Ariq Syauqi What happens when you’re tasked with designing a typeface for a script that has no typographic conventions yet? In many cases, relying solely on Unicode documentation is not enough—or, worse, there may not even be a Unicode standard.
As part of the Missing Scripts Project at the Atelier National de Recherche Typographique (ANRT), my research focuses on the typographic representation of Southern Sumatran scripts, a historically significant yet digitally disadvantaged script group found from Lampung to Kerinci. Characterized by their distinct angular forms, these scripts were widely used for centuries before being largely replaced by Latin. Today, their survival depends on thoughtful digital adaptation.
In this talk, I will share my experience in designing typefaces for southern Sumatran scripts. Building on historical evidence, I will highlight how Southern Sumatran scripts function, the challenges of establishing the typographic conventions, and their unique features such as their flexible rotation axis which is so interesting to be explored with variable font format!
While my focus is on Southern Sumatran scripts, the approaches and insights I present will be valuable for anyone working with scripts in a similar state. My goal is to open a dialogue on designing beyond Unicode, encouraging type designers to engage more thoughtfully when dealing with understudied scripts—while of course, trying to tell the world about the uniqueness of Southern Sumatran scripts.