Creative Team
Category：Typography
Creative Director/Art Director/Photographic：Zhu Chuantao
Advisor Teacher：Shuguang Gu
School： Central Saint Martins
Creative Summary
I was diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia at the age of ten. It is a rare yet hard-to-treat tumor-like bone disorder, occurring in only 1 to 3 cases per 100,000 people. The lesions have continued to erode and proliferate in my left hip, ankle, and toes, forcing me to endure pain and inconvenience for years. Since 2010, I have undergone comprehensive examinations every year at major hospitals in Beijing, progressing from having no viable options to partially controlling the condition with medication. Throughout this process, I have witnessed my body transform from fragile to resilient. Over the past 14 years, this disease has become more than a distant term; it has woven itself into my life, continually prompting reflection and acceptance. To document this long journey, I integrated each year’s bone scans, X-rays, and other imaging materials into my design, creating 14 distinct typefaces. Evolving from rough textures to a final form approaching the resilience of print type, they symbolize the shifts in both my physical state and state of mind. In terms of book design and binding, I used a medical-record–style metal file-folder binding and designed fully continuous interior pages to embody a 14-year “timeline,” recording type design, medical records, and my personal reflections as though archived in a dossier. These typefaces and the book not only record pain and helplessness but also convey a deeper understanding of life, the body, and self-identity. Through this continually evolving visual language, I seek to present the process of coexisting with illness and conversing with my body, contemplating fragility, healing, and growth.
