• Archives of design research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.145-154
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• 1999

With the introduction of digital technology since the late 1970s, we have been shifting from the industrial era into the information age. New communication systems have changed our concept of reality. Korea has a wealthy communication heritage with its own language and alphabet. However, Korean typography today has struggled to keep its originality, and does not hold up well to international standards. Korean contemporary typography is not efficient for communicating. It is not orderly, organised and simple. It has currently become complicated and decorative. Moreover, many young designers are attracted by imitations of western trends. It is now time for Korea to reveal its own identity. How can it develop a new typographic language that is more sympathetic to Korean tradition\ulcorner How will Korean information design produce a contemporary style with international relevance that contributes to world culture\ulcorner This thesis will be developed a new Korean typographic language that relies more on Korean traditions. Simultaneously, in this thesis will be examined Swiss typography as a relevant style for a new Korean typography to incorporate. Swiss typography maintained a similar philosophy to Korean tradition with its emphasis on clarity and simplicity. This study will be explored the potential of creating a contemporary Korean typographic solution which combines the traditions of Korea with the clarity of Swiss typography. The first attitude of the new typographic language should focus on legibility. The second condition of the new typographic philosophy based on the ability of designers is interpretation of context. The third concept of the new language is founded on an objective, rational design attitude. The final mental attitude of the new typographic language should feel a deep obligation to traditions. It is crucial time for Korean alphabet to establish a relevant standard rather than goes uncritically with the international current. Korea has had worthy traditions. It is suggested that the answers to 'good design' lie in the study of Korea's own history. Simultaneously, the research of Swiss design which is a

• Archives of design research
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• v.19 no.2 s.64
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• pp.241-250
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• 2006

Hangeul as the Korean unique characters were invented according to some character-making principles and based on scholars' exhaustive researches. While most of the characters in the world evolved naturally, Hangeul was invented based on a precise linguistic analysis of the time, and therefore, it is most scientific and reasonable among various characters throughout the world. Nevertheless, Hangeul typeface designs do not seem to inherit the ideology of scientific and reasonable Hangeul correctly. For the square forms have been used intact due to the influences from the Chinese characters which prevailed during the time. If a single set of square characters should be designed, as much as 11,172 fonts should be designed, which suggests that advantages of Mangeul may not well be used fully; Hangeul was invented to visualize every sound with the combinations of 28 vowels and consonants. Problems of such square fonts began to be identified since 1900's when typewriters were introduced first from the West. Since a typewriter is designed with 28 characters laid out on its keyboard by using such combinations, the letters may be easily combined on it. The so-called the flexibility square-format typeface was born as such. Specially, the three-pairs fonts of these can be combined up to 67 letters including vowels and consonants. The three-pairs fonts system can help to solve the problems arising form the conventional square fonts and inherit the original ideology of Hangeul invention. This study aims to review the history of the three-pairs fonts designs facilitated by mechanic encoding of Hangeul and thereupon, suggest some desirable directions for future Hangeul fonts. Since the flexibility square-format typeface is expected to evolve more and more owing to development of the digital technology, they would serve our age of information in terms of both functions and convenience. Just as Hunminjongum tried to be literally independent from the Chinese characters, so the flexibility square-format typeface designs would serve to recover identity of our Hangeul font designs.