Typ09: the heart of the letter - ATypI Conference October 25, 2009

From the event programme:

Typ09 is both a gathering of type professionals from all over the world, and an educational program for the designers of the future: those who are currently studying design and typography. It provides numerous opportunities for conference members to network and socialize, to learn what others are doing, and to form friendships and connections that will serve them and the international design community.

The parent organization of the conference, Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) has an express commitment to bring young designers as close as possible to the creative leaders of the profession, and Typ09 includes a cafe space, group lunches, and a gala dinner to encourage socialization among all attendees. Students are also encouraged to work as volunteers, which may bring them into contact with some of the region’s and the world’s most prominent typographers and designers.

The programme is divided into two parts. The first three days focus on presentations by and discussions with many of the top typographers and graphic designers from the Americas, Europe, and the rest of the world. Topics to be addressed include the history of type design in Latin America, examples of creative contemporary typography from Mexico, Latin America, and around the world, and the technology and business issues associated with type design and typography in the twenty-first century.

This part of the programme consists of a single track, to run continuously in the main meeting space at MIDE. All participants attend the same programme: its structure and subject matter designed to present a broad range of subjects to the large and diverse audience. Presentations, chosen to encourage intercultural communication, will vary from 10 to 30 minutes.

he second part of the programme, the latter two days of the conference, takes place at the Anáhuac University, and consists of multiple tracks of in-depth workshops and technical presentations. These workshops, taught by global professionals and local educators, include two technical tracks, plus a track for educators on teaching typography and type design, a design-oriented track about screen fonts and onscreen typography, and a number of hands-on workshops on topics related to letterforms.

Typ09 reflects the rapid increase in typographic studies we’ve seen in recent years throughout Latin American countries, and enables young scholars to discuss their work with peers and hear how other institutions approach research in design.

Official Website: http://www.atypi.org/04_Mexico