Judge's comments:

High level of craft and exceptionally executed. This project lifted the veil on depth of process, referencing cultural motifs delicately, without becoming a pastiche. It felt authentic and handled with care; decorative, but highly refined and functional.

Description:

Hương is a Vietnamese display typeface which celebrates culture and honours heritage.

Hương Display is centred on the Têt Lunar New Year celebration which influences the notable pillow forms of the glyphs. Its playful rhythm takes inspiration from traditional folk art, festive costumes, and patterns impressed onto moon cakes. Meanwhile, written Vietnamese characters in manuscripts and hand-painted storefront signage informed the balance between stylistic choice and legibility / functionality of the diacritics. The experimental display typeface expresses the vibrant culture of Vietnam through the significance of their written language shared to the New Zealand audience.

The festive Vietnamese theme continues into the physical application of the type specimen,reinforcing the inspiration and core of Hương Display. Furthermore, the specimen is encased in an illustrated poster jacket sleeve referencing the traditional folk painting which catalysed the visual characteristics of the typeface. Through the publication, the project is displayed from idea and process to the meticulous details of each diacritic. Following the pages of this specimen aims to evoke a response from the audience whether they have little connection to Vietnam or none. Hương display intends to start conversation, reflection and connection. Sharing the Vietnamese language through the design of Hương Display typeface fosters cross-cultural connections and adds value to the diversity of design in Aotearoa.

Hương Display is a project which shares the richness of Vietnamese culture and orthography through the lens of the designer’s experience and heritage- an invitation to share the celebration of type and culture.