Art Director & Designer Portfolio – Glo Escobar

Medi Font

Driven by my love for typography and the desire to explore its expressive potential, I immersed myself in designing an organic display typeface; shaping each glyph with fluid forms, embracing irregularities, and balancing character interplay to create a font full of personality.

Core

The Mediterranean display typography

Medi Font is a bold, hand-drawn display typeface that captures the essence of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Inspired by Ibiza’s iconic white limewash villas and the flowing forms of the Mediterranean coastline, the typeface embodies a relaxed, hippie/summer vibe. Its organic, rounded forms make it ideal for striking branding, apparel, and collateral design, connecting visually and emotionally with audiences.

Strategy

A cultural and visual exploration

To ground the design in authenticity, I began with a study of typefaces that showcase organic shapes and bold styles. This research helped identify effective structural elements and design principles for Medi Font. Through mind mapping, I connected the cultural aspects of Ibiza, such as its architecture and natural beauty, with visual elements that could translate into the typeface’s design. This strategic foundation ensured that every glyph reflected the Mediterranean’s unique aesthetic and emotional appeal.

Process

From concept to hand-drawn authenticity

The creative process began with freehand sketches, where I experimented with varying levels of boldness, curvature, and fluidity. Each glyph was thoughtfully shaped to reflect the organic, flowing qualities of the Mediterranean coastline and the tactile irregularities of Ibiza’s limewash villas. Special attention was paid to maintaining consistent proportions and harmonizing the weight of strokes across the character set, ensuring a cohesive yet naturally imperfect visual rhythm. Balancing aesthetic fluidity with practical readability became the guiding principle for this stage.

Turning point

The turning point of the project came during the refinement phase, where I meticulously adjusted the balance between boldness and organic irregularity. Using architectural typography techniques, I refined counters, terminals and curves to create a sense of movement that mimics the flow of water along the coast. Each letterform was analyzed for its relationship with adjacent glyphs, focusing on achieving a seamless interplay between negative and positive spaces. Structural adjustments were made to enhance legibility at various sizes while preserving the hand-drawn essence of the typeface.

AI texture exploration

To deepen the font’s connection to its Mediterranean inspiration, I explored texture effects using Adobe Firefly. By incorporating subtle, tactile textures that mimic the grainy, uneven surfaces of limewash villas, I added a layer of depth and authenticity to Medi Font. These textures were carefully integrated into the design, ensuring they enhanced rather than overwhelmed the letterforms. The result is a typeface that feels as if it were sculpted by hand, evoking the natural imperfections and artistry of the Mediterranean lifestyle while maintaining versatility for digital and print applications.

Outcome

A typeface that evokes connection and nostalgia

Medi Font represents more than a typographic solution; it’s a visual language that channels the Mediterranean’s carefree essence and beauty. With its bold, organic forms and hand-drawn aesthetic, Medi Font resonates with brands that seek to inspire, captivate, and connect deeply with their audience. Its versatility ensures it leaves an indelible mark on any project, embodying creative storytelling while evoking a profound sense of freedom, summer nostalgia, and natural beauty.

Medi Font

Display

Medi Font

The Mediterranean display typography.

Core

The Mediterranean display typography

Medi Font is a bold, hand-drawn display typeface that captures the essence of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Inspired by Ibiza’s iconic white limewash villas and the flowing forms of the Mediterranean coastline, the typeface embodies a relaxed, hippie/summer vibe. Its organic, rounded forms make it ideal for striking branding, apparel, and collateral design, connecting visually and emotionally with audiences.

Strategy

A cultural and visual exploration

To ground the design in authenticity, I began with a study of typefaces that showcase organic shapes and bold styles. This research helped identify effective structural elements and design principles for Medi Font. Through mind mapping, I connected the cultural aspects of Ibiza, such as its architecture and natural beauty, with visual elements that could translate into the typeface’s design. This strategic foundation ensured that every glyph reflected the Mediterranean’s unique aesthetic and emotional appeal.

Process

From concept to hand-drawn authenticity

The creative process began with freehand sketches, where I experimented with varying levels of boldness, curvature, and fluidity. Each glyph was thoughtfully shaped to reflect the organic, flowing qualities of the Mediterranean coastline and the tactile irregularities of Ibiza’s limewash villas. Special attention was paid to maintaining consistent proportions and harmonizing the weight of strokes across the character set, ensuring a cohesive yet naturally imperfect visual rhythm. Balancing aesthetic fluidity with practical readability became the guiding principle for this stage.

Turning point

The turning point of the project came during the refinement phase, where I meticulously adjusted the balance between boldness and organic irregularity. Using architectural typography techniques, I refined counters, terminals, and curves to create a sense of movement that mimics the flow of water along the coast. Each letterform was analyzed for its relationship with adjacent glyphs, focusing on achieving a seamless interplay between negative and positive spaces. Structural adjustments were made to enhance legibility at various sizes while preserving the hand-drawn essence of the typeface.

AI texture exploration

To deepen the font’s connection to its Mediterranean inspiration, I explored texture effects using Adobe Firefly. By incorporating subtle, tactile textures that mimic the grainy, uneven surfaces of limewash villas, I added a layer of depth and authenticity to Medi Font. These textures were carefully integrated into the design, ensuring they enhanced rather than overwhelmed the letterforms. The result is a typeface that feels as if it were sculpted by hand, evoking the natural imperfections and artistry of the Mediterranean lifestyle while maintaining versatility for digital and print applications.

Outcome

A typeface that evokes connection and nostalgia

Medi Font represents more than a typographic solution; it’s a visual language that channels the Mediterranean’s carefree essence and beauty. With its bold, organic forms and hand-drawn aesthetic, Medi Font resonates with brands that seek to inspire, captivate, and connect deeply with their audience. Its versatility ensures it leaves an indelible mark on any project, embodying creative storytelling while evoking a profound sense of freedom, summer nostalgia, and natural beauty.