Molecular Typography Laboratory

Please note: This is a pre-order only, the book gets shipped once published end of January 2025.

Molecular Typography Laboratory by Kobi Franco is a speculative research project that delves into experimental typography, exploring the intersection of function versus aesthetics and content versus form. This profound study operates on the premise that Latin and Hebrew letters possess a molecular structure, examining how this assumption can be applied to alphabets and languages. It is an interdisciplinary endeavor that bridges the gap between design, science, and language.

The research is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the concept of “molecular typography.” It involves a series of over 150 tests, each designed as a structured “game” where Franco defines the rules, sets the stage, and selects the participants. These tests have led to the identification of 11 key themes: foundations, language, gender, formula, weight, 3D, gravitation, generative research, color, word play, and the relationship between type and image.

The book features four illuminating essays that provide historical, cultural, and academic insights into typographic research and is accompanied by the website themtlab.com with additional, animated materials.

A laboratory of pseudo-scientific Latin and Hebrew typography!

CONTENT

• Inspiring visual representations of Latin and Hebrew letters.
• Methods and rules enabling a rhizomatic exploration of experimental typography.
• The project received the New York’s TDC awards.

ABOUT

Kobi Franco is a Tel Aviv based designer, researcher, curator, and the Head of the Master's in Design Program at Shenkar College in Tel Aviv. He owns a leading studio specializing in design for culture and art. His work has been exhibited in a variety of exhibitions in Israel and around the world. The book Molecular Typography Laboratory is the result of five years of research in experimental typography. The project has been showcased in several exhibitions and has received numerous awards, including Typographic Excellence from New York’s Type Directors Club.