A groundbreaking experimental typography publication called Plain Text is reshaping the design landscape by creating an inclusive space for both seasoned professionals and curious beginners to explore unconventional approaches to type design. The publication, launched by French foundry Plain Form and spearheaded by founder Lucas Descroix, champions what they call "a poetic vision of type design" that deliberately breaks free from traditional utilitarian expectations.
Plain Text operates as an independent magazine without a distributor, positioning itself as a judgment-free platform where designers can openly share their creative doubts, successes, and failures through experimental typography and alternative letterforms. "Often, the market encourages self-censorship, inventive projects get clipped because they might confuse potential customers," explains Descroix. This boundary-pushing approach allows the publication to showcase non-traditional typefaces that open new avenues for storytelling through design.
The publication's diverse content includes essays, interviews, designer portfolios, re-publications, fiction pieces, and visual works that cater to both industry experts and students seeking valuable insights into language and communication. Plain Text's inaugural issue features dramatic calligraphic cursives and bold fonts that have been deliberately distorted and fragmented, transforming ordinary typefaces into striking displays of spikes and waveforms. The publication literally deconstructs established typographic norms and reconstructs them in innovative ways.
"Typography works because of norms—but those norms are neither natural nor fixed," notes Descroix. "Alternative approaches to type design allow us to question what a system of letters does, what it's allowed to do, and what kinds of relationships we can invent between form and meaning." This philosophy drives the publication's commitment to challenging conventional design thinking.
Visually, Plain Text embraces a stark monochrome aesthetic, with each checkered page featuring angular explosions, garbled cursive elements, and ribbons of jet black typography clearly inspired by punk zine aesthetics. This deliberate disregard for traditional design values creates what Descroix describes as "a moshpit of unique typography" that dances across each page. The publication's physical format anchors the experimental work in time, giving literal weight to creative gestures and tangible form to abstract thoughts.
The creation process for Plain Text involves extensive conversations with writers, artists, and designers who already view typography from unconventional angles. Rather than showcasing isolated strong works, Plain Form aims to build a comprehensive collection that collectively explores and redefines the shifting boundaries of experimental typography. "Plain Text is a platform for typographic thinking that doesn't need to conform to standard formats, pretty much like our type foundry Plain Form already was," explains Descroix.
While acknowledging that digital platforms offer new horizons through moving typography and parametric design tools, the team at Plain Form believes the printed page remains equally fertile ground for typographic invention. "There are still infinite ways to stage typography in print," Descroix emphasizes. "Publishing isn't outdated, it's an ongoing experiment," and Plain Form continues to chart new territory through creative side steps and sharp directional turns.
The publication's sustainability model relies on direct relationships with readers, ensuring that survival depends on genuine interest in their experimental work. This approach keeps the team grounded and honest in their creative pursuits. Plain Form's second issue is now available for purchase, continuing their mission to provide a space where letters can exist free from conventional constraints and utilitarian demands.
