Showcase Design

«Yiddish Displayed» is an experimental typographic project based on Yiddish, the ancient language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews that represents a bridge between the German and Hebrew worlds. Inspired by the typographic elements derived from the Latin style of previous eras, the project lays the foundations for a «Yiddish Display Type Foundry» in which the typefaces are bi-scriptual (Latin and Hebrew) in accordance with the three languages German, Yiddish and Hebrew. An accompanying publication highlights the history and culture of the language, along with its position between German and Hebrew. It serves as a type specimen as well as a digital transcription tool to engage in a contemporary discourse on the topic.

This work is a multiscript solution of an extraordinary kind. It does not just combine two different typographic systems, but also two languages and cultures – and even goes beyond this by creating a completely new script and thus new characters for the language of «Yiddish».

Link:
visualcommunication.zhdk.ch/diplom-2021/yiddish-displayed

Noam Benatar
For the past 8 years, I have been working in the field of graphic and type design in various settings, ranging from my military service as a designer in the IDF Spokesperson unit, to an art director in an advertising agency, and academic studies. My design works show strong interest in the worlds of letters and shapes, and the use of typographic elements plays a key role in my design. As a native Hebrew speaker, I am fascinated by culture crossing in graphic design as well as the world of multi-scriptural and multi-linguistic typefaces, topics which are in constant research in my present work and probably also in future projects.

noambenatar.com
@noam.benatar