Workshop #1

Graphic design that starts from the body may sound appealing in theory, but how does it actually take shape in practice? To explore this, I created a format that gives me deadlines, constraints, and room to experiment. Every few weeks, I host a workshop that begins with a reference —a text, image, book, essay, or manifesto— that responds to the idea of the 'body as a medium'.

The first workshop took place with nine fellow master’s students. I opened the session with a breathing exercise, reading a text by Clara Pasteau, Hypertensions: Mindful Liberation, from the publication Beginnings. This helped us arrive together, settle into the space, and become more aware of our bodies.

The focus of the workshop was to create our initials—the first letter of our name. The tools were simple: ink, white A3 paper, and our hands and fingers.

Context about my research

As you may or may not know I'm now in my master year. Throughout the year the title of this research, project changed almost every month. And I'm still unsure about it. I believe that this ongoing change reflects the evolving nature of the project’s content. 

The initial title of my research was The Magical Character of Language, which emerged during my final bachelor year. It expressed the idea that language is never neutral or transparent. How we read, see, think, and interpret is subjective and shaped by individual experiences. This subjectivity is what gives language its power and magic.

Over time, I encountered the broadness of the concept of language—ranging from images and speech to gestures, actions, and letters—which made the scope of my research unclear. To gain focus, I narrowed the project, leading to the second title: Performative Typography. This phase explored typography as something that originates from the body. However, the notion of performance began to feel limiting and distant from my own design practice.

What became clear is my desire to research typography starting from the body. I now approach typography as a personal carrier of stories, not as a neutral form. Letters are, to me, bearers of personality and meaning—shaped by both physical presence and inner experience.