Deciphering Haiti by deciphering Kreyòl
ISTD merit award (International Society of Typographic Designers)
Book design
Typography
Research
Writing
A response to the ISTD Awards Linguistic Hybridity brief, which entailed selecting an instance of linguistic blending, and delving into its historical, social, or cultural origins. The ISTD Awards prioritise comprehensive research, thorough process, and typographic expertise.
Narrated through my conversations with Haitian artists, musicians, academics and more, this book chronicles the deciphering of Haiti’s tumultuous history through its unique Creole language. Each page features a quoted Haitian word or phrase, displayed in a typographic system designed to aid readers in pronouncing the Haitian words correctly. Spoken Haitian Creole is a cornerstone of Haitian culture, embedded within the language are stories of colonialism, imperialism, resistance and community.