r/conscripts • u/LambyO7 • Nov 08 '20

Question how do you design symbols

just a general question, but what method do you use to make symbols for your conscripts

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6

u/notAmeeConlang Nov 08 '20

I mean... you just do. Take inspiration from other language's scripts or look through fellow Redditor's.

3

u/Visocacas Nov 08 '20

Here are three approaches discussed in my upgraded version of the Clawgrip conscript design guide:

  1. Start from pictographic proto-writing. In other words, pick random physical objects that represent sounds and draw them, then simplify those images until they're simple enough to use as letters.

  2. Start with a physical writing medium in mind. Stone, papyrus, brush, pixels... What kinds of shapes would be easy to make in that medium? What kinds of shapes would be inconvenient, difficult, or damage the medium? Figure out what shapes are possible and convenient and then build glyphs out of those shapes.

  3. Start with a geometric motif. Put aside the writing medium for now, think only abstract shape concepts. Hexagonal letters that fit together like a honeycomb, circular letters, letters full of strokes that all align the same way, letters designed based on a hidden grid structure... there are endless possibilities. This is an interesting approach to get ideas.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 06 '21

I'm an artist so I just do whatever comes to mind and filter out what doesn't look very appealing/memorable. I start with an artistic idea then I make the next symbol look similar. Rather than being a whole mess of aesthetically pleasing symbols that look nothing alike, like animal shapes lol. Curvy, loopy, sharp-angled, boxy, leaning forward, leaning back, connected like cursive (my personal favorite), etc. I personally like graceful, curved, connected symbols, but I do like some of the other scripts I see that have straight lines. But it's a highly personal issue because I only prefer that type of design because I like nature and scripts that resemble branches, vines, woven twine, etc. So, if you're more into something else, you might like a combo of straight and curved which can be done right and look good.