Communication Design School of Design
Nikos Ho
My graphic practice focuses primarily on typography and publication design. Creative problem solving, research and visual experimentation drive my work. I take a systematic approach to design. My design process is critical, reflective and purposeful. An interest in type design and cultural identity has led my final year work, delving into the typographic identity of Singapore and the possibilities of multiscript type design. This typographic project consists of a collection of typefaces, type specimens and an essay publication. While I am comfortable working with formal themes, I also enjoy exploring light-hearted and humorous topics. This has materialised in the form of the collaborative Things in Places publication.
Spider Lily Typeface
The typeface is inspired by the spider lily, a type of flower commonly found in Singapore. They are native to Latin America but are naturalised in many tropical countries. Initially introduced as an ornamental plant, the spider lily found an ideal habitat in Singapore’s tropical climate, much like the various ethnic communities integrating into Singapore’s societal fabric.
Block Typeface
Block is a typeface inspired by Singapore’s public housing architecture. These public housing blocks, also known as HDB blocks, are built with a proprietory prefabrication technology, which has informed the semi-modular construction of the typeface. Humanist forms are sculpted around structures constructed with a rigid set of modules. Its legibility makes it a versatile workhorse typeface.
Block Letterform Sculpture
The sculpture is an extension of the Block typeface specimen. The sculpture is a 650mm × 550mm big uppercase “G” casted in concrete, with chunks chiseled off to expose the steel rebar within.
The exposed rebar in the concrete sculpture illustrates the modules used to create the Block typeface. The choice of materials also reflect the origins of the Block typeface—Singapore’s brutalist public housing blocks.
The Typographic Identity of Multilingual Singapore
The text in this publication consists of an extended essay I wrote as part of my Design History and Theory coursework at GSA. The essay explores the complex typographic landscape of Singapore as a multilingual nation with a graphic design industry heavily influenced by Western techniques. The design of the publication reflects this complexity, with details that may not be obvious at first glance.
Things in Places
Things in Places is a publication project created in collaboration with Josh Hale. The series is an exploration of objects in the peripheral within hospitality establishments. Each issue delves into a specific object in a specific type of place. The first issue focuses on: Chairs in Places to Have Coffee that Serve Water Without Request.
While the form of the publication hints at “official inspections”, the content is mostly informal. Unlike conventional written reviews, Things in Places uses experimental typographic techniques to portray verbal discussions between Josh and myself about the object of focus. The publication could described as a typographically interpreted podcast.
