PhD student Enhancing Legibility: Practical Legibility Research within the Visual Prosody Framework

BackgroundWith PXL-MAD School of Arts, and more specifically MAD-Research, we want to set the pace in the field of artistic research. The intellectual and artistic core of MAD-Research is the exploration of the complex relationship between media, art and society. Its research  projects mainly focus on art in public space, on the interdisciplinary approach to artefacts, and on different media that blur the boundaries between what is traditionally understood as text or image. The research is conducted and coordinated by four research groups, which are developing their activities in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and Arts at UHasselt: ART EDUCATION, FRAME, MANUFrACTURE and READSEARCH.This vacancy falls under READSEARCH, a unique research group positioned at the intersection of design and scientific research, primarily focusing on practical studies of legibility and readability in typographic design. This team combines the means of empirical research with the creativity and intuition of design thinking and design practise. In essence, READSEARCH is a conduit between the artistically reflective and the scientifically analytical. READSEARCH’s vision fosters typographic reading research by means of data-driven design and interdisciplinary collaboration and exploration. This dynamic approach ensures that READSEARCH remains at the forefront of deepening our understanding of how typography influences the reading experience.More information: www.uhasselt.be/mad
Job contentThis research project is part of the Visual Prosody research line, which explores how speech features, particularly prosody, can be visualized through typography to enhance comprehension. READSEARCH has demonstrated that highlighting stressed words using expressive type—referred to as visualprosody—improves reading aloud and comprehension for various target groups. Building on this, a significant step has been the development of a systematic framework that visualizes basic emotions, aligning with how individual words can be emphasized in speech through vocal parameters. Emotional tone in speech significantly shapes the speaker’s expression, as the way a sentence is spoken can convey different meanings beyond the emphasis on single words. Typically, emotions within speech remain consistent over entire sentences, or even across longer text passages.This PhD project will focus on advancing the visualization of a broad spectrum of emotions, transitioning from a two-dimensional framework to a multi-dimensional model. The foundational principles of this framework were already set out through theoretical approaches linked to creative explorations. However, the framework would benefit from a critical attitude as well as the implementation of the system behind it in reality. The PhD project aims to further develop this concept using variable fonts, linking emotional visualization to (speech-to-tekst) voice-related output, and integrating these insights into type design production that supports sustained readability. Additionally, the visual presentation of the text must convey information clearly to the reader. These will be tested out through data-driven empirical testing with participants.The role of emotions in reading comprehension—whether in inferring meaning or engaging the reader—is an emerging field of research. Studies examining the impact of typography from this emotional perspective are scarce. This research has the potential to establish and realize a new model of emotion elicitation through typography, serving as a tool to enhance reading comprehension through visualizinglayers of information not explicitly stated in the text.To be able to execute this PhD research, we seek a candidate with a strong interest in interdisciplinary work. Ideally, the candidate should have proficiency in at least three of the disciplines listed below or be able to demonstrate a clear motivation and capability to expand their knowledge into new areas. Disciplines: Typography; Type Design; Communication Design; Computer-Human interaction; Computing in Social Science, Arts and Humanities; Computer and Society; Computer engineering; New medica technology; Human-centred design Expertise: Type design; Font Development; UI/UX Design; Digital Design; Interaction Design; Creative Coding; Design MethodologiesThis PhD will be supervised by prof. dr. Ann Bessemans.
Profile
– You have a master’s degree in either graphic design, typography, visual communication and/or
Digital Product Design UX and UI.
– You are familiar with type design (variable fonts).
– You are familiar with digital techniques/media.
– Your academic record is excellent.
– You are interested in interdisciplinary research and have strong analytical skills.
– You are interested in empirical testing.
– You can work both independently and as part of a team.
– You have communication skills and speak and write English fluently.
– You can demonstrate the necessary disciplines and linked expertise, clearly stated in your CVand/or portfolio uploaded with the application.
– An affinity with the research topic would be considered a valuable asset, as well as familiaritywith AI and LLMs.
– You are willing to take on teaching assignments ((typo)graphic design) on a limited basis.
OfferYou will be appointed and paid as PhD student.PhD fellowship for 2 x 2 years with mid-term evaluation.
Selection procedureYou can only apply online up to and including 06 January 2025.The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.Interviews will take place in the week of 20.01.2025. Start PhD on 16.03.2025.
Further informationProf. dr. Ann BESSEMANS, [email protected] questions about the selection procedure, please email [email protected].