Interface Sociolinguistics Institute

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ISL–Interface Sociolinguistics Institute is a research group to study visual languages that comprise web and mobile interface. Pointing out how the design elements of the interface relate to the way we think, our mission is to provide interpretation of user interface visual languages in relation to our shared culture and help people know their visual characteristics and functions.

*Sociolinguistics is the descriptive study of the effect of any and all aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on the way language is used, and society's effect on language.

Sound Design by Gahyae Ryu

A mission is to provide interpretation of interface languages in relation to our shared culture and help people know their visual characteristics and functions. Final goal is to share descriptive study of all aspects of society in terms of interface design through visual works.

BACKGROUND

In the history, 18C, book, one of the representation of graphic design, was in the library. In the 90’s, poster was everywhere and all the cities were cover with typography. All of a sudden, entire graphic design is online now.

INTERFACE AND SOCIETY

A form, layout, color, etc. that make up the interface can be a visual language shared by a generation. A close observation of these elements is used to characterize our culture including cultural norms, interpret context where the languages are used, and analyze society. As a methodology, ISL extracted forms from visual devices in interface design and unpacked the meanings. After then, this institute reinterpreted the visual elements. Lastly, ISL institute shared the outcomes on the website with the public.

1. A Love Story

Message bubble shapes are included in message application interface. Now, we are familiar with them as a shared visual culture. People can read more through message bubble's length, colors, and layouts. This video represents how we love today.

2. Transparent Colors
Software we use has a pattern and colors to represent transparent properties. This means we define transparency differently depending on what software we use or what kind of job we have. In this video, I used transparency as a visual metaphor searching for what it is a metaphor of to show diversity of visual elements which can be seen as transparency.

Sound Design by Gahyae Ryu

3. INSTACOLOR

Instagram allows people to calibrate the colors with the filters. In the distant future, Instagram could be a company that leads color trend and sets up a standard color system like Pantone. A speculative website provides people with the colors that have been adjusted by Instagram filters.

4. ISL Archive Gallery

This website is providing interface elements as an archive gallery. People can find visual conventions of interface design and see groups to show the visual varieties of each.