Modular Typographic System
Typography has always been a product of its time and technology. For much of human history rendering text has been a painstakingly physical process, whether it be through handwriting, engraving, or composing metal type. However, the desktop publishing revolution and the proliferation of digital design tools it spawned has largely abstracted type from its tactile origins. The advent of affordable 3D printing presents an unprecedented opportunity for graphic designers to re-engage with the physical nature of type. The Modular Typographic System is an exploration of how 3D printing and its affordances might shape the design of letters. The system itself is made up of three sets of 3D printed parts for assembling three different typefaces each inspired by a key moment from the history of Western typography. Each set of parts contains over thirty modular blocks for assembling all twenty-six upper and lowercase letters of the Roman alphabet. The blocks snap together with magnets, making it possible to design letterforms in 3D.