New Design Museum of Chicago exhibit shows artistry, impact of typography
CHICAGO - If you have a love of letters, this is your type of exhibit.
‘A cultural tapestry’
What to know:
"Letters Beyond Form," currently on display at the Design Museum of Chicago, is all about the artistry and impact of typography.
"It's a cultural tapestry, there's so much going on in typography," said Tanner Woodford, the founder and executive director of the museum.
Referring to four posters created by students from the University of Illinois Chicago, Woodford said "They would go into neighborhoods, look at the things around them, be inspired by that, and then make a typeface that responds to it. And the cool thing about these is that they're all downloadable. You can download them with the QR codes and use them on your computer at home."
Visitor participation
Local perspective:
Typography is all around us in magazines on signs and in graffiti, all reflecting the cultural vibrancy of Chicago.
Some visitors to the Design Museum, apparently inspired by the exhibit, began scrawling all over a wooden table in the space.
"It was such a happy accident. We're not encouraging graffiti through this exhibit, but it's such an important part of the cultural artistic tapestry of the city," said Woodford.
The exhibit features designers and lettering artists who share objects, stories, demonstrations, and workshops, but also includes printed materials and tools of typographic design like moveable type and sign painters’ brushes.
What you can do:
The exhibit is free and open to the public seven days a week at the Design Museum of Chicago at 72 East Randolph Street.