Research.
“Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible”
—Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (1890 – 1973)
Research interest
My research is concerned with the role of typography in flight safety. I am particularly interested in the transition from analogue to digital flight deck documentation—maps, charts, checklists, etc. collated in so called Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs)—and the consequences for routine and abnormal flight operation.
PhD
Building on data gathered during my Honours project, my PhD project will transform V1 into a digital typography system in close consultation with pilots to enhance the intelligibility of electronic documentation available in Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) when used during routine and abnormal situations.
Addressing a chronic underrepresentation of research into digital typography is particularly important within the flight deck environment, as there is a strong shift towards total reliance on electronic media in the near future. In this context, the “human factor” is central to the research, as V1 will be designed with pilots, rather than for them.
Presentation at AtypI 2024 in Brisbane
In April 2024, I had the privilege of presenting some of the results of my PhD research at the Association Typographique Internationale’s (AtypI) annual conference in Brisbane. It was an excellent opportunity to receive feedback from typographers from around the globe.
Honours 2018
My Honours project, V1—Typography in the flight deck environment (completed in 2018), explored how the design of a typeface could address shortcomings in legibility and facilitate flight deck operation during routine procedures and phases of high workload, such as take-offs and landings.
Striving to offer a means to improve text legibility in this highly volatile environment, a new typeface (V1) was developed by following a practice-based methodology. A broad array of methods, including (but not limited to) mind mapping, reflection-in-action, pilot interviews and user testing significantly influenced the design of each character. Additionally, the creative process inspired critical reflection on the role of identity/character within a design that strongly focuses on the resolution of a problem within a highly regulated environment allowing little room for personal feelings.
