Emerging as a Type Designer in the Online-Only... | Carratala, Thiefes, and Łukasiewicz | ATypI 2020

Emerging as a Type Designer in the Online-Only Environment | Jose Carratala, Simon Thiefes, and Radek Łukasiewicz
This presentation is a reflection by emerging type designers on the transition to an online-only environment. Graduating from a university and taking the first steps in the industry can be challenging for young graduates. However, this can provide an opportunity to rethink the way in which we talk about our work and shift the narrative from the instances of use-such as the classic type specimen-to the design and decision-making processes that have influenced the result.
As a group, we have been questioning ourselves about how best to showcase our work. How do we present months of research, exploration, learning, and professional growth? Not having opportunities for direct contact, we moved away from the printed specimen as a self-promotional object. In observing the shift of the typographic environment, we have been challenged by the limitations imposed by a purely digital presence. This is especially important for designers who have little credibility or professional experience that’s essential under the limits of an online presence.
This presentation stems from designers sharing a similar experience of isolation, working towards finding their way into the type industry. We focus on the processes and experiments conducted by type design students to promote their work. We present our questions, findings, and tactics in tackling this task. This session draws on the experience of ten people enrolled in a type design master’s program over the last year [ed.: 2019-2020 program at the University of Reading].
Presentation by Jose Carratala, Simon Thiefes, and Radek Łukasiewicz, followed by Q&A led by moderator Rathna Ramanathan.
Other participants include Jeremy Johnson, Mark Zhu, Ryan Williamson, Adriana Pérez Conesa, Keya Vadgama, Genevieve Cugnart, and Michaela Staton.
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Radek Łukasiewicz studied printmaking at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland. Łukasiewicz worked as a graphic designer and type designer in London. In 2019, Łukasiewicz moved to Reading in pursuance of a master’s in type design. Other presenters include: Jeremy Johnson, Jose Carratala, Mark Zhu, Ryan Williamson, Adriana Pérez Conesa, Simon Thiefes, Keya Vadgama, Genevieve Cugnart, Radek Łukasiewicz, and Michaela Staton.
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Simon Thiefes
Typeface Designer
University of Reading