Tino Meinert’s Liquid Type

As part of his diploma work, Berlin-based Tino Meinert created “Liquid Type”. “Liquid Type” is a series of animated 3-dimensional letterforms created around “the topic of digital type and what makes it different from the real thing.” As he describes on his website, to give his letters dimension, Meinert “[assigned] a height vector to ‘flat’ image pixels.” This technique, called Displacement Mapping, gives the “surface a more natural look” by raising the brighter areas and leaving the darker areas undisturbed.

3D Typography on display in Apple’s creative library

We’re in good company! A big thanks to Craig Bromley.

Chris Labrooy’s Architectural Inspiration

When it comes to creating 3-dimensional digital letterforms, illustrator and graphic designer, Chris Labrooy always turns to his surroundings for inspiration. In a series of personal explorations, Labrooy used his favorite architects as a basis for his work. In this exhibition, he explored the work of Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid, Oscar Niemeyer, Toyo Ito, and Frank Gehry. While in some of these projects he used the architects actual designs to create his letters, in others he simply “focused on capturing [the artist’s] formal language rather than reference specific buildings.”

Designs inspired by Tadao Ando

Designs inspired by Zaha Hadid

Designs inspired by Oscar Niemeyer

Designs inspired by Toyo Ito

Zim & Zou’s: Frame B

We can’t seem to get enough of graphic design team Zim & Zou! Earlier this year, Zim & Zou created this “B” by designing a delicate frame made out of pieces of wood. This project, which they titled “Frame B”, creates collide-a-scope-like designs on its surroundings because of the pieces of red and blue translucent material within the frame. Make sure to check out one of our earlier posts on another one of Zim & Zou’s personal projects, “Weave Type”.

Cory Fitzpatrick: Washed Away

The video shows Cory Fitzpatrick sculpting the “A” from sand and the tide washing away the finish letterform. The performance was part of an assignment for Jan Fairbairns typography course for Umass Dartmouth. The class was tasked with creating a 3D letterform from one of the typefaces that they had previously studied. Fitzpatrick’s letter was a Garamond “A”.

Is It Still Type?

In 3D Typography, Atelier Pariri exhibited their meticulously crafted letters made out of a variety of cut paper. The studio continues to explore typography as shown in this most recent project, “Is It Still Type?”. These works are made from combining Arab and Latin letters. As Jérôme Corgier, founder of Atelier Pariri, described via email, “Arab calligraphic forms bring curves and sensual delight” while “Latin typographic forms bring rigor in movement.” This hybrid alphabet allows the studio to escape the constrictions of actual letters and “try to push typographic forms into extreme steps to renew their figure, their beauty, their use.”

Daisy Lew’s “Pop-Up New York City”

Graphic designer Daisy Lew created a series of paper pop-up books that when seen from above exhibit iconic images of New York City and when seen from the side showcases the classic New York City skyline. Whether it be where she was born in Illinois, where she was raised in Korea, or where she resides now, in New York, her work often reflects her surroundings. “Pop-Up NYC” is certainly no exception as it portrays the vibrancy and history of New York City. As poetically stated on Lew’s website that she “loves getting lost in a new city”.

Gordon Young’s “Typographic Trees”

Gordon Young, an artist that focuses on installations for public facilities, was hired in 2009 to help with the redesign of the Crawley Library in West Sussex, England. In collaboration with Why Not Associates, Gordon Young carved various book passages into 14 solid oak columns. A survey of the members of the Crawley Library determined which passages were carved into what he calls his “Typographic Trees”.

Alicia Eggert’s “Eternity” Clock

In addition to being an assistant professor of art at Bowdoin College, Alicia Eggert spends her time making technology-based artwork. Her work always involves “social interaction,” as described on her website, whether it entails interaction with her audience or collaboration with a fellow artist. In 2010, in collaboration with Mike Fleming, Eggert created a piece titled “Eternity”. This creation uses 36 hour and minute clock hands to spell out “eternity” every twelve hours.

Zim & Zou’s “Weave Type”

Weave Type 1

Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann together make up the graphic design studio Zim & Zou based in Nancy, France. In 2010, the crafty duo created “Weave Type” which entails white string being intertwined between nails to create fluid, woven letterforms.

Weave Type 2

Then in 2011, they crafted another study of “Weave Type.” While both projects are undeniably similar, the newer version uses a needle and colorful thread instead of string and nails. The technique used in “Weave Type 2” has created a faceted typeface because each letter is made of straight, overlapping triangle segments of thread instead of one continuous string. Make sure to visit their website to view the complete “Weave Type” alphabets and watch a video on how they created these eye-catching experimental letterforms.