Anfachen Award VIII

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

Featuring the topic of Angst/Fear, the eighth round of the yearly Anfachen Award is once again addressing contemporary experience and events. International artists and designers are invited to tackle the subject their way and freely design their posters. The submission deadline is April 21st, 2024.

As always, the prestigious jury will select 25 designs from the submissions. The large-format winning posters will initially be displayed in the streets and public squares in Hamburg from June 11th, 2024, with a tour of the posters being planned thanks to our cooperation partnerships. The patron of Anfachen Award is once again Klaus Staeck, who is best known in Germany for his political poster art.

Jury members of the Anfachen Award VIII are: Judith Asher (IL), Vincent van Baar (NL), Dmytro Dziuba (UKR),Heike Grebin (GER), Alexandra Grünig (GER), Sebastian Kubica (POL), Claas Möller (GER) and Flávia Nalon (GER/BRA).

Since 2016, Anfachen Award has been dedicating itself to society’s explosive topics each year. With hundreds of international submissions, renowned juries and a unique presentation, first in Hamburg and then in other German and international cities, the poster competition not only inspires the participants, but above all the public. It thus ignites social discourse in a constructive way wherever the posters are displayed.

Anfachen Award VIII

Designs can be submitted until April 21st, 2024.
Find further information here.

Rhizome

Posted on by miyoun.park

There are no rules, such as the structure of plant roots, fungi, and blood vessels, and life is felt in these structures where the beginning and the end are unknown. This structure was referred to as “rhizome” in the book Mille Plateaux (1980) by the philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, and rhizome is commonly used as a philosophical term. A rhizome is a concept in post-structuralism describing a nonlinear network that “connects any point to any other point.”

Even before its formal conceptualization, many artists sought to incorporate the philosophical concept of the rhizome into their works. Jackson Pollock’s action-painting effectively illustrates the abstraction of the Expressionist series described by Deleuze/Guattari. Michael Fried, in a commentary on Pollock’s action-painting work, described this as “refusing to bring one’s attention to a focus anywhere.” When observing Jackson Pollock’s work, your gaze does not fixate on any single point; instead, it is distributed evenly. This aligns with the smooth space that Deleuze/Guattari spoke of—a space that becomes smooth and homogeneous, with the gaze evenly distributed and equalized. Deleuze/Guattari sum it up as “a line that draws no contours, does not constrain any form, constantly changing direction.”

The rhizome concept is in stark contrast to typeface design, which reproduces the shapes of typefaces, and where rules are paramount. In typeface design, the height, thickness, blank space, etc., all adhere to strict rules, and even breaking these rules introduces new ones. This conflicts with the characteristics of amorphous, disordered, and unregulated rhizomes. This study is a typography experiment aiming to express the rhizome, opposed to typeface design, as a typeface. Through this experiment, we aim to expand the abstract expression within typeface design.

Find out more here.

Tender Digitality

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

Tender Digitality introduces an aesthetically oriented concept that intricately intertwines binary systems in a complex manner, setting them in motion. The concept, which is developed at the Zurich University of the Arts, responds to the human desire for sensuality, interpersonal connection, intuition, and well-being in digital environments. It explores ways to (re)transmit these experiences into the analog world of a book, developing its own distinct vocabularies.

Readers are guided through the various perspectives of this kaleidoscope, encouraging them to delve into different play-forms of “tender digitality” and develop their own approach. Assuming the role of researchers, they discover phenomena of extraordinary beauty or bizarreness within the spectrum spanning analogue and digital, social, and technological domains. Through exploration, learning, and the cultivation of “tender digitality,” readers can envision their own version of a community where individuals and artificial intelligences, avatars and cyborgs, humans and computers navigate digital landscapes with agency, intuition, and sensitivity.

With contributions by Charlotte Axelsson, Oliver Bendel, Dana Blume, Marisa Burn, Alexander Damianisch, Léa Ermuth, Hannah Eßler, Barbara Getto, Leoni Hof, Marcial Koch, Mela Kocher, Friederike Lampert, Gunter Lösel, Francis Müller, Marie-France Rafael, Oliver Ruf, Sascha Schneider, and Grit Wolany.

