Hongik University and OCAD University collaborated on a project titled Pluriversal Typography In Local and Global Contexts, which was a design education and cultural exchange in honour of the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Canada. This project was led by OCAD U faculty members Nancy Snow and Richard Hunt.
This project was in partnership with Hongik University's Department of Visual Communication Design and OCAD University's Department of Graphic Design. This collaboration included student travel from Toronto, ON to Seoul, South Korea prompted by a week-long intensive workshop, site-visits related to Korean culture, the celebration of Hangeul day and students were able to attend the Typojanchi International Typography Biennale. This opportunity allowed OCAD U students to connect and collaborate through exposure to the Korean language system and graphic design practices as shared by our colleagues at Hongik University.
Pluriversal Typography in Local and Global Contexts was an Independent Study program funded by the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) program and organized by OCAD U’s International Programs & Collaborations Office. In October 2023, a group of eleven OCAD U students from a variety of programs traveled to Seoul, South Korea to participate in activities with a top Korean art and design university, Hongik University, accompanied by the chair of Graphic Design, Nancy Snow and graphic design professor Richard Hunt. Students from both institutions worked together in cross-cultural pairs to create pieces of typographic art/design that unified Hangul and roman script.
"The students and faculty in Seoul had a fascinating and enriching experience. A workshop, led by Hongik University’s Associate Professor Chris Ro, and Assistant Professors Ahn Byung-hak and Jaewon Seok, not only created interesting and thought-provoking work, but also was an opportunity for our students to interact with art and design students from another culture and engage with a script that is different from roman script in both form and conceptual structure." - Richard Hunt
OCAD U students also visited various cultural sites in Seoul, including the Typojanchi International Typography Biennale (at Culture Station Seoul 284, a former railway station that holds various programs including exhibitions, performances and cultural events), the Museum of Hangeul (Hangeul is Korea’s unique writing system), and other cultural and historic sites. Students also took advantage of the trip to experience Korean culture and urban life. Students stayed in a guesthouse in the very lively Hongdae area, where there was no shortage of opportunities to explore contemporary Seoul. The success of the trip was greatly facilitated by Daniela Lee-Kim of OCAD U’s International Programs & Collaboration Office, who accompanied the students and faculty on this trip.
The second part of the Independent Study will be an exhibition of the students’ work, inspired by the Korean experience, which is currently being scheduled to show at OCAD U in 2024. Stay tuned for details!