For centuries, the visual representation and development of language have been closely tied to the materials used for writing and cultural influences. My project, Synthetic Letterforms, aims to explore alternative methods of artificially influencing the written form of the Latin alphabet in a series of booklets, each documenting a process of creating an alternative typeface. The booklets are modular and could be viewed in any order, as a whole, or individually with the potential to be expanded.
Throughout the study, I test out different non-traditional methods of translating the environment around me into written language, in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces. I use three methods in different combinations of translating the language into a visual form which is referenced through a notational system throughout the project: (1) material-oriented, (2) human, and (3) computational. The material-oriented method is inspired by the past and entails working with materials such as wire and water, allowing the medium to shape the visual form of the letter. In contrast, the human approach involves incorporating my own design intent, giving me control and opportunity for creative expression. Finally, to investigate the present and future, I am embracing a computational method, which integrates AI to explore the use of modern technology in a traditional medium.
By examining alternative ways of developing typography, I artificially evolve it into a new form through multimedium collaboration. I’m trying to challenge the preexisting notions of how written language exists and how it reflects the culture of the time.