During my previous research, I dived into the topic of web aesthetics and ended my last semester by conducting a small experiment to determine the effect of a small sample of aesthetic variations on users. However, in the meantime my focus and interest has shifted, and I decided to take up a new topic to explore, namely: future developments in the typographic world.
In the moment, new technologies as well as what might be regarded as “new values” in type design cause ripples within the typographic universe. Decolonization efforts as well as the rise of multilingual typography lead to a movement away from the rigid square of the glyph, which stems from the invention of the printing press (Kulkarni & Ben Ayed, 2022). In addition, type becomes more flexible (keyword: variable type), fluid (keyword: kinetic type) or even 3-dimensional. However, maybe the most interesting technological development, and the topic I want to explore further in order to find a possible Master’s topic, might be the continuous rise of Artificial Intelligence.
I am very intrigued to find out, if AI can be used at any point within the typographic process and began my research by asking myself the following key questions:
- Can AI be used to design typefaces? If yes, how?
- Can AI used in other areas of the editorial production process e.g. for type setting (kerning, sizing, …)? If yes, how?
- Can AI replace typographers?
- Which tools can be used for this?
As a first step, I began to look at the field with an open perspective and start putting together what research has already been done. During a first session, I stumbled upon a couple of examples, where designers have already tried to use machine learning or automation processes to aid at various points during the design process:
- Thesis by Daniel Wenzel (HTWG Konstanz) “Automated Type Design“: Wenzel used any type of automated process to design typefaces, creating over 100 fonts in the process. He used the following five automation processes: “fonts by variation (comparable to Neville Brody’s FF Blur), fonts through limited tools (intentionally using the limitations of generators like FontARk or Prototype), fonts by “Art Direction” (using mathematical formulas to describe fonts rather than drawing curves by hand), fonts with the help of assistive processes (generating new weights, scripts and optical corrections using assistive tools like brush simulations), and fonts with the help of autonomous processes (using machine learning to generate new “AI fonts”)” (Ibrahim, 2019).
- Andrea A. Trabucco Campos and Martin Azambuja have formed the publishing house “Vernacular”. Their first publication “Artificial Typography” showcases 52 typographic forms portrayed in the style of various iconic artists, that were created using AI (Thaxter, 2022).
- Thesis „Machine Learning of Fonts“ by Antanas Kascenas (University of Edinburgh): Kascenas explores if kerning process can be automated by using machine learning (Kascenas, 2017).
It appears to me, that albeit first trials have been run and a small number of designers have already used AI to create typefaces and set type, the area still appears rather new. Especially when looking at tools and technologies, while AI seems to be rather evolved when it comes to generating images based on text prompts, no completely developed tool exists yet to develop type.
In the upcoming weeks, I want to explore the topic further and see if it is going to provide me with a basis for a Master’s topic. Possibly, I will have to narrow the topic down or widen it, in case I do not find enough material. In addition, I also want to look into the option of using AI myself and apply it to the typographic process. However, this is something I have to research further…
References
- Ibrahim, A. (2019, October 14). Daniel Wenzel faces the question of automation in creativity head-on in Automatic Type Design. It’s Nice That. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/daniel-wenzel-automated-type-design-digital-graphic-design-141019
- Kascenas, A. (2017). Machine Learning of Fonts [MInf Project (Part 1) Report]. University of Edinburgh.
- Kulkarni, A., & Ben Ayed, N. (2022, June 16). Decolonizing Typography. In Futuress. https://futuress.org/learning/decolonizing-typography/
- Thaxter, P. (2022, September 27). Vernacular’s Artificial Typography uses AI to boldly blend together type and the history of art. The Brand Identity. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://the-brandidentity.com/interview/vernaculars-ai-typography-is-an-a-to-z-in-typography-and-the-history-of-art-imagined-by-ai
