Queer Arcadia

For a long time, queer phenomena in nature have been overlooked. This heteronormative bias toward nature has, in turn, reinforced the division between heterosexuality queerness within human society. Queer Arcadia challenges such binary patterns as human versus nature and heterosexuality versus queerness. Through a series of design practices, I aim to construct a world where queer plants, animals, and humans coexist harmoniously, envisioning a diverse future.

Type /
Graduate thesis

Mentor /
Ellen Lupton,
Chen Luo,
Jeff Glendenning,
Jennifer Cole Phillips,
Sean Dong

Time /
2025

Awards /
Communication Arts 2026 Typography Winner

01. Queer Nature Typeface Family

Fungi Typeface
Seahorse Typeface
Penguin Typeface

Queer Nature Type Family a series of experimental typefaces that celebrate the queer beauty of nature through organic, fluid forms and intentional illegibility.

Fungi Typeface

Many fungi have thousands of sexes, not just males and females. Some species,like schizophyllum commune, have over 2,300 sexes. Inspired by the soft and organic form of fungi, I designed a typeface based on a multi-sex fungus to represent the gender fluidity of the non-binary population.

Seahorse Typeface

Seahorses are among the few known animals where males become pregnant and give birth. Inspired by the sharp and streamlined shape of the seahorse itself, I designed a seahorse typeface that embodies these characteristics.

Penguin Typeface

Same-sex penguin companionship is one of the most well-known examples of same-sex pairing in nature. Inspired by the penguin’s rounded form and the striking contrast of its black & white plumage, the penguin typeface is like a community of same-sex penguin pairs building their own home in the frozen polar landscape.

02. Queer Nature Anthology

Contributers:
Zaozao Zhang
Esther Du
A.S.
You Liang
Monday Vu
Mimi Remington
Mina Sarfaraz

The Queer Nature Anthology brings together 17 works by seven authors collected. Centered on the themes of queerness and nature, the anthology presents a diverse range of voices exploring the significance of nature within their queer life experiences through various literary forms, including poetry, Scripts, and haiku.

03. Type Mask

Fungi Mask
Seahorse Mask
Penguin Mask

Masks serve both as a means of concealing identity and as a way of revealing hidden messages. I designed three masks using my Queer Nature typeface, embedding queer codes subtly within each design. While the wearer remains visually obscured, they can simultaneously communicate their identity in a discreet yet powerful way.

04. Queer Nature Hanky

Inspired by the queer hanky code, I designed a series called Queer Nature Hanky. I selected six queer creatures from nature to represent the six individual communities within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Each hanky incorporates the initial letter of the community, the corresponding creature, and the colors of that community’s pride flag. This visual language allows the residents of Queer Arcadia to recognize one another without the need for words.

05. Digital Video

Queer Grassfield
Queer Ocean
Queer Glacier

Queer Arcadia envisions a possible future where queer creatures coexist in harmony. The video adopts a surreal aesthetic and uses 3D modeling as its primary medium, constructing three main environments: the Queer Grassfield, the Queer Ocean, and the Queer Glacier. Each scene corresponds to a creature represented by one of the Queer Nature typefaces—fungi, seahorses, and penguins, respectively.

06. Exhibition

Shengxuan Hu