Tender Digitality 

Publisher: Slanted Publishers
Editor: Charlotte Axelsson
Authors: Charlotte Axelsson, Oliver Bendel, Dana Blume, Marisa Burn, Alexander Damianisch, Léa Ermuth, Hannah Eßler, Barbara Getto, Leoni Hof, Marcial Koch, Mela Kocher, Friederike Lampert, Gunter Lösel, Francis Müller, Marie-France Rafael, Oliver Ruf, Sascha Schneider, Grit Wolany
Design: Slanted Publishers
Publishing Direction: Lars Harmsen, Julia Kahl
Production Management: Julia Kahl
Proofreading and translation: Miha Tavčar, scriptophil
Release: February 2024
Format: 12 × 19 cm
Volume: 112 pages
Language: English
Printer: NINO Druck, Germany
Workmanship: Hardcover, thread-stitching, full-color, metallic iridescent cover material
Paper: Majestic Chameleon light blue, 120 gsm (Cover) / Juwel Offset, 120 gsm (Inside)
ISBN 978-3-948440-69-5
Price: €26.–

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Shapes of Data

Posted on by Duo JnJ

Shapes of Data is an innovation created by Adrien Jacquemet and Basile Jesset, graphic designer and web developer respectively. In their view, the fields of data visualization and representation have not paid enough attention to the solutions that graphic design and web design could offer them. This is why Shapes of Data aims to create new ways of visualizing data.

To create their data visualizations, Adrien Jacquemet and Basile Jesset create web interfaces and variable typographies for each of the subjects they tackle. These tools make it possible to understand dense and complex data sets. The subject is the driving force behind the typographic design and graphic interface. Adrien Jacquemet and Basile Jesset design a unique web interface and variable typeface tailored to each theme. The Shapes of Data approach is very sensitive and can take an infinite number of forms.

Enhancing the value of data through strong and innovative design allows for highlighting or challenging contemporary social, economic, and environmental dynamics.

To demonstrate their concept, Basile Jesset and Adrien Jacquemet have created three websites that you are invited to visit at shapesofdata.com. These three websites deal with three extremely different themes and demonstrate the multiple forms of Shapes of Data.

ADC Festival 2024

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

From June 4th to 7th, 2024, the creative industry gathers once again at Schuppen52 for the ADC Festival 2024! The festival pass grants you access to the congress, the award show, and the after-show party, as well as—of course—all free program items. Be part of it and experience four days full of inspiration and innovation!

The first ten speakers for the ADC Congress on Thursday, June 6th, 2024, and the concurrently held business panels have been confirmed. You can look forward to highly regarded visionaries in the creative industry:

Marco Venturelli (Chief Creative Officer, Publicis)
In his cross-agency role, Marco contributed to making the Publicis Group the most creative agency in the market, securing the top spot for French agencies at Cannes Lions, followed by first place at D&AD and Eurobest in 2021 (Source). He will present the Plug Inn case from Renault.

Lionel Ohayon (Founder and CEO, ICRAVE)
The Las Vegas Sphere, with 1.2 million LEDs, is Lionel Ohayon’s most spectacular concert hall project in the world.

Roman Sick (CEO, HOLOPLOT)
He positioned HOLOPLOT, an immersive technology for sound precision, in relevant industry projects, including as the official audio technology partner for the aforementioned Concert Hall The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Hassan Ragab
He is an internationally successful conceptual artist and interdisciplinary designer. Hassan excels in operating AI tools like few others. In his works, he focuses on how AI influences architecture and design, challenging current architectural standards.

In the free Business Panels in the Open Club area, you can also expect:

  • Nils Gräf, Managing Director, Amazon Advertising Germany
  • Amelie Maik, Creative Lead Brand & Campaigns, OTTO
  • Frederik Geisler, VP Marketing & Creative Director, RTL Deutschland
  • Flo Hoffmann, Senior Manager Brand & Portfolio DACH, Netflix
  • Pia Schörner, Head of Digital Experiential Content, Gaming & BMW Metaverse, BMW Group
  • Holger Mannweiler, Founder and Managing Director, MetaBrewSociety

Additionally, on Thursday, June 6th, in the Open Club area, there will be an Expo with exhibitors, ADC Speed Recruiting, and ADC Insights on the second stage.

On Friday, June 7th, the glamorous highlights of the ADC Festival will take place: the Talent Award Show and the Award Show with an Award Show Party to honor the winners of the ADC Talent Awards and the ADC Competition 2024.

