Hypha writing software turns letters into mushrooms
Jody Hudson-Powell and Luke Powell of Pentagram have developed a digital tool based on algorithms to simulate mushroom growth and enable users to "grow" mushroom-like types
Hypha was designed as part of the couple's work on Mushroom Identity: The Art, Design and Future of Mushrooms – an exhibition held at Somerset House earlier this year. Users can type in words, which are then converted into bulbous, mushroom-like letter shapes.
According to Pentagram, the generative type is based on the growth patterns of mycelial and fungal spores. This means that characters are procedurally created, creating unique shapes every time.
Users can choose how wild things should get by setting the mutation level on a sliding scale from "normal" to "overgrown".
Letter shapes can then be viewed as "mycelium" – this is shown by the string-like skeleton that underpins their shapes and is reminiscent of the hyphae filaments that make up a mycelium – or as "fruit".
Users who want to go further can also upload their own 3D mesh as the basis for mushroom-based digital object growth.
hyphahypha.com; pentagram.com
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