Bringing the Typeface Bell Gothic Back To Life in a modern context:
Bell Gothic - the designed typeface for American telephone directories abandoned for 40 years is brought back to life in this project through an Instagram Directory. Instead of phone numbers, names, and addresses in conventional telephone directories, this Instagram directory records a large amount of random and anonymous usernames with their respective number of followers, and followings.
Dimensions: 105 x 148 mm
Process: Risograph printed and handbinded.
Bell Gothic was the designed typeface for American telephone directories during the period 1938-1978, and rarely used for anything else outside of this context. After 40 years, Bell Gothic could no longer keep up with the updated print technology, and was replaced by a new type - Bell Centennial.
Bell Gothic is more than just a typeface, it is both a cultural artefact as well as a collective memory. This typeface used to hold the most essential information about people’s identity - their names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Yet it appears out of place in the modern world. Nowadays, on social media we go by made-up usernames, and are distinguished by the number of followers, likes, and comments. Nowadays, we have no trouble living our daily lives without even making a phone call.
Just like how Bell Gothic was put out of use by technological update, certain information about people’s identity that once appeared essential may be outdated in the future to come.
