dynTypo

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[ SOME ANSWERS | QUESTIONNAIRE ]

David Lu [ WEBSITE ]

1. How would you describe your work in connection with typography and multimedia?
My training is in computer science and design. A medium I often work in, when executing a design, is software. I worked as a designer at Pentagram Design, a firm which puts high value on typography in its projects. The team I was a part of at Pentagram (led by partner Lisa Strausfeld) tackled various dynamic information display projects, in which typography and creative software development played crucial roles. Before I studied design formally, I attempted to emulate Peter Cho's work from the early days of the Aesthetics and Computation Group at MIT. Those early studies were limited in originality, but were important to make in terms of self education.

2. In dynTypo I'm collecting examples of artists, studios/projects where dynamic typography is used in cooperation with design and multimedia arts. Examples: John Maeda, Peter Cho, Andreas Müller, Yugo Nakamura, Jason Lewis, Letterror, etc. Is anyone else dealing with these issues that are important/influential for you? If so, why do you think they are important for your work?
I think that screen based dynamic type is a dead end. The people you name have broken what little ground there was to break. You should look beyond the screen. Josh Nimoy: his robotic letterforms are a step beyond screen and have potential Jenny Holzer: typographic messages displayed on various forms of signage in the public space If you are truly stuck on designing for screen, look at the combination of tablet pc with office communicator or msn messenger. These tools allow one to send instant messages that are written by hand. And look at film titles. Imaginary forces and Digital Kitchen are good places to start.

3. Did you study dynamic typography at school?
No. I studied interaction design. User-centered design, user testing, crafting the user experience. Typography I learned on the job.

4. How do you see yourself as a designer or a multimedia artist?
My work defines me. It depends on which work you look at.

5. Can you identify some restrictions/limitations in the software you are using? If so, please specify?
One can invent anything, given enough time and money. The question is whether one can come up with either.

6. How do you see the use of self-made programs for dynamic typography? And what do you think of using it for both 'personal research' and commissioned projects?
I think it's a dead end.

7. How do you think dynamic typography can improve our daily basis life? In other words, what do you think about the usage of dynamic typography?
I don't think it is any better than traditional type. I do think that anyone practicing "dynamic" typography should first study typography in general. To my mind, there is only good and bad. Usually the quality of any work is evident to the trained eye.

8. How do you see the future of dynamic typography evolution?
Size. In the future everything will be a display. From the handheld devices we carry (tiny), to the walls that surround us (large). How can we efficiently present information in a way that scales from display to display? How can we organise information in an easily understandable way in each of these extremes? This is the future of dynamic information display. Dynamic typography is merely a tool in the designer's bag. How can the information designer use dynamism to help tell his story?

Thank you!