BodyModType
Wai Yan Jasmine Olivia Lam
More than just a tool for communication, typography is an extension of identity, movement, and expression. BodyModType explores the intersection of typeface design and the human form, using the body as both a canvas and a dynamic medium. By designing letterforms to be placed directly onto the skin, I challenge the rigidity of traditional typography, embracing the principles that our flesh introduces.
This process requires a unique approach that aligns with my practice as a tattoo artist: letters must be adapted to fit the body's contours and respond to motion, regardless of line weight and size. Instead of adhering to the traditional rules of typeface design, we consider how type stretches with movement and distorts with breath, proposing that type is alive—constantly reshaping itself.
The pangram “Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow” is carved onto latex to demonstrate the contrast between two- and three-dimensional surfaces, showcasing distortions such as warping and overlapping. Precision in kerning, tracking, and leading becomes irrelevant, as working on the body demands an organic, intuitive system. BodyModType accommodates a diverse range of factors: weight, skin color, elasticity, and pigment fading over time—it must be fluid to attune to these elements. In this way, our bodies transform type into something personal and ephemeral, breaking away from the static nature of print.