Lotusware Typeface

Overview

Spotlighting overlooked Asian art & cultural institutions

Lotusware is entwined with ancient Korean roof-end tiles, a detail that goes under-appreciated in the sweeping roofs of traditional architecture. By repurposing these tiles as a contemporary typeface, they will spotlight the often overlooked presence of Asian art in Western cultural institutions.

Roles
Typeface Design, Motion Design
Team
Rachel Quan
Duration
Feb–May 2024 (4 months)
Tools
After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop
Recognition
2024 Creative Conscience - Motion Graphics - Silver Award

Challenge

Asian art exhibits in Western museums are often significantly smaller compared to other collections.

01 Inspiration

Roof End Tiles

Ancient Korean Architecture

A typeface inspired by end tiles that cap off the sweeping eaves of traditional Korean roofs. The lotus flower is a common Buddhist motif that embellishes them. It represents purity, rebirth, and enlightenment.

02 Design

Structural and Floral

Roof end tile designs blend floral motifs and rigid geometric structure, which I emulated through letterforms.

Uppercase

Lowercase

Numerals and Punctuation

03 Design System

Lotus Petals

The typeface uses a petal system specific to the anatomy of each glyph to create a consistent set.

04 Application

Font in Use

Visualizing how the font would appear in the world, especially for museum use.

Key Takeaways

Fusing history and modernity

Reflection

A typeface that is reminiscent of ancient art, while still being its own entity. Set with a design system that facilitated the designing process and ensured a cohesive typeface.

Next Steps

Building a special characters set, and expanding on the museum mockups, by centering around one exhibit design. Finding more related ways to show the font in application.

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