Alphabet Monsters Design Notes d / D
What are Alphabet Monsters?
“Alphabet Monsters” is an original educational material that designs uppercase and lowercase letters as Pokémon-like characters.
By utilizing the shape of the letters as the silhouettes of the monsters, we have devised ways for children to enjoy getting familiar with the alphabet.
As design notes, I will write about the behind-the-scenes of the production.
※ The Alphabet Monsters list (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.
Design notes, I will write about the behind-the-scenes of the production.
※ The Alphabet Monsters list (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.
▶ Alphabet Monsters List (A3 size / Free Download)
Drin and Dondrin
d is a letter that looks like a symmetrical figure of b.
While creating the Alphabet Monsters, I thought about making similar letters into consciously different characters.
So, while b was made into an insect-type character, I decided to design d and D with mammals as the motif.
Drin
For the lowercase d, I made it a mammal-type monster that looks like a weasel or an otter, with the round part as the head and a body stretching out from there.
The part protruding to the bottom right is the front leg for digging into the ground.
d is for dig.
The setting is that it is a monster good at digging holes.
I put a helmet that looks like a hood on its head.
This is not just for characterization, but also a design that prioritizes emphasizing the silhouette of the letter so that it can be recognized as the shape of 'd' at a glance.
I named it Drin, taken from 'drill'.
Dondrin
The uppercase D is also a digging monster, just like Drin.
However, this one is a solid, boss-like existence that looks like both a mole and a bear.
It has drills on its limbs, and although they stick out a bit from the outline, the design still emphasizes the silhouette of the letter so that the shape of D can be understood.
The name is Dondrin.
It is a leader-like figure who manages the digging monsters.
The slender and cute Drin and the stout and dignified Dondrin have both become my favorite designs.
b and d are confusing for children
Actually, it is said that b and d are particularly difficult letters for children to remember.
Both uppercase B and D have a straight line on the left and a curve protruding to the right.
Depending on how you look at it, you might even feel that D and b are more similar than B and b.
I think the confusion of 'Which one is the lowercase of which?' is quite natural.
When made into characters, they are easy to remember as a pair
However, d and D are clearly recognized as a pair as 'hole-digging buddies' named Drin and Dondrin, and both have their bellies facing to the right.
The overall shape, the appearance as a character, and the sound are connected.
As a result, the letters themselves naturally enter the mind.
I think this pair of d and D is a combination where I could clearly feel the effectiveness of the Alphabet Monsters initiative.
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