DIDN’T

CHA
KNOW
A Process Book by Tina Wiley
CREATIVE BRIEF
Project Title
Didn’t Cha Know by Erykah Badu

Project Objective
This project asks you to visually interpret a song using
expressive typography. Working with all/part of the lyr-
ics, capture the qualities of the musical performance
using type, color, shape, and texture.

Specifications
Your solution will be mainly typographic. The size is
12x12 inches (full bleed), RGB color mode, song name,
music artist, and song lyrics.
CREATIVE BRIEF
Audience
Students and Faculty of CCSF
Fans of Erykah Badu

Mood Board
Click to see full Pinterest board.

Connoted Messages
I’ve known this song for 20 years, but the lessons and
blessings of my Saturn Return deeply relate to the mes-
sage in the lyrics. The lyrics are very introspective. Erykah
talks about making decisions and having faith in yourself.
Harmonies and melodies are cyclical and interwoven.
This track has always given me other-worldly or heavenly
vibes.
 DIDN’T CHA KNOW
Ooh hey
I’m trying to decide
Which way to go
Think I made a wrong turn
Back there somewhere
Ooh hey
I’m trying to decide
Which way to go
Think I made a wrong turn
Back there somewhere
Didn’t cha know
Didn’t cha know
Tried to move but I lost my way
Didn’t cha know
Didn’t cha know
Stopped to watch my emotions sway
Didn’t cha know
Didn’t cha know
Knew the toll but I would not pay
Didn’t cha know
Didn’t cha know
Never know how the cards may lay
Time to save the world Didn’t cha know
Where in the world is all the time Stopped to watch my emotions sway
So many things I still don’t know Didn’t cha know
So many times I’ve changed my mind Didn’t cha know
Guess I was born to make mistakes Knew the toll but I would not pay
But I ain’t scared to take the weight Didn’t cha know
So when I stumble off the path Didn’t cha know
I know my heart will guide me back Never know how the cards may lay
Ooh hey Love is life
I’m trying to decide And life is free
Which way to go Take a ride
Think I made a wrong turn Of life with me
Back there somewhere Free your mind
Ooh hey And find your way
I’m trying to decide There will be a brighter day
Which way to go
Think I made a wrong turn Repeat 2x
Back there somewhere
Didn’t cha know k
Didn’t cha know Written by Erykah Badu
Tried to run but I lost my way Produced by J Dilla
Didn’t cha know Mama’s Gun (2000)
DEVELOPMENT
I enjoyed the entire experience of this design project.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been
captivated by album covers and Rolling Stone magazine.
When you hold these covers, they feel intimate and
humongous in that 12x12 inch format. My inspiration
and research started with my digital and analog music
collections. Throughout this process I used a pen and
pad to wonder and generate ideas.
ITERATION 1A
Rationale
• There is a focus on circles because they indicate
cycles, phases, and portals.
• The color palette directly from the music video’s vast
desert landscape Erykah is walking through.
• Handwriting is the most intimate form of typography,
so I decided to use that in my interpretation.
Time to save the world
Where in the world is all the time
So many things I still don’t know
So many times I’ve changed my mind
Guess I was born to make mistakes
But I ain’t scared to take the weight
So when I stumble off the path
I know my heart will guide me back
Erykah Badu
“Didn’t Cha Know”
ITERATION 1B
Critique Time to save the world
• Circles are good but could experiment with a spiral. Where in the world is all the time
• The colors are reminiscent of Thanksgiving. So many things I still don’t know
• Cursive is difficult to read for that amount of text. So many times I’ve changed my mind
Guess I was born to make mistakes
But I ain’t scared to take theweight
So when I stumble off the path
I know my heart will guide me back

Erykah Badu
“Didn’t Cha Know”
ITERATION 2
Rationale
• Peers’ colorful works inspired me to experiment with
gradients for a moody and calming vibe.
• Sunsets/sunrises are heavenly so I looked for colors
that correlated with that natural phenomenon.

Critique
• Good that the typeface looks handwritten.
• Legibility can be improved with tracking and text size.
• Colors evoke a heavenly or calm vibe.
• Spiraling the text can express introversion.
FINAL PROJECT
The size of the circle was increased to allow for
larger text. Tracking was applied to improve legibility.
NOW
YA
KNOW
peace.