jwchou-LookingOutwards-2

This post features the work of an artist/designer right here at CMU! His name is Kyuha Shim, or “Q” for short. He teaches communication design in the School of Design.

Q has done multiple projects based on generative typography. He used custom software to patterns and forms to create and present traditional letterforms/type in interesting and unique ways.

His work on generative type: http://generativetypography.com

Typography is very delicate. It depends on a set of somewhat-flexible rules that govern letterforms, thickness of strokes, and how close characters should be to each other. I assume that in order for Q’s type to look like type, the algorithms he used included many rules and boundaries to ensure that the generated type still contained many of the important characteristics of standard type.

Q’s artistic sensibilities are reflected in the different typefaces, colors, textures, and patterns he used. As an extension, the sensibilities of type designer who might’ve designed a typeface he used also influenced the piece.

This project inspires me because it is still incredibly dynamic and beautiful, even though typography has a reputation for having a lot of intricate rules! If I were to change something, I would’ve loved to see some generative type in a bigger scale. A lot of his projects focus on a word or a short phrase. What would a paragraph look like if it was pushed through his algorithm?