Occupant: This is Not Helvetica — A 20-Year Retrospective of Cyrus Highsmith's Typographic Excellence
Project:
Cyrus Highsmith Exhibition
Role:
Graphic Design
Branding
Content Writing
Sector:
Exhibition/Museum Design
Tools:
Adobe InDesign Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, After Effects
Deliverables:
Event Poster, Invitation, Exhibition Buttons, Exhibition Book, After Effects Animation
Project Overview
Cyrus Highsmith, a prominent American typeface designer, educator, and author, is distinguished by his quirky, illustrious style—creating fonts that are both highly readable and visually striking. His work stands out for its dynamic character, merging technical precision with eccentric, organic qualities. A Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) alumnus, Cyrus Highsmith later taught type design at his alma mater, driven by his commitment to nurturing the next generation of designers.
Project Scope
This exhibition design for Cyrus Highsmith, held at the RISD Museum, was a fitting venue given his deep connection to the institution. His expressive, illustrative style formed the foundational inspiration for a cohesive visual identity, including event posters, invitation, opening tickets, exhibition book, and promotional animation.
Visual Identity
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Six of Cyrus’ type illustrations were selected as graphic elements for exhibition posters. Invitations to the opening event were accompanied by a button featuring one of the six poster illustrations, serving as the entry ticket and keepsake wearable.
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A comprehensive exhibition book offered an analysis of Cyrus’ illustrious career, from his early days as a sketch artist to his emergence as a type designer and the establishment of his own Foundry. Typographic specimens, with oversized quotes strategically layered to mirror his printmaking style, fill the interior.
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The minimalist cover features one of Cyrus' type illustrations, with the title appearing on the spine, allowing the cover artwork to make a bold visual statement.
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An After Effects animation served as a digital advertisement, featuring the Talking Heads song "Life During Wartime"—a fitting choice since lead singer David Byrne also attended RISD—a thoughtful connection between the music and the institution
Results
The project created a cohesive exhibition identity that translated Highsmith’s distinctive typographic voice into a complete visual experience. The resulting system connected poster, print, object, publication, and motion through a common visual language, allowing the exhibition to feel expressive and unconventional while remaining highly structured.
The work transformed Highsmith’s own typographic illustrations into the central storytelling device, creating an identity that was both a tribute to his career and an extension of his design philosophy.
