For her master thesis at Central Saint Martins College (2010-2012), Stefanie was investigating how interactive and responsive type can be designed and used as a creative tool in order to inform in a playful and experiential way. Interactive and responsive fonts could react to input from the real, as well as, from the digital world. This might range from physical triggers, like movement or sound, to digital data, sourced online. These interactive applications are tools that enable an alternative way of typing/writing as the displayed text is processing, hence enriching while in use - or rather because it is in use.
The following examples are customized applications created with the open source programming language Processing.
The application "timed type" draws letters which forms respond to the actual time and date.
The application Fish Soup - an interactive title was designed for the launch event of the book Fish Soup where the audience had the chance to create its own book title(s).
The application Design-Science was created to respond in real-time to a debate about Design and Science but could also be used for analysis purposes afterwards. Each time the word DESIGN or SCIENCE is mentioned the respective size increases.
The application "evolving type" generates letter shapes that are formed of interactive spirals. Time and usage influence the sizes and grades of irregularity.
The application "3-dimensional type" generates letter shapes which are formed of 3-dimensional interactive elements that enable different views of the letters.
The application "outline-generated type" places interactive elements along the font outlines. The sizes of these ellipses are able to increase and decrease, additionally their positions can be relocated.
The research and design process of this master thesis was documented on the blog Process: collect - find - form