What do you get when you combine typography and politics? A one-of-a-kind typeface created from the shapes of congressional districts in the United States. The idea came from designer and developer Ben Doessel and designer James Lee, who wanted to create a typeface that would bring attention to the issue of gerrymandering.
The Problem of Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering is a process by which political parties draw congressional district lines to give themselves an unfair advantage in elections. By manipulating the boundaries of districts, they can create safe seats for their party and dilute the voting power of opposing parties. This often results in uncompetitive elections and a lack of representation for certain groups of people.
The Inspiration for the Typeface
Doessel and Lee were inspired by a map of the United States that used typography to show the names of cities and landmarks. They realized that they could use a similar approach to create a typeface from the shapes of congressional districts. The result is a striking and unique typeface that draws attention to the issue of gerrymandering.
The Process of Creating the Typeface
To create the typeface, Doessel and Lee first had to obtain the shapes of all the congressional districts in the United States. They used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to create a map of all the districts and then extracted the shapes using Adobe Illustrator. They then used a custom script to convert the shapes into vector paths that could be used to create the typeface.
The Design of the Typeface
The resulting typeface is a bold and attention-grabbing design that is sure to turn heads. Each letter is made up of the shapes of multiple congressional districts, with some letters using as many as six different shapes. The typeface includes both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and punctuation marks.
The Impact of the Typeface
The congressional districts typeface has gained a lot of attention in the design community and beyond. It has been featured in numerous design publications and has even been used in political campaigns. The typeface has helped to bring attention to the issue of gerrymandering and has sparked conversations about the need for fair and impartial redistricting.
Conclusion
The congressional districts typeface is a unique and thought-provoking design that has brought attention to the issue of gerrymandering. It is a powerful reminder that design can be used to raise awareness and inspire change. By using the shapes of congressional districts to create a typeface, Doessel and Lee have created a work of art that also serves a practical purpose. The typeface is a testament to the power of design to make a difference in the world.