P18v3

Following our exploration of numbers and letters as the building blocks of communication and maths, we turned our attention to how these symbols shape our everyday lives in more practical, yet equally fascinating, ways. One of the most ubiquitous and overlooked uses of numbers and letters is found on vehicles: the license plate the number plate. This seemingly mundane object is, in fact, a powerful identifier, blending numbers and letters into a unique code that distinguishes one vehicle from another.

While while living in in Amsterdam, I became intrigued by the subtle differences in how license plates are used across Europe. In the Netherlands, the bright yellow plates with their distinct Platekenteken font stood out, drawing my attention to the way letters and numbers are organised and somewhat stylised to serve a functional purpose.

Each country across Europe follows a similar pattern-combinations of letters and numbers-but with its own unique structure and font. The uniformity of purpose contrasts with the variety in execution, revealing layers of meaning in what would otherwise seem like a simple series of digits.

In this project, we focused on deconstructing the Platekenteken font-the specific typeface used on Dutch license plates. We broke down the forms of the letters and numbers, much like our earlier explorations of the alphabet and numerical sequences, and then reassembled them in new and unfamiliar ways. This process highlights how something so deeply familiar, like a license plate, can be transformed into an abstract form, while still retaining the essence of identification.

The project explores the intersection of function and design, asking: How do we use symbols-numbers, letters, fonts-to categorise and identify ourselves in generic object like cars? And what happens when we alter these systems? By deconstructing and reimagining the typography of license plates, we challenge viewers to rethink the role of these everyday symbols, revealing the intricate interplay between order and abstraction that lies behind even the most routine objects in our lives.

While living in Amsterdam, I became intrigued by the subtle differences in how license plates are used across Europe. In the Netherlands, the bright yellow plates with their distinct Platekenteken font stood out, drawing my attention to the way letters and numbers are organized and stylized to serve a functional purpose. Each country across Europe follows a similar pattern-combinations of letters and numbers-but with its own unique structure and font. The uniformity of purpose contrasts with the variety in execution, revealing layers of meaning in what would otherwise seem like a simple series of digits.

In this project, we focused on deconstructing the Platekenteken font-the specific typeface used on Dutch license plates. We broke down the forms of the letters and numbers, much like our earlier explorations of the alphabet and numerical sequences, and then reassembled them in new and unfamiliar ways. This process highlights how something so deeply familiar, like a license plate, can be transformed into an abstract form, while still retaining the essence of identification.

The project explores the intersection of function and design, asking: How do we use symbols-numbers, letters, fonts-to categorise and identify ourselves? And what happens when we alter these systems? By deconstructing and reimagining the typography of license plates, we challenge viewers to rethink the role of these everyday symbols, revealing the intricate interplay between order and abstraction that lies behind even the most routine objects in our lives.