Insight
Sea breeze(badat-kka), leaves(namun-nip), sunlight(haet-ppyeot)…
The phonological phenomenon in which the consonant ‘ㅅ’ is added between two combined words is called Saisiot. This occurs when a previously nonexistent ‘ㅅ’ emerges as words come together. Changes created through such interaction resemble a conference, where knowledge is exchanged and learning takes place. In this context, Sandoll named its type conference Saisiot. The official title, [Sandoll Saisiot: Type Conference], reflects our intention to share expertise and experience in fonts while creating an environment for collective growth.
At [Saisiot 2024], held on October 12, we revisited the influence of fonts across various fields and discussed the world transformed by fonts. Today, we would like to share the process behind how the conference message and experience of [Saisiot 2024] were created.
How Do Fonts Change the World?
The theme of [2023 Saisiot] (Link) was “Work and Life.” By looking into the work and lives of experts in the font industry, it explored how fonts are made—covering font designers’ ways of working, font production stories, and research introductions. In contrast, [2024 Saisiot] focused on how fonts interact with their surrounding environments. This was a deliberate choice to broaden awareness of the potential of fonts and expand their influence. To frame this idea, we chose the question, “How do fonts change the world?” In the year Sandoll celebrates its 40th anniversary, we prepared the conference with anticipation for the world that fonts have transformed—and will continue to transform. Can fonts change the world? At [2024 Saisiot], five lectures, seven speakers, and three panelists came together to explore this question. More detailed information about the lectures can be found in Part 2 of the article (Link).
A Feeling of Change
We needed a conference key visual that could be used across the entire event, including the ticketing page, promotional materials, and printed outputs. We designed it with versatility in mind so it could work across various online and offline media, while maintaining consistency as it was adapted to each medium’s characteristics. To clearly convey the theme of [2024 Saisiot], we went through an in-depth study process. Let’s take a look at how it was visualized.
At times, fonts are used as tools, letters, symbols, or even images. While visualizing the theme, “How do fonts change the world?”, we sought to capture the potential and expandability of fonts. As you may have noticed, the exclamation mark (!) functions as a fixed element within the frame, symbolizing the font itself, while the graphics applied to the background represent a changing world and environment. The key visual developed through this process was then expanded and applied across various media. Below is a motion graphic that captures multiple points of contact between fonts and the world.
Fragments of Feeling
Since [Saisiot] is an offline event, it requires a wide range of printed materials. Because even small details can shape a positive conference experience, we focused on creating items that are functional while blending naturally into the overall conference context. This year in particular, with support from Samwon Paper, we were able to experiment with a variety of paper stocks, which became an important element in enriching the overall conference experience.
1. Name Tag
Name tags have limited space and must prioritize essential information such as affiliation and name, so minimizing graphics was unavoidable. To reduce decorative elements while still expressing the identity of a type conference, we designed the name area as a “text box.” We also added a playful element to encourage networking. Stickers representing different networking temperatures were distributed alongside the name tags, allowing attendees to customize them according to their preferences. The emojis used were based on “TossFace,” which was introduced in a lecture at [2024 Saisiot].
2. SD-KR NFC Keyring
SD-KR (Link) is Sandoll’s Hangul font specification. It proposes a new standard and introduces changes designed to make font production more convenient for creators. To make this research accessible to a wider audience, we prepared a booth introducing SD-KR. In addition, to further improve accessibility, we distributed NFC keyrings that allow users to directly access the website. The website provides not only the specification itself, but also the background, usage, and recommended drawing methods for each glyph. For those interested in fonts, exploring this resource may be helpful.
The NFC keyring was created in collaboration with No Plastic Sunday, a brand that advocates practical actions for the planet.
3. 「SD Minburi」 Specimen Book
「SD Minburi」(Link) is a body text font newly proposed by Sandoll. It is a distinctive font that allows users to customize a wide range of widths and weights according to their needs. 「SD Minburi」 was featured in the opening lecture of [2024 Saisiot]. After the lecture, to allow participants to examine 「SD Minburi」 more closely, the font was applied across all design materials, both online and offline. 「SD Minburi」 offers a total of 54 weights, providing a particularly wide range of options, and we indicated which weights and sizes were used for each medium. In this sense, [2024 Saisiot] itself can be seen as a specimen of 「SD Minburi」.
Up until the microphone is turned on
[2024 Saisiot] was carefully designed so that its message could be embodied and experienced beyond the lectures themselves. From the conference key visual and motion graphics to each item created for the audience experience, we explored the theme—“How do fonts change the world?”—in a variety of ways. We hope these efforts left a lasting impression.
