About
Xiaoyuan Gao(CN) is a Rotterdam-based freelance graphic designer, image-maker, type designer and the initiator of “notyourtype foundry”. She loves experimenting with unconventional approaches to type design and typesetting. She sees type design (making custom characters into a font file) as making a tool for typing, just like a customised typewriter. She also enjoys creating visuals out of found images , which allows her to combine typography and imagery in playful ways.
Xiaoyuan 是一名平面设计师，字体设计师，图像爱好者以及 notyourtype foundry 的发起人。她喜欢做一些比较有试验性，非常规的字体设计。她也喜欢做一些图像相关的项目。在图像和字体设计上的实践让她对平面设计有自己的理解。（中文太难翻译了，您凑合看吧。）
type design
notyourtype foundry
Velvetyne Type Foundry
current collaborators
Marie Madonna, Benjamin Li, and Velvetyne Type Foundry
also had the pleasure of working with:
(in alphabet order)
Chongjin Chen 陳重瑾, Charlotte Rohde, Elaine W.ho 何穎雅, Graphic Design Arnhem (ArtEZ), Ieke Trinks, Jing He 賀晶, pickuptheseasame, Qiaochu Guo 郭翹楚, Reading Room Rotterdam, Ruth van Beek, Studio Pianpian He and Max Harvey, VHDG, Xiaomin Deng, and Zhang Yehong 張業鴻
typefaces in use
CommonSans by Xiaoyuan Gao
Resource Han by Cyano Hao
Always open to collaborations, just send me an e-mail ;-)
Education
20182022
BA Graphic Design, ArtEZ University of the Arts
Arnhem, NL
20132017
BA Visual Communication Design, Random Chinese University
Dalian, CN
Experience
(collaborations/talks/workshops)
2024 7th December
openbook
Collective Type Design Workshop
Club Solo, Breda NL
2025 28th 29th January
Is This Your Type #3
Collective Type Design Workshop
Graphic Design Arnhem ArtEZ, NL
2025 18th 19th February
Is This Your Type #4
Collective Type Design Workshop
Pre-academie, ArtEZ Arnhem NL
2024 August
Featured: It's Nice That
Xiaoyuan Gao sources inspiration for her typefaces from expiration dates, clock faces and stamps on eggs
Text written by Olivia Hingley
2024 11th February
Is This Your Type #2
Collective Type Design Workshop
Graphic Design Fair
Nieuwe Instituut and NAibookseller
Rotterdam NL
2023 15th September
Guest Designer — Typographic Nights (VII)
Page Not Found
The Hague, NL
2023 AugustPresent
Web Designer for Jing He’s new website
Studio Jing He
2023 June2023 September
Graphic Design Assistant
Studio Pianpian He and Max Harvey
Remote, Canada
2023 JanuaryPresent
Web Designer for an ongoing project
Benjamin Li
2023 22nd March
Guest Speaker
the Hmm at Collectie De Groen
Arnhem, NL
2023 23rd 24th January
Is This Your Type #1
Collective Type Design Workshop
Graphic Design Dept. Project Month
ArtEZ Arnhem
2021 November2022 January
Visual Identity Design — Sky-Writing
Zhang Yehong’s Solo Exhibition
Simulacara Space
Beijing, CN
2021 JulyPresent
Type and Graphic Designer, Founder
notyourtype foundry & Studio Xiaoyuan Gao
Rotterdam, NL
2021 September2021 December
Graphic and Type Design Intern
Studio Charlotte Rohde
Amsterdam NL
2016 August2017 March
User Interface Design Intern
Yongche.com
Beijing China