Type + Code: Femme Type celebrates Yeoyhun Ahn’s code-driven typography

UW–Madison’s Yeoyhun Ahn’s interdisciplinary project “Type + Code” that explores code-driven typography through generated multi-dimensional letterforms is featured on the platform Femme Type, a project of TYPE01 Ltd created to celebrate the work of type designers and type-focused creatives who identify as women.

“(Ahn’s) work is truly pioneering, bridging graphic design, computer science, typography, and art for an imaginative approach to making type,” reads the article. “The results exceed the possibilities of pen and paper — though as with any design project, that’s where they all start: as drawn thumbnail compositions seeking balance and interest, created as a means to solve a problem.”

The article explains that while Type + Code began as a personal collection of experiments, Ahn realized sharing her code with others would allow it to continue growing and evolving. She has been leading Type + Code workshops since 2012, and each has a distinct focus — including coding towards calligraphy, selfies, floral illustrations, and the Korean alphabet.

“As a child,” the article explains, Ahn “adored all things calligraphy,” but she was discouraged from pursuing it as a full-time job. “Through Type + Code, not only was she innovating a new discipline, but also combining two things she really loved.”

“Just as we don’t need to know all of Photoshop to edit a picture,” Ahn said, “we don’t need to know all about coding to code.”

Learn more about Type + Code by reading the full article on Femme Type.