Spore
A Modular Typeface System
typeface design
packaging
2023
A modular typeface system inspired by a species of soil-dwelling amoeba, or slime mold. The behavior of the system largely reflects the organism’s four-stage lifecycle: vegetative, aggregation, migration, and culmination.
Glyphset
The typeface operates in a molecular fashion, cultivating linear proportions with delicate networking between intersections and rounded stroke ends, referring to the final stage of D. discoideum, a tall stalk with fruiting bodies.
Vegetation
On their own, the shapes require a catalytic event to create the forms and letterforms of Spore.
aggregation
Using the first set of shapes, build the initial form. individual cells come together to create a multicellular structure.
migration
The next set of shapes are used to form the transitions within intersecting and adjacent cells, creating a more organic feel to the form or letterform.
culmination
Lastly, the final set of shapes are used to soften the hard edges left behind from the Aggregation stage.
Stencil Set
The first stencil set labelled 01-UNICELLULAR STENCIL has the intended use of conducting typographic experiments to create forms and letterforms of Spore in a range of scales.
The second stencil set labelled 02-MULTICELLULAR STENCIL offers five individual stencils at two sizes which can break off from the stencil matrix for mobile use to collect typographic data in the field.
Packaging
The full system is a booklet in the likes of a scientific field guide, complete with a pocket folder for the stencils, a slot for the manual and additional test sheets. Two felt-tipped pens are included for use on the stencils in yellow and black. For best practices, use the yellow pen to draft forms and letterforms, then use the black pen to delineate the final result.
