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A bold graphic poster in yellow, red and purple featuring a large, stylised bundle of noodles. Text at the top reads “2013” and “Noodle World”, with dates and Japanese characters listed alongside.
A bold graphic poster in yellow, red and purple featuring a large, stylised bundle of noodles. Text at the top reads “2013” and “Noodle World”, with dates and Japanese characters listed alongside.

Minimal type and computer graphics-inspired experimental posters from Chae Byung-rok

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Date
18 September 2015

Seoul and Tokyo-based graphic designer Chae Byong-rok has a penchant for the poster, and his website is a multilayered grid of poster work from over the years. Created for exhibitions, greetings cards and as part of self-initiated projects, Chae works best when he’s able to experiment and can let the visuals take over the page.

Referencing old computer graphics, type is minimal and underplayed in the designer’s creations as swatches of bright colour are digitally manipulated like a sophisticated MS Paint canvas. My favourite poster has to be Noodle World 2013 which elegantly sees graphic noodles cascading down from unmoving chopsticks. It reminds me distantly of the end of a PC game of solitaire where the cards would tumble infinitely, suit by suit.

An abstract illustration featuring a large, organic green shape set against a bright blue background. Thick, winding orange lines loop across the green form, accompanied by small blocks of Korean text in the bottom left.
Above
Left

Chae Byung-rok: New Year’s

Right

Chae Byung-rok: New Year’s

An illustration of thick, multi-coloured ribbons looping across a bright pink background. The ribbons feature stripes of green, blue, red and yellow, with thin lines radiating from the points where they curve. Small Korean text is scattered around the ribbons, and a small circular seal containing a character sits in the bottom right corner.
Above

Chae Byung-rok: New Year’s

A 3D render of several bright pink coins of varying sizes floating against a vivid red background. Vertical white text on the right reads “WFM in TOKYO” and “World Fair of Money 2012”, followed by Japanese characters and the dates “10.12–11.15”.
Above
Left
Chae Byung-rok: Self-initiated
Right
Chae Byung-rok: Self-initiated
A poster featuring a tangle of silver metal springs against a bright red background. Text in the bottom left corner reads “GROWING POSTER” in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
Above
Chae Byung-rok: Self-initiated
A 3D render of several matte black cylindrical objects arranged diagonally against a dark background. Neon green circular labels feature inverted text, including “#08 MEMORIES CA’15” and “IDENTITY ORIGINALITY”.
Above
Left
Chae Byung-rok: Design Magazine CA
Right
Chae Byung-rok: Korean Society of Typography
A black and white typographic poster featuring the name “Jan Tschichold” distorted across a warped, undulating background of fine lines. The letters are fragmented and tilted, with small labels reading “New Typography” and “New Traditionalism”.
Above
Chae Byung-rok: Korean Society of Typography
A 3D render of thick, tubular letters in pink and orange, arranged in a repeating, overlapping pattern. Small text in the lower left reads “kobaco Advertising Academy”.
Above
Left
Chae Byung-rok: Kobaco
Right
Chae Byung-rok: Kichijōji
A 3D render of a blue, rounded sculptural form set against a blue brick wall. Red typography is layered over the shape, reading “Kichijoji Design Festival”. Smaller white text and the dates “2012. 10. 12. – 11. 15.” appear on the sculpture's surface.
Above
Chae Byung-rok: Kichijōji

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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