Secure by Design: Typography as Security Infrastructure

8” x 7.25” | 16 gauge galvanized steel cover | Hinge and screw binding | 27 pages | Laser on matte text stock Secure by Design is a publication featuring three typefaces used in enhancing the security of private information. FE-Schrift was designed after the existing license plates in Germany were too easy to tamper with. This new typeface solved this issue by employing a distorted type anatomy to make each counter, stroke, and terminal completely unique. The goal of this publication was to highlight how typography is not simply a means of communicating information, but that type can be used as instruments for the protection and authentication of information itself. My research showed that typography responds to advancements in technology and cultural/political instability. One challenge of this publication was designing the cover. Using a material and process I was unfamiliar with, I had to consult professionals who work with waterjet cutting stainless steel. Choosing steel as the cover for this publication conveys strength and security, just like the fonts displayed within.