Lumitype began with the question: how can we design using something we cannot see? As part of a challenge to create analog typography, I chose to move beyond traditional materials and explore an invisible force that exists all around us. This search led me to radioactive decay, a natural process that usually goes unnoticed.

During my research, I discovered the cloud chamber, a device that makes radiation visible. Inside the chamber, alpha particles ionize the air and leave behind glowing condensation trails. Some of these trails resembled fragments of letters. That observation sparked the idea of creating a typeface shaped by radiation itself. To make this possible, I gained access to cloud chambers at RWTH Aachen and DESY in Hamburg. I used high-speed photography and video to document the particle trails. While many were too faint or irregular, a few revealed surprisingly structured, letter-like forms. I selected and refined these shapes in post-production, enhancing their legibility while preserving their organic quality.

The result is Lumitype, a typeface born from radiation, light, and movement. I presented the final work in a booklet that shows how Lumitype can be used in different contexts, from science-related visuals to protest design. The full alphabet is arranged in a square grid inspired by the periodic table, linking the typeface back to its atomic origin.

Lumitype is more than a visual experiment. It is a creative exploration of how science and design can intersect, using real-world phenomena to create something tangible, functional, and poetic.