36 Days of Type

A brightly colored illustration featuring three bicycles, but the frames of the bikes are different letters: A, B, and C.
A group of patterns consisting of various letters repeated in a variety of styles.

Goal

Jump into the typography goodness of the 36 Days of Type challenge on Instagram. Combine typography, love of bicycles, and 3D skillset to make a whole bike-letter alphabet.

Role

3D Modeling, 3D Animation, Illustration

More Info & Credits

If the alphabet were bikes, what would it look like? A question that no longer needs answering. That was just my concept for the project, but 36 Days of Type is an amazing challenge that invites all types of creators to share their take on the alphabet, one letter at a time. 

Credits

3D Modeling: Levi Boughn

3D Animation: Levi Boughn

Illustration: Levi Boughn

Design: Levi Boughn

Letters, but Also Bikes!

I had an incredible time crafting each letter, digitally bending frame tubing, and contemplating some truly crazy bike functionality. Each letter has its own detailed still, as well as a full animation.

A purple bike on an orange backdrop, the bike is shaped like a lowercase letter a.An orange bike in the shape of an uppercase B. The bike is on a sky-blue background with sketchy lines and doodles.An uppercase C made to look like a bicycle, with a bright green frame and small details and sketch-lines on a purple backdrop.A lowercase letter d, made to look like a bicycle, sitting on a mustard-yellow backdrop.A bright-pink, capital E with sharp serifs, made to look like a bicycle. The bike is placed on a bright turquoise backdrop.A lowercase letter f, but it's made to look like a unicycle. The unicycle is sitting on a salmon colored floor and backdrop.An uppercase letter G, shaped like a bicycle. The frame is a mint green, and the backdrop is bright purple.An uppercase letter H made to look like a bicycle with three wheels.A lowercase i, made to look like a unicycle with a yellow frame.A bicycle, but the frame is an uppercase letter J with sharp angles. The frame is turquoise.An uppercase letter K, but the letter is also a bicycle with an orange frame.A cursive, uppercase letter L, made to look like a bicycle with a bright blue frame.A colorful 3D-modeled bicycle, where the frame is actually an uppercase letter M with a green frame.A bright pink letter N modeled like a bicycle on a sky-blue backdrop.The letter O, but modeled to look like a unicycle with an orange frame.Uppercase letter P that is also a bicycle with front and rear bike racks and a small green pannier.A curvy letter Q, that is also a bicycle. The bike is light purple and somewhat resembles a cloud.Uppercase letter R shaped like a bicycle, sitting on a yellow backdrop.Uppercase letter S shaped like a bicycle, modeled in a bright pink. It resembles a swan in shape.Lowercase letter T that looks like a child's plastic tricycle toy. Modeled in bright yellow and red.An uppercase letter U made to look like a bicycle, sitting on a bright pink backdrop.A very fast-looking letter V, made to look as if it's a bicycle. The frame is black with orange stripes.A bike with a curvy, purple top and bottom frame. The wiggly lines resemble the shape of an uppercase W.The letter X, modeled to look like a bicycle with a central-pivoting frame and spinning chrome details.The letter Y modeled to look like a bicycle with a bright blue frame.An uppercase letter Z that resembles a bicycle with two panniers in the frame's openings. It has bright green handlebars and a purple frame.

Maximum Doodle

In the still version of each letter, I added several layers of doodles, noise, grain, and more. All in an effort to bring the still bike to life.

An uppercase letter Q resembling a bicycle, with little detail in the background.
An uppercase letter Q resembling a bicycle, with some doodles on the floor of the scene.
An uppercase letter Q resembling a bicycle, with some doodles on the floor of the scene and some details implying a shine.
The letter Q, but as a bicycle. There are doodles on the floor of the scene, and a grainy texture overlay.
The letter Q, as a bicycle. The scene has doodles on the ground, a grainy overlay, and big swooshes in the background.
A big letter Q as if it were a bike. There are small details in the scene, doodles on the ground, and cloud-like shapes around.

Floor Pattern Process

Every letter sits atop a hand-drawn pattern consisting of the corresponding letter repeated over and over. To try and engage viewers, I hid an object within the pattern, and hinted at it in the comments.

A black and white pattern made up of the letter E repeated in different styles.A hand drawn pattern consisting of the letter J, drawn in various styles.A black and white hand drawn pattern made of the letter K repeated in various typographic styles.A screenshot of a 3D viewport in a program called Blender. There is a grid pattern and bicycle-shaped letter E.3D software screenshot of and uppercase letter J shaped like a bicycle, with various fine UI details.A screenshot of a 3D software viewport where an uppercase letter K is being modeled.A group of hand drawn semicircular patterns, each consisting of different letters repeated in a variety of styles.

Process Videos & Thumbnails

The journey of 36 letter-shaped bicycles starts with a miniscule thumbnail in a sketchbook, a big idea, and some extremely blocky shapes in Blender.

Simple, small thumbnail sketches for various letter-shaped bicycle concepts.