BOPOMOFO TYPE
This poster series explores the Taiwanese phonetic writing system Zhuyin Fuhao, also known as Bopomofo, through an experimental typographic lens. Used by approximately 20 million speakers, primarily in Taiwan, Zhuyin serves as a tool for transcribing Mandarin Chinese and is the first script introduced to children in Taiwanese education. Despite its cultural significance, its usage has been largely confined to digital input and early literacy, rarely venturing into expressive or aesthetic design.
Through this series, I focus on display typography, investigating the graphic and formal qualities of Zhuyin’s 37 graphemes. Each poster explores the potential of Zhuyin as a standalone typographic system, breaking from its role as a functional input aid. The compositions draw from idiomatic expressions and lyrics from iconic Taiwanese songs, reimagined through motion-inspired forms, expressive layouts, and typographic interventions.
One conceptual reversal underlies the project: whereas Zhuyin is traditionally used as an annotation to Chinese characters—positioned vertically or to the right—these posters place Zhuyin at the center, with logographic characters acting as annotations. This reversal creates new microtypographic challenges and opportunities, shedding light on the visual identity of a script often overlooked in global design discourse.
The project was developed in consultation with Taiwanese designers and native speakers, whose feedback informed the cultural and typographic sensitivity of the work. The posters aim to showcase the untapped visual richness of Zhuyin and advocate for its place within contemporary type design practices.
Future Work
Alongside this poster series, I am developing a book project that documents the typological structure and typographic potential of Zhuyin Fuhao. This includes both a graphematic (linguistic) analysis and a practical exploration of its applications in type design. The book aims to position Zhuyin not just as a tool for phonetic transcription, but as a fully-fledged design system in its own right.
