ITB J. Vis. Art & Des, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2013, 155-161 155 Received July 5 th , 2010, Revised October 29 th , 2013, Accepted for publication November 8 th , 2013. Copyright © 2013 Published by LPPM ITB, ISSN: 1978-3078, DOI: 10.5614/itbj.vad.2013.4.2.7 The Local Genius Typography as a Source of Idea for Latin-based Typeface Design in Visual Communication Today Naomi Haswanto Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia Email: naomidkv@yahoo.co.id Abstract. During its long history, slowly but sure, Indonesia had accepted the influence of the written language from various nation and civilization. Approximately in the 15th century AD, European brought their language system, Latin, to Indonesia, which had been developed until present time. The usage of Latin alphabet for daily communication in Indonesia has created a disadvantage for the local/ethnic language, especially since the Latin provided an easier writing and speaking system. Latin uses alphabet system in which one sound represents one letter: A, B, C, etc. In contrast, the ethnic language uses syllable system in which one sound could consist of more than one letter (a, ba, ta, ka, nga, kha, etc). The growing of the nation of Indonesia with its various ethnic groups created the need for unification language, a language with a universal system. Furthermore, the alphabet system is easier to be used for various written and spoken language in the world. The richness of ethnic alphabet from Indonesia could become infinite ideas in developing computer typefaces. A typographer could design Latin alphabet with the characteristic of ethnic alphabets by capturing the traditional elements from the letters. These findings could enrich the field of visual communication nowadays. Keywords: current typeface; Latin alphabetic writing system; local/ethnic typography. 1 Introduction As an archipelago country which located between two continents and two oceans, Indonesia had been influenced from various culture and civilization for a very long time. The geographic location and the form of topography which different from area to area had made Indonesia rich of various culture and customs. Every ethnic group has their own different custom and language, including different written language (letters). Indonesia also received the influence of written and spoken language from different stages and time span. The first stage of influence came from India around the first century AD, which brought the Pallawa letters and Sanskrit language. These letters and language then would influence in the formation of various letters in the Indonesian