Alphabet Monsters Design Notes x / X

What are Alphabet Monsters?

"Alphabet Monsters" is an original educational resource that designs uppercase and lowercase letters as Pokémon-like characters.
By utilizing the shape of the letters as monster silhouettes, we have designed them so that children can enjoy getting familiar with the alphabet.
We have incorporated various features to help children engage with the alphabet in a fun way.

As a design note, I will be writing about the behind-the-scenes of the production.

* The Alphabet Monsters reference chart (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.


▶ Alphabet Monsters Reference Chart (A3 size / Free Download)

An "Unknown Material" that changes shape

How to give shape to the image of the "unknown" that the letter "x" possesses? What I arrived at was a mysterious entity that is neither clearly biological nor mechanical.

x (Exa)

The lowercase "x" looks like metal at first glance, but it is actually a strange object that does not have a fixed shape. While maintaining a hard, crisp texture on the surface, it can change its shape fluidly as if it has a will of its own.

I drew it with the image of parts floating in all directions, always maintaining an optimal balance to protect the "core" at the center. Its name is "Exa," which evokes the idea of an unknown, massive unit.

X (Execusa)

The uppercase "X" has evolved into an even more complex structure. Are the connector-like parts extending in four directions meant to absorb energy from its surroundings? Perhaps it is "executing" a reconfiguration into a larger and more robust form using the absorbed energy.

The contrast between light blue and orange makes it look like both a deep-sea creature and a laboratory device. I named it "Execusa," a name that adds an extra X to Exa and also evokes the word "execute."

Designing to enjoy the sense of unease

For "x" and "X," I intentionally stripped away the "creature-like" qualities found in the other monsters. If children feel a sense of strange appeal from them, then the design has hit the mark.

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