Print Dialogue

Print Dialogue is a senior undergraduate thesis project completed in 2016 at SUNY New Paltz.

Overview

The project Print Dialogue seeks to explore the intersection between linguistics, design, typography, and meaning through critical making inquiries. With a back and forth process between design and theory, ideas within linguistics such as double articulation, regional dialects, plurilingualism, the international phonetic alphabet, diachronic / synchronic studies, and pragmatics are explored in their relation to design and the use of typography as a means of expression. Double articulation, for example, is the ability within language to be able to use a finite number of sounds (those available within a given language) to express an infinite number of ideas. Within design, there are a limited amount of visual elements that can be used to create a composition, yet they can still be combined in an infinite number of ways to communicate any desired message. The outcome of Print Dialogue thus is a series of studies and accompanying writings both compiled into a single book, reflecting on making and bringing ideas explored within design and type back into the realm of linguistics.

The final project consists of a 144 page book, three bound inquiries and a set of 5 2'x3' posters.

The writings can be found online at printdialogue.megandoty.com, and other thesis projects from the show can be found at thesis2016.newpaltz.design.