NON

NON is a series of limited edition type systems that utilise the basic latin and numerical character sets to create abstract forms, rhythms and fields from otherwise ordinary text. When used effectively NON establishes a kind of new universal language.

NON fonts do not conform to traditional typographic rigors. While NON fonts are made using regular alphabets, they rarely form regular legible language patterns. Words, sentences and paragraphs present irregular typographic fields, creating outcomes that feel like type, but are altogether unique.

Experimentation is at the heart of the NON series. NON does not seek conventionally useful outcomes, instead NON is about the rhythms and textures of visual communication.

NON Dit-Dah

The first release in Formist’s NON series, Dit-Dah, is based on the Morse Code system of transmitting text information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks commonly know as dots and dashes, or dits and dahs. Dit-Dah is designed using an approximation of letterforms, each made from the quantity of dots and dashes used to create its Morse Code counterpart. This system simultaneously acknowledges both the written letterform and transmitted code form, and in turn, forms a third abstracted universal language.

Usage Notes

While the Dit-Dah characters don't look much like regular letterforms, the font typesets much like any other typeface. The font is essentially mono-spaced, so type will set in a predictable rhythm. The glyph height is equal to the glyph width, making each character set within equal square units. As a result solid-set text will form patterns with equal vertical and horizontal spacing.

Dit-Dah has not been designed for typesetting legible sentences or paragraphs. The character set is made up of a simplified glyph set consisting only of unicase characters, numerals and punctuation marks essential for spelling common words.