Osteography
Osteography is a sculptural typeface made entirely from the bones of a raccoon skeleton.
The project started as an experiment: could I build a complete alphabet using only the bones from a single animal? Anatomy and typography are both systems made up of individual parts, and I was interested in what would happen when the structure of one was used to construct the other.
The goal was for each character to function as a letter first, not simply as a recognizable arrangement of bones. Every glyph had to feel balanced, legible, and structurally complete while still being shaped by the limitations of the skeleton.
Something meaningful, assembled from the remains. A final setting in the Osteography display typeface.
Building the Alphabet
Different bones naturally lent themselves to different parts of the letterforms:
Spinal vertebrae formed foundational curves and structural elements in C and G, and served as vertical stems in I and T, as well as the bowl of D.
Mandibles were used as rigid anchors in L and V.
Ribs shaped curved forms and transitions in characters such as J, S, U, and 6.
Femurs and other limb bones formed the vertical and diagonal strokes in letters such as H, K, and N.
Phalanges (toe and finger bones) were used extensively in complex characters like @, 2, 5, and ?, where tight curves and precision were essential. Their small scale and articulation made them ideal for delicate joins and finer contours.
Caudal vertebrae (tailbones) formed the circular structures of O and Q.
Some compositions—such as B and R—deliberately combined curved and straight elements (ribs and femurs), emphasizing the interplay between anatomical material and typographic logic.
Each character was assembled and photographed as a physical sculpture. Because the alphabet had to be made from a limited set of bones, the pieces were temporarily adhered in place, photographed, taken apart, and reused for the next glyph. Many of the characters went through several versions as I worked out their proportions, rhythm, and construction.