Design Collection

VECTOR, SPIN, STROKE

This ongoing project explores the role of tools within design investigations. To position design as an investigative activity is to favor a bottom-up approach. As such, a tool stands between oneself and their outputs—it sets up the conditions within one’s processes. Thus, tool-making is an activity through which I choose how to structure my investigations within graphic design. The toolset for this study aims to construct and deconstruct type through three categories: VECTOR, SPIN, and STROKE.

Typography Type Design Coding Physical Computing Scripting Writing Fabrication Generative Design Analog

Graphic Design

VECTOR

VECTOR is a series of 2D and 3D tools consisting of multi-layered, monolinear letterforms connected at anchor points with elastic strings or fabric. By borrowing the logic of interpolation, it began as an exercise in deconstructing the forms of the... More

Graphic Design

SPIN

SPIN is interested in investigating optics and the ways in which type appears. By intersecting typography with related areas of concern, such as occlusion, motion, dithering, topology, halation, blending, and color, the resulting outputs are... More

Graphic Design

STROKE

STROKE utilizes the replicating mechanisms of the pantograph to translate writing gestures through different styluses. The primary holder uses a pencil, while the secondary holder can be adapted with various drawing instruments. As one end moves,... More

Work by

Donald Zhu

Graphic Design

“VECTOR, SPIN, STROKE. is an ongoing project explores the role of tools within design investigations. To position design as an investigative activity is to favor a bottom-up approach. As such, a tool...” [More]