Project Overview
This poster series was designed for a typography conference exploring the relationship between Chinese characters and the Latin alphabet. The project investigates how two fundamentally different writing systems can visually interact and generate new typographic possibilities.
The series includes a main poster, a secondary poster, and an extended narrative graphic. The main poster introduces the concept of typographic fusion, while the second poster connects this dialogue to the historical experience of Chinese Americans. An accompanying panoramic graphic highlights several key moments in Chinese American history that form the conceptual structure of the design.
Together, the series treats typography not only as a visual system, but also as a medium for cultural exchange and historical reflection.
Main Poster — Fusion / 融
The main poster centers on the Chinese character “融” (fusion) as the visual and conceptual core of the conference. Chinese strokes and Latin letterforms are interwoven to suggest melting, transformation, and interaction between two typographic systems.
The background incorporates references to ancient Chinese bronze patterns and Greek meander motifs, creating a subtle dialogue between Eastern and Western visual traditions. Through this layered composition, the poster explores typography as a space for experimentation and cross-cultural exchange.
Secondary Poster —Built on dreams
The second poster presents a hot-air balloon constructed from fragments of Chinese American history. While the main poster focuses on typographic fusion, this work reflects on the historical journeys that made such cultural dialogue possible.
Each element of the balloon references a significant moment in Chinese American history—such as migration during the Gold Rush, labor on the transcontinental railroad, exclusion policies, and the formation of Chinatowns. These moments represent generations of immigrants who arrived with dreams for a better future and gradually built their lives through persistence, labor, and resilience.
As these historical fragments assemble into the structure of the balloon, they symbolize how the dreams and efforts of earlier generations continue to lift those that follow. The image suggests that today’s cultural exchange—and the opportunity for this conference to take place—is built upon a long and difficult history.
Extended Graphic — Historical Components
The extended graphic breaks the hot-air balloon into a sequence of visual segments, each representing a significant moment in Chinese American history.
These historical fragments function as structural components of the balloon, highlighting events such as early migration, railroad labor, exclusion laws, wartime participation, and the formation of Chinese communities. Although not intended as a complete timeline, the graphic brings together several iconic moments that shaped the Chinese American experience.
By assembling these fragments into a single structure, the design suggests that history forms the foundation from which cultural dialogue and creative exchange can rise.
