Recognize
Children can recognize the familiar object-like disguise before focusing on the abstract letter shape underneath.
Letterlings by Lighthouse Pages
Meet the Letterlings
Where familiar objects become unforgettable letters.
Let's turn abstract letter into something children already know. Familiar objects give children a way into letter sounds — even before they can read.
A letter in disguise
The letter keeps its identity while taking on the look of a familiar object.
One simple rule
A Letterling can only disguise itself as something that begins with that letter.
Clues from the real world
Colour, texture and surroundings help reveal what each Letterling is pretending to be.
The idea
So, what is a Letterling?
A Letterling is a letter that can disguise itself as a familiar object. It borrows the object's colour, texture, material and surroundings so that the abstract letter begins to look like something children already know.
And Letterlings follow one important rule: they can only disguise themselves as things that begin with their own letter. An L-Letterling might become a lamp or a lemon, but it cannot become a book. A book disguise belongs to a B-Letterling.
That rule turns the disguise into a clue. When children recognize the object and say its name, the first letter helps them work out which Letterling is hiding there.
Traditional alphabet illustration:
A separate letter is shown beside an object that begins with it.
Letterling:
The letter itself is disguised as an object that begins with that letter.
Traditional
A + 🍎
Letterling
A = 🍎
Why Letterlings?
Letters become things children want to look at.
Letterlings make abstract letter shapes feel more concrete by dressing them in the visual features of familiar things. The disguise gives children something to notice, name, explore and use as a clue.
Discover
Naming the disguise gives children a clue: the object must begin with the Letterling that is hiding inside it.
Remember
Colour, texture, material and context give each Letterling a distinctive visual identity that can make it easier to recall.
Inspired by the real world
Real textures. Real materials. Better disguises.
Letterlings use rich, realistic imagery because the details of an everyday object are part of the disguise.
A toasted marshmallow can look warm, glossy and caramelized. A tree can stand against a bright sky. A banana can carry its familiar yellow peel. A seahorse can appear in its underwater world. These details help children recognize what the Letterling is pretending to be.
The letter shape always remains the foundation. The challenge is to give it enough of the object's colour, texture, material and surroundings to create a convincing disguise without losing the letter underneath.
The Letterlings alphabet
Every Letterling has more than one possible disguise.
An A-Letterling might disguise itself as aluminium foil, an apple or an avocado. A B-Letterling might become a book, a balloon or a banana. The possibilities change, but the rule stays the same: the disguise must begin with that Letterling.
A — Aluminium Foil
B — Book
F — Fire
G — Gold
H — Hedgehog
L — Lantern/Light/Lamp
S — Strawberry
U — Unicorn
Coming soon
The first Letterlings book
Meet the Letterlings
Meet the Letterlings is a preschool alphabet book that introduces children to the Letterlings and their disguises.
Each Letterling borrows the look of a familiar object that begins with its letter, giving children visual clues as they discover, recognize and remember the alphabet.
The book is currently in development.
Follow the Letterlings journeyWhere Letterlings began
From a Swiss alphabet project to a growing family of picture-letters.
The first Letterlings grew out of an alphabet project created by Lighthouse Pages in Switzerland. The visual idea was first explored in the Schwiizerdütschs ABC-Memori, where children discover letters, sounds and words through play.
About the creator
Psychology meets visual design.
Letterlings were created by Alina Gasser, MSc Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction, and founder of Lighthouse Pages.
Her work combines psychology, child-centered design and visual experimentation to create learning materials that are clear, engaging and enjoyable to explore.
Letterlings grew from the question of how an abstract letter could borrow the familiar features of everyday objects while still remaining recognizably itself.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What are Letterlings?
Letterlings are letters that disguise themselves as familiar objects. They borrow the colours, textures and surroundings of everyday things, giving children clues to which letter — and sound — is hiding underneath.
Can a Letterling be more than one letter?
Yes. Sometimes two letters team up to represent a sound. For example, a CH-Letterling can disguise itself as cheese. Just like every other Letterling, its disguise gives children a clue to the sound it represents.
What can a Letterling disguise itself as?
Only as something that begins with its own letter. An L-Letterling can disguise itself as a lamp or a lemon, but not as a book. A book disguise belongs to a B-Letterling.
Who created Letterlings?
Letterlings® were created by Alina Gasser through Lighthouse Pages®.
Are Letterlings a font?
No. Letterlings are individual letter characters with object-inspired disguises rather than standardized typographic characters.
Are Letterlings an alphabet?
Letterlings can form an alphabet, but each Letterling can have many different disguises. The term describes the letter characters and the rules behind their disguises, not one fixed set of images.
Where can I find Letterlings?
New Letterlings, products and projects will be published through Lighthouse Pages. The first dedicated Letterlings book, Meet the Letterlings, is currently in development.
Can I create my own picture-letter?
Absolutely! The Letterlings® concept can be explored in any language. Choose a letter or sound, find something familiar that begins with it, and transform the letter using the object's colours, textures and distinctive features.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing prompts and ideas so you can experiment with the Letterlings® approach in your own language. Follow @letterlings on Instagram to create along and share what you make.
Letterlings by Lighthouse Pages
Where familiar objects become unforgettable letters.
Follow the development of Letterlings, new picture-letters and the upcoming Meet the Letterlings book.