Park Boomi

Part 0. Introduction to the Designer

Q. Hello, designer Park Boomi, could you please introduce yourself?

A. Nice to meet you. After resigning from Sandoll two months ago, I have been working as a bartender in Itaewon while making fonts at home! I think I might be the world's first font designer and bartender.

Q. Being a font designer and bartender might really be the first in the world, right? I understand that you have been designing fonts at Sandoll for over ten years. What got you started in font design?

A. I started designing fonts as an intern at Sandoll without a specific reason, and before I knew it, ten years had flown by. Luckily, the first job I tried seems to have suited me well, though it's a bit embarrassing to call it my true calling.

Q. As an independent designer, what are the key words that could introduce your brand 'Park Boomi'?

A. "Easy!" When I was at Sandoll creating fonts like 'Hoyoyo', 'Nemoni', and 'Gwanghwamun', I always strived to create fonts that anyone could use easily to express their intentions. I think the fonts I will show under my brand will be the same.

Q. [Balance Game] Using only fonts you've created VS using only fonts created by others for life. Which would you choose?

A. I thought about it deeply, and I would choose to use fonts made by others for life. Although making fonts means I use them less than others, using wonderful fonts from around the world is really fun. I would give up using my own fonts... but thinking about it, that would be hard to give up too. If I can't find the font I want, I end up wanting to make it myself. What a tricky balance game! I will think more about it and tell you next time.

Part 1. Introduction to 'Bonebone' Font

Q. The first independent work by designer Boomi! I'm curious about the start of 'Bonebone'.

A. It started with the question, 'What would characters look like if drawn only using straight strokes and angular frameworks?' Initially, I thought it would create a powerful impression as a title font, but as I developed the idea, it turned out differently than expected. When I look at 'Bonebone', it reminds me of a quiet snowfield. If you look closely at the snow crystals in a crunching snowfield, they are sharp and angular, just like 'Bonebone', and writing a long paragraph with it has a cold yet subtly cozy feeling. I highly recommend trying it!

'Bonebone' sample collection image

Q. The expression 'like a quiet snowfield' fits so well, especially with its release in December! 'Bonebone' is also a cute name. What does the name mean?

A. Initially, I liked the character 'Bon' from 'to see', but since the font uses straight lines for its framework, could it be '本 (Bon)'? At the same time, could it also mean 'Bone'? It's a name with multiple meanings. I wanted it to be a cute name that feels good to say, so I named it by repeating the same character twice.

Q. That's a cute name with multiple meanings. What are the design features of 'Bonebone'?

A. The biggest feature is that it has no curves, yet it doesn't have a sharp impression. It can be used for both headings and text, but it's composed of thin to medium weights, so I'm considering expanding it to thicker weights suitable for headlines.

Q. I can imagine how a very thick 'Bonebone' would look. What part did you focus on the most while designing?

A. There isn't a part of a font that isn't important... I wanted it to be usable in text, so I paid attention to how well other glyphs, besides Hangul syllables, matched. Especially for the Latin design, I made sure it wasn't just shaped to match Hangul but also had its own characteristics, like serifs derived from handwriting. I made the Latin in a slightly slanted italic form. I was proud to receive a lot of interest in the Latin even before its release.

'Bonebone' glyph preview

Q. Lastly, how would you recommend using 'Bonebone'?

A. The fact that all strokes are straight might be a very strong characteristic. However, I paid a lot of attention to readability so that it's not difficult to read. It looks great when used large to highlight the angular parts, but I feel its charm is greater when used at sizes smaller than 12pt. Please use it widely, both large and small!

Part 2. Designer's Thoughts

Q. What does Boomi think a 'good' font is?

A. I think a good font is one that is well used. Whether it's used a lot or a little, a font shines brightest when used in the right places.

Q. You made many popular fonts at Sandoll. Now, as an independent designer not affiliated with a company, starting with 'Bonebone', you will show us a variety of font works. What are your goals for font production in the future?

A. My priority is to build a library that satisfies various categories. I also want to try my hand at mobile fonts. I'm using a font I made on KakaoTalk, and it makes me want to experiment with making various fonts!

Q. Can you give us a sneak peek of your upcoming font production plans? I heard there are already fonts lined up for release!

A. That's right! Next, I plan to release a cute handwritten font, and I am also working on a very thick weight font for titles.

Part 3. Joining Sandoll Cloud

Q. Please share your reason for choosing SandollCloud and a comment.

A. Sandoll feels like home to me! The people at Sandoll had been preparing and looking forward to my joining even before I resigned. Although I feel overwhelmed, I am also very excited. I'll do my best!

Q. Lastly, a word to the users welcoming Boomi's entry!

A. I ask for lots of interest and love!