BoPoMoFont / book design
Overview
BoPoMoFont is a geometric, monoline typeface inspired by 1920s modernism and the visual rhythm of Zhuyin Fuhao. Designed to harmonize with Latin letterforms, it explores how phonetic symbols can coexist within contemporary bilingual typography systems.
Context
BoPoMoFont is my first original typeface, developed as an exploration of cross-cultural typography and the relationship between sound, language, and form. Rooted in the geometric principles of 1920s modernism, the design draws from Bauhaus-era clarity and structure while engaging with Zhuyin Fuhao (BoPoMoFo), a phonetic system widely used in Taiwan.
Detail
As part of my BoPoMoFont project, I translated the typeface into a series of printed artifacts. I produced a small edition of hand-bound books, including five 133-page Coptic-bound process and specimen books that document the development of the typeface from early sketches to final forms.
I also created accordion books featuring 37 unique Zhuyin glyphs, allowing each character to be experienced individually and as part of a continuous sequence.
In addition, I designed a set of limited-edition risograph-printed calendars set in BoPoMoFont, along with red and gold talisman charm cards for the year of the horse. These pieces explore how the typeface functions across formats, moving between system, object, and cultural artifacts.
