XYZ Between Generative Literature and Generative Graphic Design

Although the XYZ project predates my current research-creation work by about ten years, it remains a foundational step. It represents the first attempt to merge two dimensions I continue exploring: generative writing and generative graphic design. This project thus marks a pivotal moment where textual content and layout — both produced by scripts — converge within a single creative process.

In XYZ, this dual generativity is expressed in a complementary way: on one hand, personal ads are generated automatically; on the other hand, their layout also results from algorithmic processes. The generative logic is therefore applied to both content and form.

With hindsight, a contextual question emerges — one I had not yet considered at the time, but which now seems essential:

• Who are the artists working on the generation of literary or poetic texts?
• Who are the designers exploring layout through generative means?
• And above all, are there truly hybrid practices where generated text and graphic design interact in an integrated way?

These questions invite us to consider multiple lineages: should we look back to pre-digital avant-gardes — such as Oulipo, concrete poetry, or other forms of combinatory writing? Or should we instead explore contemporary practices made possible or amplified by digital technologies?

See also

• Paths to Explore in Digital Literature