Far Architects

2019Logotype Design

Collaborating with Far Architects was really an enjoyable experience. The resulting logotype is a celebration of how their work doesn't have any pre-determined architectural style, and how they construct a fresh new narrative for each project.

Inspiration
The underlying grid

As soon as you step into a space designed by Far Architects you can feel the underlying grid holding elements together. A feeling created by the careful consideration of where a wall ends and a staircase begins, helping your eyes transition throughout space seamlessly. From the volume of the space itself, to door handles and lighting fixtures, every detail is considered.

Sketches
Deconstructed glyphs

While looking at their drawings I identified some characteristics that would be interesting to explore for a logotype such as thick black strokes and sharp 90 degree angles, as well as invisible things like a directional grid that would span across letters and give a feeling that the whole logotype is one unit under construction, beautifully unfinished.

I started with rough sketches, thinking about the shape of letters and how they might interact with each other.

Being able to talk over these really rough sketches with the Far Architects team led us quite quickly in the right direction. The sense that we got when refining the logo was that not only it represented Far Architects as a company but also the concept of architecture itself.

Continuity
Complementary glyphs

One key characteristic of an underlying grid is that it manifests itself through empty space with invisible lines and implied connections. To celebrate this subtle signature I deconstructed every glyph in a way that leads the reader from one side of the logo to the other, while carefully considering the clarity and legibility of each letter.

To achieve a consistent monoline effect throughout the logotype, little adjustments were needed between vertical and horizontal strokes to compensate for the fact that horizontal lines are perceived as thicker than vertical ones.

Continuous Curves

Angular Connections

Mixed Connections

Proportions
The silver ratio

A rectangle whose aspect ratio is the silver ratio of 1:√2 is often called a silver rectangle. Its name is an allusion to the golden ratio. Analogously to the way the golden ratio is the limiting ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers, the Silver ratio is the limiting ratio of consecutive Pell Numbers.

It has the unique property that by cutting the rectangle in half across its long side it produces two smaller rectangle of the same aspect ratio.

Each glyph was designed using this grid for the logotype to remain in harmony with any paper sizes under ISO 216 used by Far Architects.

A lot of testing was done on letter spacing to maximize legibility.
The letters F, I and T untouched as their basic form fits perfectly with the unfinished feel of the logo.