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Bi-Directional Latin

I seem to be unable to convince a fellow designer why I do not find bi-directional Arabic to be a helpful tool in teaching childen brought up in the States to read Arabic. So, for the sake of demonstration, I designed (in 10 minutes) a bi-di Latin in 2 weights. I could not manage the italics as you can’t slant in both directions at the same time. The trick is, if the design is symmetrical, then you can read it from both sides. I am not happy with my bdpq and k solutions. I expect that there would be trouble with the acute and grave as well. Unlike Arabic, Latin has quite a lot of symmetrical characters so the result is not the same. I actually think this one looks somehow cute.
Picture 1.jpg

Picture 2.jpg

Once you get used to it, it’s not so bad as long as someone tells you which side to start from.

Picture 3.jpg

Posted by nadine on Sunday, April 15th, 2007 at 2:44 pm.

5 Responses to “Bi-Directional Latin”

The ‘q’ could be improved by allowing the tail to start from inside the circle. This would distinguish it from the ‘p’ as well.

Left by John on April 19th, 2007

Thanks John!! The strange thing is, this experiment is somehow funny when you apply it in Latin. It’s sort of playful so did not actually work to prove my point. However, once you decie to take it seriously and apply in within the same concept of “my fellow designer” then it becomes problematic. Imagine teaching this to the children in Afghanistan so that they learn English faster?

Left by nadine on April 19th, 2007

Nadine, you’re right. This approach would not help children learn to read any language faster. Not English, not French, not Spanish. It’s a system of impractical compromises for the sake of pure symmetry. A mirror works better for symmetry… if symmetry is what you want.

Left by John on April 20th, 2007

makes sense… but I guess you need time to get used to…
What do you about the ‘b’ or ‘d’?

Left by Joseph on April 30th, 2007

As I was only doing this as a joke I did not worry so much about the b and d situation. But this in itself is an indication of the problematics of such an approach. The eye needs to move across the line and the design must facilitate this, rather than present ambiguous forms that are easily confused.

Left by nadine on April 30th, 2007