The Forgotten Voices
The Forgotten Voices is a bilingual publication exploring the gradual disappearance of Chinese dialects through stories, expressions, and cultural traces from Shanghai, Beijing, and beyond. Combining modern typography with traditional materials such as xuan paper, the book creates a contemporary yet nostalgic reading experience. Designed, printed, and hand-bound, this project reflects a full end-to-end design process, from research and content curation to material exploration, visual system development, and final production.
Duration
7 weeks, Fall 2025
Individual
Student Project
Keywords
Publication
Editorial & Book Design
Production
The visual system of the book balances traditional sensibilities with contemporary clarity. Modern sans-serifs pair with Chinese typefaces that emphasize rhythm and stroke texture, while pacing is shaped through intentional spacing, sectional pauses, and moments of visual quiet. Material choices, xuan paper, Japanese paper, and momigami, add translucency and tactility, allowing the physical qualities of the paper to participate in the storytelling. Each spread responds to its content yet follows a consistent hierarchy and graphic logic. A translucent film case protects the delicate pages and introduces a modern counterpoint to the traditional materials, preventing the book from feeling overly solemn and reinforcing a more inviting, contemporary tone. Together, the book becomes both a crafted object and a narrative experience, inviting readers to encounter dialects through sight, touch, and time.
