Give voice to type …

Letters surround us, and permeate our identities. The richness of typographic forms reflects the diversity of our histories: type brings us together, and gives depth and nuance to what distinguishes us. Type bridges past and future, geographical spaces and cultural domains, like no other element of our culture.

The GRANSHAN Two-Day-Hybrid-Conference under the title Signs of the times explores the big and small questions that concern the typographic community and type users alike – daily matters and global concerns.

On Friday, the 2nd edition of our TypeTech MeetUp (TTM) will again discuss and document the current state of font technology, and be a platform for the exchange of best practices and innovative developments. TTM sessions advance the state of the art and promote the integration of font technologies into the future of digital communication. The MeetUp will explore topics such as the power of variable and colour fonts, blockchain technology, web typography in multiscript domains, legibility & technology and more.

On Saturday, our venue Literaturhaus will become a lab for future forms of international and intercultural communication & collaboration. A place where we examine script and typography as an essential basis for international exchange as well as a force for identification. Only those who are visible and recognizable can enter into an open dialogue. Thematic sessions touch on topics such as multiscript design, endangered scripts/alphabets, and type as a cultural asset and identification anchor.

We welcome the direct interaction of designers and font engineers, web designers and developers, industry experts and tech & business professionals in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere. Signs of the times is a conference for all makers and users of type who appreciate the cultural and intellectual importance of our field. For those who see the future expressed in typographic multitudes.

During Saturday, the winners and their projects of the 12th GRANSHAN Type Design Competition 2021–2022 will be celebrated. With big words, small appetizers and some music…

SPEAKERS AT SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Bahia Shehab

Multidisciplinary Artist and Designer

Bahia Shehab is an artist, designer and art historian. She is associate professor of design and founder of the graphic design program at The American University in Cairo. Her work has been exhibited internationally and has received a number of international awards. Bahia Shehab has also been an Arabic script expert for GRANSHAN Competitions.

Bianca Berning

Creative Director

Joining Dalton Maag in 2011, Bianca’s passion for font technology and engineering led to her appointment as Head of Skills and Process, a multidisciplinary team of typeface designers, font engineers and software developers. After five years in the role, Bianca was appointed Creative Director, and is now responsible for ensuring Dalton Maag remains at the forefront of type innovation.

Elena Ramírez

Typographer and Graphic Designer

Elena Ramírez, co-founder of Ashler Design, is responsible for bringing digital projects to live and fruition. Elena is primarily in charge of UI and UX design and crafting websites and applications. After working alongside type designer Octavio Pardo, and with several independent foundries, she has now specialized in web typography.

Doug Wilson

Typographer

Doug Wilson is a designer, typographer, art director, filmmaker, and cyclist. Doug has worked with companies including Starbucks, Monotype, Herman Miller, and Virgin Mobile and has presented at The New York Times, NASA, Condé Nast, TypeCon, and TYPO Berlin. In 2012, Doug directed the feature-length documentary “Linotype: The Film” which has screened internationally. Doug lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife, two boys, and an ever-expanding collection of books and bicycles.

Eleni Beveratou

Creative Director

Eleni Beveratou is Creative Director at Dalton Maag. From Athens, Greece, Eleni holds a BA and MA degree in Communication design from Vakalo Art & Design College, and a MA in Typeface Design from the University of Reading. Eleni Beveratou has been a Greek script expert for GRANSHAN Competitions.