When East meets West: Web typography and how it can inspire modern layouts

A presentation at You Gotta Love Frontend 2017 in October 2017 in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel by Chen Hui Jing

This talk traces the parallel history of western and eastern typography from handwriting to the internet age, setting the context for how the web is a brand new medium for typesetting. CSS allows us to implement advanced typographic features and multi-directional layouts, that not only benefits internationalisation, but opens up a myriad of options for creative and interesting layouts in general as well.

Video

Buzz and feedback

Here’s what was said about this presentation on social media.

This slide from @hj_chen blew my mind today: https://t.co/l6O7eALRK2

Never knew/noticed Hebrew/semitic letters started out as words
— Yoav Weiss (@yoavweiss) October 30, 2017
The fact that you took the time to learn Hebrew made me appreciate you even more! Your presentation was off the hook!
— Lior Shub (Bentov) (@LiorBentov) October 30, 2017
Oh man, thanks so much! (PS your talk was amazing! And weirdly made me very much want to try horizontally centering vertical text)
— Eric Portis (@etportis) October 30, 2017
Thank you! Your talk was totally inspirational!
— Boris Litvinsky (@borislit) October 30, 2017
Inspiring talk by @hj_chen at #YGLF 2017. Learned a lot. The modem sound was quite nostalgic :-) pic.twitter.com/As2dCCdDwT
— Or Hiltch (@_orcaman) October 30, 2017
Your talk was brilliant! Informative, educating and inspiring. Brought me back to my days of studying layout & typography at @BezalelAcademy
— Opher Vishnia (@Opherv) October 30, 2017
Backstage, @hj_chen is convincing @yoavweiss that we need a media query so responsive images can be rotated in vertical text pages. pic.twitter.com/sl7hKDp4gU
— Bruce Lawson (@brucel) October 30, 2017
AMAZING talk by @hj_chen about CSS writing modes (but much more than that) consider following her! Incredible resources in her talk #yglf pic.twitter.com/o1JmBWk93D
— Sarah Drasner (@sarah_edo) October 30, 2017
2017: the year of CSS Grid (and #YGLF) @hj_chen pic.twitter.com/AKTBhwYGWN
— Uri Shaked (@UriShaked) October 30, 2017
Deep dive into typography on the web by @hj_chen at #yglf pic.twitter.com/9oePGovn6x
— Rotem Tamir (@_rtam) October 30, 2017
@hj_chen go get them! Your slides are gorgeous and typography is a passion and is very important ! @YGLFConf #YGLF17
— Alex Wolkov (@altryne) October 30, 2017
Learning about Vertical Text Layouts & typography from @hj_chen #YGLF pic.twitter.com/6RwlT9rDvU
— Uri Shaked (@UriShaked) October 30, 2017
Backstage at #yglf17 with @hj_chen, who's not at all nervous, as neither am I. pic.twitter.com/fR2ivBcORS
— Bruce Lawson (@brucel) October 30, 2017
Nice comparison of letters in different ancient languages /@hj_chen #YGLF pic.twitter.com/K2uzZxz5UJ
— Mordechai Zuber (@mordzuber) October 30, 2017
Mind being blown by @hj_chen talk on typography#YGLF
— Mordechai Zuber (@mordzuber) October 30, 2017
East meets west #ironSource #YGLF pic.twitter.com/IJQBd6IXT6
— Eli Leon (@EliLeon989) October 30, 2017