undoing type

We live in a bubble of readability: Type is an everyday tool—our communication and even our digital images and videos are based on ­alphanumeric code. But what happens if we try to leave that comfort zone of readability?

The book undoing type examines the field between type and image and reflects our expectations that we have concerning the function of type. Can type be material that is not only a tool of investigation, but the ­investigation itself?

In 20 experiments the boundaries of readability are expanded by pushing typography to its limits. Some are based on the alphabet and create new codes and unknown type systems, others use images as a starting point or are completely based on asemic shapes. Among others, these experiments try to answer questions like how do I camouflage type?, can type sabotage content? or how flexible is readability?

In the end it’s about seeing type as an independent form of notation that no longer needs to stick to the message alone.

undoing type is part of Tatjana Pöscke’s master’s exam at Hochschule Düsseldorf (PBSA) and was accompanied by Prof. Holger Jacobs and Prof. Christian Jendreiko.

undoing type 

Editor: Tatjana Pöscke
Volume: 278 p.
Format: 18 × 25 cm
Language: German
Production: Softcover
Printing: buch.one