Ted Hyunhak Yoon explores government agenda and history textbooks in his research-led designs

Date
19 July 2016

Graphic designer Ted Hyunhak Yoon is a recent grad from the RCA and his work takes a historical and research led-approach, where he draws on past events or key figures to document in a new way. Executed through posters and publications Ted uses the archive material he finds to display facts and musings in sleek, considered layouts and compositions and using typography and graphics to imbue a certain mood or atmosphere.

Ted’s most recent project Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal, epitomises his in-depth practice. The London-based designer has based his work on the idea of South Korea re-writing its history textbooks to become just one government-supervised, “re-nationalised” textbook for future generations of Korean students to learn from. This dictatorial approach to learning led Ted to look into the idea further. “The project explores the facts behind the issue that people are arguing for the neutrality of history education, encapsulating research contents in graphic design formats based on facts and a speculative future,” explains Ted.

Through a series of fictional posters and a publication, Ted alludes to the country’s dark past and uncertain present. Using bold san serif text mixed with Korean symbols he creates an imposing mix when combined with the deep blacks and blues used throughout the work. Large quotes are blown up as full-page spreads and Ted has defaced pages of text with felt-tip circles and crosses and plays with this notion of control by “unrevealing” book authors. The project’s title is a play-on-words taken from government agenda. “I twisted the phrase to criticise the government’s bizarre standard that seems to change everything normal into something abnormal.”

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Ted Hyunhak Yoon: Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal

Above
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Ted Hyunhak Yoon: Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal

Above
Left

Ted Hyunhak Yoon: Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal

Above
Left

Ted Hyunhak Yoon: Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal

Above
Left

Ted Hyunhak Yoon: Abnormalising the Normal, Normalising the Abnormal

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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