ADC Festival 2024

When?
June 4th to 7th, 2024

Where?
Schuppen 52
Australisastraße 52
20457 Hamburg

Find more information and get your ticket here.

Typeface of the Month: RST Thermal

Posted on by Juliane Lipp

Check out our newest Typeface of the Month: 

RST Thermal is an exploration of balance and contrast. Combining the elegance of classical typography with the sharpness of contemporary design. It was conceived to be a variable font with two axes: weight and optical size, providing a wide range of options for texts and display applications. The Regular and Italic text styles breathe a warm atmosphere, their design inspiration is a relaxed interpretation of the work of 16th-century French type designer Robert Granjon, evoking a comforting rhythm and a sense of familiarity that makes reading enjoyable.  

On the other end of Thermal’s design spectrum lie the extreme weights—thin and heavy—specifically designed for larger sizes. These weights borrow stylistic cues from several distinct influences: the characteristic Woodtype from the 19th century, which inspired lettering styles from the 60s and 70s, and the bold work of Oscar Ogg. One of Thermal’s distinct features is its Italic’s 20° inclination (a significant inclination by any standard). This design choice finds its roots in the Ascendonica Cursive of 1571 cut by Robert Granjon, but is a contemporary interpretation that generates a captivating contrast with the regular version. Thermal studies the past and analyzes the present to create a unique blend, bringing a distinct dichotomy and an eclectic identity.

Read the complete story here.

Typeface of the Month: RST Thermal

Foundry: Reset Type
Designer: Fernando Díaz
Release: December 2023
File Formats: Variable: TTF & WOFF2 | Static: OTF, TTF & WOFF2
Styles: Display, Headline & Text
Weights: Thin Text, Thin Text Italic, Thin Headline, Thin Headline Italic, Thin Display, Thin Display Italic, ExtraLight Text, ExtraLight Text Italic, ExtraLight Headline, ExtraLight Headline Italic, ExtraLight Display, ExtraLight Display Italic, Light Text, Light Text Italic, Light Headline, Light Headline Italic, Light Display, Light Display Italic, Regular Text, Regular Text Italic, Regular Headline, Regular Headline Italic, Regular Display, Regular Display Italic, Medium Text, Medium Text Italic, Medium Headline, Medium Headline Italic, Medium Display, Medium Display Italic, Bold Text, Bold Text Italic, Bold Headline, Bold Headline Italic, Bold Display, Bold Display Italic, ExtraBold Text, ExtraBold Text Italic, ExtraBold Headline, ExtraBold Headline Italic, ExtraBold Display, ExtraBold Display Italic, Black Text, Black Text Italic, Black Headline, Black Headline Italic, Black Display, Black Display Italic
Price: Styles starting at $35 | Families starting at $350
Special Offer: 40% foundry discount with the code #SLANTED40, valid until February 29th

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Call for Entries by Stiftung Buchkunst 2024

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

Stiftung Buchkunst invites participation in its competitions Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher 2024 (The Most Beautiful German Books 2024) and Förderpreis für junge Buchgestaltung 2024 (Young Book Design Promotion Award 2024). The deadline for both design competitions is March 31st, 2024. All information about the competitions and participation details can be found on the foundation’s website.

Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher 2024

In the competition for Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher 2024, two juries consisting of experts from various fields—from design and production, to design theory and the book trade—will select the 25 most beautiful books of the year through a multi-stage process. The books exemplify excellence in design, conception, and production, showcasing a wide range of design and manufacturing possibilities. The awarded books make a statement and highlight trends in German book production. In each of the five categories—“General Literature,” “Scientific Books, Technical Books, School and Textbooks,” “Guides, Non-fiction Books,” “Art Books, Photo Books, Exhibition Catalogs,” and “Children’s Books, Youth Books”—there are five awardees. The selection also considers the quieter, well-typographed reading book. The awarded titles are simultaneously nominated for the € 10.000 Preis der Stiftung Buchkunst (Foundation for Book Art Prize).

The competition is open to publishers, book designers, and producing companies. Submissions can include new releases from the years 2023 and 2024 (publication date: April 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2024). If the submitted book has a regional connection, there is also the option to simultaneously register for the competition Deutschlands schönstes Regionalbuch (Germany’s Most Beautiful Regional Book).

