Visual Language

WEEK 2

Design Your Own Flight Ticket

Reflection:

Jonathan Hoefler’s work reveals that type design is not merely about creating letters, but about building a visual language that communicates subtle nuances of emotion, history, and identity. Before this episode, I never considered how these two distinct crafts could intersect. However, seeing Jonathan Hoefler’s work with renowned watchmakers highlighted just how intertwined they are in creating something as precise and visually significant as a watch.

The episode reveals that every tiny detail on a watch face, including the numbers and letters, must be meticulously designed to ensure readability, style, and harmony with the watch's overall design. Hoefler’s careful consideration of how typography interacts with the mechanical and aesthetic aspects of a watch was fascinating. It showed me that typography is not just about designing for digital screens or print media, but can also play a crucial role in objects where precision and clarity are essential.

This collaboration between watchmakers and type designers feels like a perfect partnership of precision and artistry. Both crafts require an obsessive attention to detail and a deep understanding of how form affects function. The process of crafting a single font can take years, with designers iterating on minuscule details that most of us will never consciously notice. Yet, it is these details that give typefaces their power.

©Zhongao Xuan

WILL’S DESIGN LOG

XUAN 2024