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TEETHIN: From Tooth Forms to Typeface
An Exploratory Learning Approach to Letterform Development

Typography education requires beginner design students to move beyond selecting existing fonts and understand how original letterforms are developed as a consistent visual system. However, students may find it challenging to identify suitable sources of inspiration, transform observed forms into readable letters, and maintain a unified style across an alphabet. TEETHIN: From Tooth Forms to Typeface introduces an exploratory learning approach that uses familiar tooth forms as a visual starting point for letterform development. The project aims to guide students through a structured process of observing, identifying, simplifying, transforming, and refining selected visual characteristics. Normal, pointed, and fictional monster teeth were explored for their curved edges, sharp points, extended roots, and irregular contours. These features were translated into sketches and digitally refined to produce a complete uppercase and lowercase display typeface. The novelty of TEETHIN lies in using a recognisable biological form as an accessible learning reference that connects visual observation with practical typeface development. The approach encourages creativity, critical observation, visual consistency, and problem-solving while reducing students’ dependence on existing fonts and conventional digital references. It may benefit design students and educators as an adaptable learning activity, as the same process can be applied to natural forms, everyday objects, or cultural elements. The completed typeface also demonstrates potential for use in posters, packaging, apparel, and youth-oriented visual identities. With further development into guided worksheets and learning templates, TEETHIN has potential as a reusable educational resource for typography learning and creative workshops.

Keywords: Typography Education, Letterform Development, Exploratory Learning, Visual Observation, Typeface Design