Moving forward, [Saisiot] aims to continue creating a space that offers inspiration from many different perspectives. We hope you look forward to next year’s [Saisiot] as well. In Part 2, we will be sharing insights from the lectures at [2024 Saisiot]. See you soon!
Insight
Sea breeze(badat-kka), leaves(namun-nip), sunlight(haet-ppyeot)…
The phonological phenomenon in which the consonant ‘ㅅ’ is added between two combined words is called Saisiot. This occurs when a previously nonexistent ‘ㅅ’ emerges as words come together. Changes created through such interaction resemble a conference, where knowledge is exchanged and learning takes place. In this context, Sandoll named its type conference Saisiot. The official title, [Sandoll Saisiot: Type Conference], reflects our intention to share expertise and experience in fonts while creating an environment for collective growth.
At [Saisiot 2024], held on October 12, we revisited the influence of fonts across various fields and discussed the world transformed by fonts. Today, we would like to share the process behind how the conference message and experience of [Saisiot 2024] were created.
How Do Fonts Change the World?
A Feeling of Change
We needed a conference key visual that could be used across the entire event, including the ticketing page, promotional materials, and printed outputs. We designed it with versatility in mind so it could work across various online and offline media, while maintaining consistency as it was adapted to each medium’s characteristics. To clearly convey the theme of [2024 Saisiot], we went through an in-depth study process. Let’s take a look at how it was visualized.
At times, fonts are used as tools, letters, symbols, or even images. While visualizing the theme, “How do fonts change the world?”, we sought to capture the potential and expandability of fonts. As you may have noticed, the exclamation mark (!) functions as a fixed element within the frame, symbolizing the font itself, while the graphics applied to the background represent a changing world and environment. The key visual developed through this process was then expanded and applied across various media. Below is a motion graphic that captures multiple points of contact between fonts and the world.
Fragments of Feeling
Since [Saisiot] is an offline event, it requires a wide range of printed materials. Because even small details can shape a positive conference experience, we focused on creating items that are functional while blending naturally into the overall conference context. This year in particular, with support from Samwon Paper, we were able to experiment with a variety of paper stocks, which became an important element in enriching the overall conference experience.
1. Name Tag
Name tags have limited space and must prioritize essential information such as affiliation and name, so minimizing graphics was unavoidable. To reduce decorative elements while still expressing the identity of a type conference, we designed the name area as a “text box.” We also added a playful element to encourage networking. Stickers representing different networking temperatures were distributed alongside the name tags, allowing attendees to customize them according to their preferences. The emojis used were based on “TossFace,” which was introduced in a lecture at [2024 Saisiot].
2. SD-KR NFC Keyring
SD-KR (Link) is Sandoll’s Hangul font specification. It proposes a new standard and introduces changes designed to make font production more convenient for creators. To make this research accessible to a wider audience, we prepared a booth introducing SD-KR. In addition, to further improve accessibility, we distributed NFC keyrings that allow users to directly access the website. The website provides not only the specification itself, but also the background, usage, and recommended drawing methods for each glyph. For those interested in fonts, exploring this resource may be helpful.
The NFC keyring was created in collaboration with No Plastic Sunday, a brand that advocates practical actions for the planet.
3. 「SD Minburi」 Specimen Book
「SD Minburi」(Link) is a body text font newly proposed by Sandoll. It is a distinctive font that allows users to customize a wide range of widths and weights according to their needs. 「SD Minburi」 was featured in the opening lecture of [2024 Saisiot]. After the lecture, to allow participants to examine 「SD Minburi」 more closely, the font was applied across all design materials, both online and offline. 「SD Minburi」 offers a total of 54 weights, providing a particularly wide range of options, and we indicated which weights and sizes were used for each medium. In this sense, [2024 Saisiot] itself can be seen as a specimen of 「SD Minburi」.
Up until the microphone is turned on
[2024 Saisiot] was carefully designed so that its message could be embodied and experienced beyond the lectures themselves. From the conference key visual and motion graphics to each item created for the audience experience, we explored the theme—“How do fonts change the world?”—in a variety of ways. We hope these efforts left a lasting impression.
Moving forward, [Saisiot] aims to continue creating a space that offers inspiration from many different perspectives. We hope you look forward to next year’s [Saisiot] as well. In Part 2, we will be sharing insights from the lectures at [2024 Saisiot]. See you soon!