Project. The Type of the City

Purpose. This research project on "design sociology" has a cross-
disciplinary quality. To help the students gain knowledge in the realm of type (design) and to observe and understand different subjects. Also to help the students share a humanistic point of view in an attempt to discover and think about the relationship between design and the whole society.

Assignment. This project is not a school project in a common sense, not even directly connected with the subject of type design. It is more like a
photographing and researching project within certain urban contexts.
The project will last for years and is not limited to a certain
period of time. Participants are not restrained in terms of their
year of study. It is open to all students interested in type, and to
people interested in photography and social studies.

All photographs taken are required to contain the image of words.
They should be taken in certain cities. The content of the
photographs is supposed to be beautiful, interesting, or… When put
together, they are to reflect the Chinese society in the urban space.
Except for photographing, students are supposed to describe and
record their thoughts and encounters in text. As members of the
group, students are also supposed to manage files, make conclusions
regarding the methods of research, and take part in discussions.

Format. 20X16 centimeters (8X6 Inches) / Jpg Tiff /300dpi

Time. From 2006-7

Professor Min Wang is the Dean of School of Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). The Academy is one of the most prestigious and influential art school in China. Min Wang is also currently the Design Director for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Committee. Min Wang is member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale).

Min Wang has been the Design Director at Square Two Design. Since 2004 Square Two Design has established its Beijing office. Min joined Square Two in 1998 after serving 8 years as Design Manager, Senior Art Director, Graphic Designer at Adobe Systems. Min Wang received MFA from Yale University School of Art in 1988 and he has been a visiting fellow in Germany at Akademe der Bildenden Kunste, Munich and Hochschule der Kunste, Berlin. In 1989, he began lecturing in graphic design at Yale University School of Art, teaching graduate students until 1997.

Min’s work has been exhibited internationally in showcases such as the Biennian of Graphic Design, Brno; Graphic Design Show in Beijing; Type Directors Club Exhibition in New York; Print Annual; and the International Poster Biennial Lahti and in the collection of Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg; Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. Min has been giving talks in the US, China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, invited as judge for design competitions, and appointed Honorary Professor by Shanghai University, Fine Art College. Square Two Design clients include: Adobe, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Stanford University. In 2001, Min worked for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee.

Li Shaobo, designer and teacher, worked for The Fine Arts Academy of Hunan Normal University from1994, then moved to Shenzhen city as a design director in Shenzhen CIS Apply Association. In 2003 he went to Danmark Designskole as a visting scholar and as a designer in Mervyn Kurlansky Design studio. From 2005 he has taught courses in typography and branding design at the Design school of Central Academy of Fine Arts. At the same time Li Shaobo is a director in Fangzheng Type Foundry, a researcher in China Typeface Research Center, an editor of Chinese design yearbook, a part time professor in Hunan Broadcast and Television University, and a New York Type Directors Club Member

Li’s has won many honors, such as the Judge's Prize in Japan Morisawa Awards, the 2002 International Typeface Design Competition, the grand prize in the China Exhibition of Designing Art, the third place in Russian “best of the best” international logo and trademark contest, the judge prize in the fifth Beijing International Logo Biennial Awards. Li's work has been published and exhibited in Toyama Poster Triennial, Trnava Poster Triennial, Goldenbee Sixth Exhibition, Lahti Poster Biennial, and Discovery Asia Invitation Poster Exhibition. Additional information available at typecity.yo2.cn

www.cafa.com.cn

Chinese version

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