This week, my exploration took me back to 1996—the year the Nintendo 64 launched and ICQ changed how people communicated online. As computers became more accessible, digital graphics and typography started to shape how we interact with technology, media, and each other.

I was especially impressed by Matthew Carter’s TED Talk, “My Life in Typefaces.” His talk gave me a deeper understanding of how typography has evolved and reminded me that every typeface is the result of countless design decisions. Typography is not just functional—it is an art form with a human story behind it.

When I was in 7th grade, I spent a few weeks studying typography in a design course. I learned about angles, baselines, apertures, and even tried to create my own typeface. That assignment helped me understand how complex and intentional type design really is, and it sparked my interest in how letters influence readability and perception.

I also enjoyed reading Silas Munro’s article “Typography as a Radical Act in an Industry Ever-Dominated by White Men.” It was powerful to learn that typefaces can carry social and political meaning. For example, Carrie honors women’s suffrage in the United States, Eva was created for the suffrage movement in Argentina, and Stonewall recognizes the 1969 LGBTQ riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. These examples show that typography can be a tool for representation, activism, and storytelling.

Typography is more than aesthetics—it is communication, identity, and culture embedded in letters.