Chinese Zodiac (1/2)
Overview
Chinese Zodiac (1/2) is a typographic book exploring the first six animals of the Chinese lunar calendar. Every element is built from type: letters are shaped into animals, words are composed into characters, and text becomes image at every turn.
The illustrations draw on the concept of Square Word Calligraphy, developed by artist Xu Bing, which organizes English letters into structures that resemble Chinese characters. Each animal is represented by a typographic character built from its English name, making the meaning readable to anyone regardless of their language background.
The book was designed with narrative continuity in mind, guiding readers through each animal's cultural meaning and symbolic environment as a connected visual journey. The (1/2) in the title reflects an open-ended design system, with the remaining six animals left for a potential second volume.
Design Language
Typography as Animal
Every animal in this book is built entirely from letters. Look closely at the Rabbit and you will find the whole figure is made of individual letters, arranged together to form the animal.
Square Word Calligraphy
Inspired by Xu Bing's Square Word Calligraphy, each animal's English name is reorganized into a structure that looks like a Chinese character, making it readable to anyone.
Layout & Grid
Each spread is built on an InDesign grid system, keeping typography structured and precise while allowing the layout to shift freely with each animal's personality.
