BiSang Education’s ‘Kkomkkomche’ Font: A New Standard in Digital Learning
BiSang Education has been recognized with an iF Design Award 2026 for its innovative font, ‘Kkomkkomche’ (꼼꼼체), designed specifically to optimize the writing learning experience for young children. This achievement marks the company’s 13th iF Design Award and follows a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for the same project, solidifying its commitment to integrating design with educational quality.
Addressing an Age-Old Irony in Education
The development of Kkomkkomche stemmed from a simple observation: a disconnect between the tools children use to learn to write and the forms of the characters they are asked to copy. While modern students wield pencils, pens, and digital styluses, they are still often tasked with replicating characters rooted in traditional brushstroke calligraphy. BiSang Education identified this gap and asked a crucial question: “What should a writing learning font look like for children learning in a digital education environment?”
The three-year project focused on creating a font that wasn’t simply aesthetically pleasing, but fundamentally easier to write. Every design decision was guided by the physical capabilities of children aged 6-8.
Design Principles for Young Learners
Kkomkkomche isn’t just a new typeface; it’s a carefully considered solution to the challenges faced by young writers. The font is based on a sans-serif structure, prioritizing clarity and readability. However, it incorporates subtle, natural-feeling tilts in the horizontal strokes, accommodating the natural movements of a child’s hand as they learn to form letters. This design acknowledges that children find it more difficult to draw long, straight horizontal lines than vertical ones.
Kkomkkomche distinguishes between strokes that connect and those that don’t, helping children visually understand the structure of each character. Ambiguous characters like the uppercase ‘I’ and lowercase ‘l’, or the numbers 6, 9, 1, and 7, have been subtly adjusted based on handwritten forms to improve differentiation. Generous spacing within the characters prevents errors common with developing fine motor skills.
Beyond the Font: A Holistic Learning Resource
Kkomkkomche comprises 2,780 Korean characters (Hangul), 94 Latin alphabet letters, and 150+ symbols, supporting both digital and print applications. It’s available in OTF, TTF, WOFF, and WOFF2 formats. BiSang Education has also released a free writing practice workbook to accompany the font, reinforcing its commitment to accessible education. This resource is freely available to teachers and parents, reflecting the belief that educational tools shouldn’t be limited by access or cost.
Kim Jae-hoon, Creative Design Lab Director at BiSang Education, emphasized the importance of direct observation. The design team conducted extensive field research, observing children’s writing processes, noting where they paused, and how their wrists moved. This iterative process, spanning three years, ensured the font aligned with real-world writing experiences.
The Future of Educational Typography
Kkomkkomche represents a growing trend towards user-centered design in educational materials. Fonts are no longer simply about aesthetics; they are tools that can directly impact a child’s learning journey. This project highlights the potential for design to address specific pedagogical challenges and improve learning outcomes.
The success of Kkomkkomche could inspire further innovation in educational typography, leading to fonts tailored to different age groups, learning styles, and even specific learning disabilities. We may see more fonts incorporating features designed to promote proper grip, encourage correct stroke order, and reduce cognitive load.
As digital learning continues to expand, the role of thoughtfully designed fonts like Kkomkkomche will become increasingly crucial. They are not just about making learning look good; they are about making it easier, more effective, and more enjoyable for all students.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Kkomkkomche? Kkomkkomche is a writing learning font developed by BiSang Education, designed to be easier for young children to learn to write.
- Is Kkomkkomche free to use? Yes, Kkomkkomche is free for personal use.
- What age group is Kkomkkomche designed for? The font is specifically designed for children aged 6-8.
- Where can I download Kkomkkomche? Information on downloading the font can be found on the BiSang Education website: visang.com
Pro Tip: When introducing Kkomkkomche to young learners, pair it with the free writing practice workbook for optimal results.
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