Self-initiated: 30 Minutes to Mars: Free geometric vector font
A free geometric vector font I designed and made available for download. Built using simple modular shapes that can be broken apart and adapted for your own projects.
30 Minutes to Mars font download
I recently read an article by David Wehmeyer called “One Year of Design” which really resonated with me. The idea is you spend at least 30 minutes every day creating something to eventually reach your goal. I gave this design process the name “30 Minutes to Mars”. This is the same approach I use to create many of my other side projects. It’s a great way to learn new skills, explore different disciplines and ideas.
I wanted to create a simple geometric vector font and make it publicly available as a free download. This served three goals: becoming more proficient with vector software like Sketch and Illustrator, building out my design portfolio, and giving something back to the design community.
Early sketches and explorations
Here’s a photograph of some early sketched ideas as I worked out a consistent size and style. Throughout this process I’d re-sketch ideas and try different approaches to get the best result.
Original version
The original idea was to design typographic building blocks using geometric shapes and piece them together like Lego. By having a bounding box it ensured the letters were consistent and felt like a cohesive font family.
Alternative version: 1
The simple modular shapes make it easy to break apart the font and quickly adapt or modify individual letters for your own design projects. This version only took a few minutes to create and adds a nice touch of visual interest.
Alternative version: 2
By adjusting the fill and border properties you can quickly and easily transform the font into outline typography. Great for graphic design and promotional websites.
Alternative version: 3
Individual elements can be removed to simplify the font further and give designers more flexibility. In this version I masked an image behind the letterforms to reveal the background — a detail you only really notice on closer inspection.
Free download
hope this inspires you to start your own “30 Minutes to Mars” side project. Feel free to share, remix and adapt. Download the free vector font and see what you come up with.
Purchase a framed print
You can also purchase a framed or unframed print of the font. Choose from a white or black frame, with international shipping available.
