Concept

The design of typefaces is founded upon principles from the days of metal type, when creating individual fonts was a laborious process and constrained by physical requirements. Most digital type design follows those same conventions, but technology gives us opportunities to make type design more spontaneous and personal.

TYPEFACE uses custom coded letters drawn from mathematically generated curves controlled by distinct variables that determine such character- istics as x-height and slant. This design approach allows for a more natural, handwriting- like rendering. Not only does this contrast with the geometric qualities generative type experiments tend to take, but also challenges the conventions of typing versus writing. Since the type generation runs live, typing a note in the software accumulates a range of natural variation.

For more details, read more on my blog posts about the project.

Implementation

TYPEFACE was built in Processing using the OPENCV library for face recognition and blob detection. Individual typefaces can be saved and exported by pdf.

Process

This started out as a quick one week experiment project. The first version can be seen here.

Exhibitions

"Talking Type" exhibition in Karlsruhe, Germany. July 2010

TYPEFACE presented as a poster in the ACM Siggraph Student Research Competition. July 2010

Press & Publications

Print
DESIGN: between art and business, Korea. May 2010. p.40
FORM: Basel, Switzerland. May/June 2010. p.11

Web selections
Creative Applications
designboom
Gizmodo
Huffington Post