Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum by Yilin Wang

Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum by Yilin Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Graphica Competition Category.

AesGraphica· 2025

Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum

by Yilin Wang

Client: Communication University Zhejiang

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Graphica Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum

Fontes Linguae Rupestris sunt genus litterarum ex petroglyphis Montis Helan ductum. Studium sculpturarum rupestrium formas detexit quae litteris modernis similes sunt. Hae figurae elaboratae sunt et in unum systema typographicum coniunctae. Genus litterarum formas organicas et inaequalitates sculpturarum originalium servat, dum legibile manet. Magnitudo litterarum pro quoque usu accommodari potest. Consilium hoc artem rupestrem antiquam tamquam linguam visualem communem praebet et symbola prisca cum designatione graphica hodierna mediisque modernis coniungit.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. Rock Language Fonts Genus Litterarum necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Through analyzing the Helan Mountain petroglyphs, we discovered many motifs resembling modern letterforms. Inspired by this, specific patterns were refined and adapted into a cohesive typographic system. The project reimagines rock art as a “universal language,” transcending cultural boundaries while preserving its historical integrity.

This typography combines legibility with storytelling, highlighting humanity's shared heritage. By emphasizing the organic forms and imperfections of rock art, the design retains its authenticity while integrating seamlessly into modern media, bridging ancient symbolism with contemporary design.
Dimensions & Packaging: The size of the system will also change according to the change of the use scenario
Tags: Petroglyphs, Chinese Tradition, Typography, Integrated Design, Poster, Internationalism
Production Technology: Through the topography of a large number of petroglyphs, we find similar shapes to the letters, and through a series of fine-tuning the font, etc., we finally form a series of works.
Design Challenge: In the control of randomness of the letters, but also the need to unify the form of the font to avoid stylistic inconsistencies, but also the need to retain the original sense of petroglyphs
Research: Research Type: image research of local elements Research purposes: to modernize the design of Helan Mountain rock paintings, make them adapt to the international aesthetic style, and give full play to the contemporary value of ancient culture. Data collection: Yinchuan Helan Mountain rock painting research journal, Helan Mountain rock painting Museum. Research tools: graphic record, Photoshop, illustrator.
Inspiration: From an exploration of petroglyphs, the designers found that the petroglyphs generated some ‘English’ between the graphics, which has a certain degree of serendipity, but this serendipity also exists objectively. The uncertainty of the style of the font symbolises the art of design with inclusiveness, diversity and individuality, which is exactly what the designer wants to explore!
Project Duration: The project started in Hangzhou in September 2024 and was completed in Hangzhou in January 2024. It will be displayed in Helan Mountain rock painting International Art Festival in January 2024
Operation Flow: This project turns Helan Mountain petroglyphs into a modern type system, blending ancient art with today’s design. It keeps the rock art’s natural feel while making it readable and universal, showing our shared history.
Image Credits: Image #1 designer: Mengsheng Wang Ruilin Wang
Image #2 designer: Meitong Yu
Image #3 designer: Jie li
Image #4 designer: Shitong Yu
Image #5 designer: Jiarong Li