Joyce Shi
Designer · Design Director
In their own words
Rather than building a narrative where design serves the content, the design should instead lead the content in a fragmented, in-between-chaos-and-order way.
By doing so, both the design and the content evolve simultaneously, so neither has to compromise for the other.
A series of outcomes were created, including self-publication, book-making, creative coding, installation, writing, photography, etc.
There is a sense of attachment to the objects that we intentionally keep. During the process of collecting and archiving these objects, part of our nature, habits, personalities, and ways of living are reflected – it is an active decision we make.
Part of the contents of this book came before this project was officially established, and some of them can be traced back to personal interests started years ago.
I allow the content and thinking process to inform the design itself, which is oftentimes a long process of self-evolution.
Articles & interviews
- Function Lab explores the threshold between order and chaos in print
The article profiles New York-based designer Joyce Shi and her studio Function Lab’s publication 'A Visual Directory of Edge of Chaos,' produced through her imprint G Axis Press. The book explores the balance between order and chaos through design, using typographic, structural, and material choices that mirror its conceptual theme. It highlights Shi’s iterative process, the use of the Stringer typeface, and the book’s tactile, layered physicality.
- Booms & Shakes: The big creative industry moves you need to know this November
Creative Boom’s November 2025 'Booms & Shakes' roundup highlights major agency appointments, client wins, and new ventures across the global creative industry. From GOOD Agency’s partnership with The Children’s Society to Koto’s new chairperson and Elmwood’s leadership expansion, the article captures a sector in motion. It also spotlights new studios, relocations, and independent launches that signal optimism and reinvention despite economic uncertainty.
- Joyce Shi's Publication Explores Objects' Role in Human Identity
The Brand Identity features Joyce Shi’s self-initiated publication (re)existence, a contemplative editorial project exploring the relationship between objects and human identity. Designed and published through her New York-based practice G Axis Press, the book combines scanned ephemera, minimalist typography, and uncoated paper to create an intimate reflection on memory and selfhood.
- With ‘Type Something For Me,’ Joyce Shi lets us into her years-long meditation on typography
The Brand Identity features Joyce Shi’s self-published book ‘Type Something For Me,’ a reflective exploration of typography through three conceptual lenses. The project, produced under her imprint G Axis Press, merges writing, research, and design to examine the emotional and cultural dimensions of type. The publication showcases a minimalist aesthetic, thoughtful typographic choices, and a process-driven approach to editorial design.