How a custom typeface for limited-edition apparel grew into animation and Augmented Reality fashion experiment.
Art Direction, Typography, GenAI Illustration, Animation, Copywriting, Augmented Reality, Editorial, Visual Storytelling
The Brief
Design a font (the Zebralphabet) for a environmental friendly project, paired with a modern, vibrant illustration of a zebra. The outcome would be a typographic visual system adaptable for social media, editorial layouts, and a designer T-shirt series.
Style: visually striking, cohesive design that balances playful typographic experimentation with strong graphic identity, designer limited-edition apparel.
Solution: GenAI hybrid design
I created the Zebralphabet by combining a clean, existing sans-serif font with zebra-inspired patterns generated using GenAI. This resulted in a textured typeface that feels both wild and structured. The accompanying zebra illustration was also produced using GenAI and refined in Photoshop for graphic consistency and visual impact.
The Zebralphabet
Process
From typeface creation to multiple applications.
1. Typeface Development
Using GenAI I created a zebra texture that I overlaid on a sans-serif font. This approach allowed for fast composition while maintaining control over the visual rhythm, resulting in a solid base for the typeface. Refinements like masking, shading, and kerning were completed in Photoshop to fine-tune legibility and impact.
Fine-tuning the Zebralphabet: adjusting the kerning, adding a mask and effects.
2. Zebra Illustration
To complement the type, I created a stylized zebra illustration using GenAI. The image was refined in Photoshop to enhance its graphic style and visually anchor the zebra pattern within the overall design.
The Zebralphabet presentation
3. Presentation
I designed a double-page, editorial-style spread as a sophisticated way to present the Zebralphabet and secure client approval. This format positioned the typeface as a high-end concept, showcasing its versatility and potential for multiple applications.
The Zebralphabet presentation board
4. Custom T-Shirt Design
Each T-shirt features a name tag written in the Zebralphabet on the front, and the zebra illustration on the back. GenAI mockups were used to present the design in context, creating a fun and stylish prototype for the limited-edition apparel.
The Zebralphabet custom-designed T-Shirt (on a GenAI model)
Ready for a fun adventure with team Zebra!
GenAI group picture for mockup presentation
5. Animation
Extrapolating from the original design, I created a typographic animation of the Zebralphabet, featuring copy I wrote for the initial presentation layered over the illustration. The animation explores rhythm, transformation, and contrast, extending the project into digital storytelling and playful visual experimentation.
Typographic Animation
6. AUgmented reality Extension
Building on the animation, I created an AR experience where the T-shirt comes to life when scanned with a dedicated application. This added a futuristic, tech-forward layer to the project, turning the apparel into an interactive statement piece.
The augmented reality addition provides a “techie” edge: the animation can only be seen by scanning the T-shirt with a dedicated application.
Result
The Zebralphabet project evolved from a typeface experiment into a multi-platform visual system. From editorial designs to animated typography and interactive apparel, it showcases the potential of design storytelling created with hybrid workflows that use traditional tools and GenAI. The work has resonated with both designers and broad audiences, sparking curiosity and opening doors for future collaborations in branding, fashion, and immersive media.
Order your own limited-edition organic cotton Zebra T-shirt here.
Contact us for the Augmented Reality option, or to create a custom version.
