Faces in History: A Typographic Tribute to Global Icons

Designers Alesia Kutsian and Aliaksei Hvozdzeu Create Unique Portraits with Text

Driven by the philosophy of German philosopher Friedrich Hegel, who asserted that the true being of man is his action, Kutsian and Hvozdzeu were inspired by the achievements of great people. They believe that every individual, regardless of their profession, age, sex, or nationality, contributes to the development and movement of humanity. This belief is reflected in their design, which emphasizes the importance of individual actions and deeds.

The unique properties of the design lie in its complex and sophisticated typographic portrait technique. Each poster features a familiar image of a famous person, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the portrait is made up of text from the individual's biography, typed in their native language. The result is a series of posters that each possess their own individuality, yet are unified by a common style.

The posters were created using Adobe Photoshop. The designers selected a suitable photograph of the person to be featured, and then created the text shape of the portrait over the photograph using fragments from the individual's biography. The font was chosen to match the style of the portrait and to depict the person's qualities. The posters were printed on matte paper in A1 size, allowing viewers to appreciate the image as a whole, as well as the high level of granularity when viewed up close.

The project, which was completed in June 2012 in Minsk, Belarus, required extensive research. The designers studied the biographies, achievements, and photographs of famous people from different countries. After much deliberation, they selected nine individuals to be featured in the posters and video presentation. The combination of typography and photography was chosen from numerous graphic styles for the project implementation.

Despite the complexity of the production process, the most challenging aspect of the project was selecting just nine individuals from the vast number of worthy people who have made invaluable contributions to society. The final product is a testament to the designers' belief in the power of individual actions and the potential for self-realisation. The 'Faces in History' design was awarded Silver in the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2017, a testament to its creativity and innovation.