Hsin-Ju Hsieh

'Zoom in' Let's see what is Zhuyin. 「注意」，關於注音。

Bachelor of Design Illustration Typography Cultural History Culture

www.linkedin.com/in/graphichhj

The inner pages use various paper types to illustrate the unique Taiwanese tradition of Zhuyin, showing its traditional typeface, phonetic notation, and usage.

Using typography to uncover Taiwanese language culture.

My project ‘Zoom in’, Let’s see what is Zhuyin 「注意」，關於注音 is a type-specimen book design for adult English users and Taiwanese readers. Through bilingual content and communication, it introduces the unique phonetic system of Taiwanese called Zhuyin. Featuring the Taiwanese official typeface DFKai-SB(TC) as the primary medium, the work explores various perspectives on the history, structure, pronunciation, and application of Zhuyin.

Inspired by Taiwanese student notebooks, the book features different paper stocks and varied inserts to create a combination of traditional and contemporary aesthetics. The overlaying transparent inserts as a connection between language and phonetic study and the interactive collateral offers an engaging and fresh experience in language learning by touching and tracing practice within these letters.

By understanding the Zhuyin system, I aimed to gain readers’ attention and curiosity whilst expressing the cultural depth of Traditional Chinese with a new perspective. I hope this work will allow more people to appreciate Taiwanese unique cultural features.

The inner pages also feature playful displays and wordplay, allowing readers to discover hidden content and enjoyment as they turn the pages.

Among the collateral, there are specially designed, double-sided multicoloured cards and two Zhuyin lists with writing directions that complement the book.

Each Zhuyin letterforms carefully annotated with stroke order, allowing users to practice writing alongside the book’s content and record their practice on the cards for preservation.