging – Dandy Blend Rebrand
In this rebranding exploration, I updated the packaging for Dandy Blend, a roasted herbal coffee alternative. Aestive was used in combination with natural textures and earthy colors to refresh the look and bring a friendly, personal tone to the product. The updated package balances clarity with visual warmth, making it suitable for wellness-focused consumers.
Application 3: Type as Shape – Letterform Mosaic
This experimental composition explores type as form rather than content. Letters from Aestive were grouped, layered and arranged into a radial pattern - transforming text into a modular, ornamental design. This abstract mosaic emphasizes the expressive quality of letterforms, showing how typography can function as both communication and art.
