Lettering Series: Letter Like a Graphic Novelist

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Project : Design a Blueprint

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Prompt: What does your bedroom look like from above? Imagine you're looking down on it like a bird. This is called a bird’s-eye view. You'll be drawing a simple blueprint of your bedroom from a bird's-eye view. Architects use blueprints when they design a structure. One of the important steps of a blueprint is to label where everything goes.

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Objective: Practice your architect lettering skills while developing your observational and drawing skills by creating a detailed floor plan of your bedroom.

Video Link of Sample to come!

Materials: Pencil with eraser, Ruler, Grid Paper, Colored Pencils, Markers, or Crayons (optional), and Zine to look back on.

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Learn more about the architect planning & design process below:

Architecture for Kids | Floorplans

Architecture for Kids | Diagrams

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Observe and plan: Look around your bedroom and sketch the outline of your room on your grid paper.

Tip: Keep it simple by using basic shapes (rectangle or square)

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Draw the walls: Use your ruler to draw the walls accurately, paying attention to their length. Remember to draw the walls as they would appear from a bird’s-eye view.

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Add doors and windows: Use your ruler to draw the windows and doors. Keep it simple by using only squares or rectangles. Remember to place them where they would be seen from a bird’s eye view.

Add basic furniture: Think about the placement of the major furniture pieces from a bird’s-eye view. Draw the furniture using simple shapes:

• rectangles for beds, tables, closet, etc.
• squares for chairs, etc.

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Label with architect lettering: Now it's time to add labels! Look back at your zine to guide your lettering.

• Write furniture names like “BED” or “DESK” in all caps using Architect-style lettering.
• Add labels for “WINDOW,” “DOOR,” or other architectural features like “CLOSET.”

Keep your letters proportional and use consistent angles for crossbars and ellipses where needed.

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*Optional: Include measurements to add detail to your blueprint. (e.g., “BED: 3 FT x 6 FT”)

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Optional Add ons:

• Color Coding: Use light shading to differentiate furniture, doors, and open spaces.
• Decorative Elements: Add fun details like rugs, pillows, or pictures. Label these items with Architect-style lettering. But don’t forget- this is all from a bird’s-eye view.
• Creative Labeling: Personalize your labels. For example, instead of “BED,” you could write “Comfy Zone”.

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Share your Blueprint!

�If you’re willing to share a picture of your blueprint with us- we would love to see it! You can ask your teacher or parent to take a picture of it and email it to us at hello@blackwingfoundation.org. It just might end up as a feature on our social media or monthly newsletter!

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Thank you!

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Thank you for practicing your Architect Lettering Style with us. You can come back here anytime to continue practicing and make additional blueprints. This isn’t just a one-time thing.

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Reflection

If you had more time, what would you add to your room? What’s your favorite part of your blueprint?

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Challenge

• Draw another room in your home, like the kitchen or living room, and label it using Architect Lettering.
• Reimagine your bedroom with new furniture or a dream layout and label it using Architect Lettering.

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