.generative()
.interactive()
.typography()
Parsing Out Generative Typography for Memory Loss
"Vestiges of an Ebbing Tide" is a generative typography project executed in Processing, a Java programming environment. It's an exploratory journey into the visualization of memory loss through typography, complementing the thematic essence of Refik Anadol's 'Melting Memories' series. The project’s main objective is in creating a dynamic typeface that spans a spectrum of legibility, from crystal-clear clarity to a near-abstract, texture-like obscurity. This evolving typeface mirrors the fluidity and fragility of human memory, encapsulating the ephemeral nature of recollection and the gradual decay of remembered details.
↑ LEGIBILITY SPECTRUMS, TWO WAYS
Two key parameters, resolution and accuracy, drive the typographic simulation of memory deterioration in 'Vestiges of an Ebbing Tide'. The resolution parameter controls the clarity, while accuracy dictates the fidelity with which each letter is recalled. For instance, using the letter 'A', perfect accuracy is represented by ten superimposed copies of 'A', whereas low accuracy is represented by one 'A' blended with nine random letters, depicting the erratic and noise-filled nature of difficult memory recall.
↓ THE “MEMORY” OF A FONT
The typeface's significance lies not in the traditional font design details like the curve of a bowl or the height of ascenders, but in its fluid shift between legibility and illegibility. By merging ten varied fonts—3 monospaced, 3 serif, and 3 sans-serif—a “generic impression” of each letter is formed. This approach intentionally de-emphasizes individual letterforms, instead drawing attention to the overarching theme of memory loss and how it subtly distorts our recollections."
