Sooji Lee, a recent graduate from the prestigious Design Academy Eindhoven, has created a machine that faithfully recreates letters in Bodoni lowercase. Far from a printing press, the hand-operated machine paints each letter in ink, one at a time, in an ironic reversal of the original intention of typefaces.
The concept of typefaces is a relatively new one compared to the history of the written word. For thousands of years, written language was only ever handwritten, meaning that the "font" was dependent upon the person writing. When Gutenberg invented the printing press, typefaces developed as a way to standardize writing and make it easier for typesetters to quickly produce texts. Sooji Lee's Bodoni lowercase machine is far more laborious than even regular handwriting, reversing the convenient gains of the development of typesetting while accentuating the beauty of type unto intself.
Hand-Operated Typing Machines
Sooji Lee's Project Creates Letters in Bodoni Lowercase
Trend Themes
1. Hand-operated Typing Machines - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate modern technology into hand-operated typing machines to automate the letter painting process, reducing laborious work and increasing efficiency.
2. Reversing Typeface Development - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a new method or technology that reverses the standardization of typefaces, allowing individuals to create unique and personalized handwritten fonts.
3. Reviving Handwritten Communication - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create tools or platforms that encourage the revival of handwritten communication, combining the beauty of handwritten letters with the convenience of modern technology.
Industry Implications
1. Printing and Publishing Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the integration of innovative hand-operated machines into the printing and publishing industry to enhance letter quality and creativity.
2. Design and Typography Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate new techniques or tools to challenge the conventional approach of typeface development and redefine the standards in the design and typography industry.
3. Stationery and Greeting Card Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop automated hand-operated machines or digital platforms that enable personalized and artistic handwritten lettering for the stationery and greeting card industry.