Förderpreis für junge Buchgestaltung 2024

The Förderpreis für junge Buchgestaltung 2024 aims to make extraordinary, new ideas about printed books or hybrid book forms—thus developments in book design—and book impulses for tomorrow, as well as today’s quality concepts, visible. Technical perfection takes a backseat to the idea in this competition. A jury composed of designers and university experts will select three winning titles, each endowed with € 2.000, that rethink the medium of the book. Additionally, the awarded book projects will be honored with their own exhibition at einBuch.haus in Berlin, starting from July 11th, 2024.

The awarded books from both competitions, along with their short and longlists, are part of the exhibition by Stiftung Buchkunst at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The 25 awarded titles will also be showcased at various locations in Germany and international book fairs.

All necessary information and participation forms can be found here.

Redesign Everything Challenge

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

What Design Can Do (WDCD) is proud to announce the launch of the Redesign Everything Challenge, its fifth Climate Action Challenge in collaboration with the IKEA Foundation, set to kick off on January 17th until March 13th, 2024. What Design Can Do invites innovators from every corner of the globe to submit ideas that radically redesign our world—from products and materials to stories, systems, services, and spaces. This call for creativity extends to all aspects of our lives, emphasising the need for circular and regenerative solutions. The challenge seeks to answer the question: What role can designers play in the transition to a fair and circular future?

The Time to Redesign Everything is Now
Today, signs of climate breakdown are everywhere. The stark reality of having just endured the hottest recorded year yet serves as a wake-up call, as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems become more pronounced. However, experts say we still have time to act—a critical window of opportunity in which we must reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst scenarios that loom on the horizon.

To make this change, we’ll need creative solutions of every scale and in every sector. Many of the problems we currently face are deeply—and increasingly—interconnected. That is why this year—as the planet enters an era of global “boiling”—WDCD is throwing the door wide open and launching its most expansive challenge yet. 

Design as a Catalyst for a Circular Society
Tackling the climate crisis means changing how our economy works (and how it doesn’t). No sector can do this alone—but designers can make an impact by shifting from linear to circular ways of making, using, and living. Next to this, the most important role of design is that of radical imagination: seeing what does not yet exist, making ideas real, and forging ahead with optimism. That is why for this competition, WDCD are looking for creative climate solutions that cut across various sectors and disciplines. This includes new ideas and existing enterprises for how we might reduce the overall impact of our industries: from food, fashion, and packaging, to mobility, electronics, digital services, and construction. 

How to apply
Participants are invited to submit their project online from January 17th to March 13th, 2024, via the Challenge website.

The Redesign Everything Challenge seeks creative climate solutions across five main disciplines: products, materials, communications, spaces, and systems & services. 

In April 2024, a jury of leading experts in design, social impact and climate action will select a minimum of 10 winners. Winning ideas are turned into reality with € 5.000 in funding and a global development programme, which includes online training, mentoring sessions and a bootcamp. This program will support the winning teams in further strengthening their projects and propelling them through 2024 and beyond. As part of the WDCD Challenge network, winners will have the opportunity to appear in global publications and opportunities to speak at WDCD events.

About WDCD
What Design Can Do is an international platform that advocates for design as a tool for social change. Since 2011, they have undertaken numerous activities to promote the role of designers in addressing the world’s most pressing societal and environmental issues. To see previous Challenge winners, click here.

About the IKEA Foundation
The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant-making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to children’s futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than €200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change. Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than € 2 billion to create a better future for children and their families.

Redesign Everything Challenge

For more information and to participate in the Redesign Everything Challenge, visit: redesigneverything.whatdesigncando.com.

Destinat10n

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

The 10th International ConFest Graphic Stories titled Destinat10n invites you on a groundbreaking journey into the world of visual communication. With a rich and innovative program, this significant event reflects the diversity and high quality of artistic and educational activities.

Excitement builds as the participation of eleven exceptional creative contributors in the upcoming 10th International ConFest Graphic Stories is announced. Among the distinguished names are Savvas Chatzichristofis, Stefanos Karagkos, Mane Tatulyan, Agnieszka Ziemiszewska, Christos Nikas, Andreas Appios, Mike Hajimichael, Spiros Drakatos, Vaggelis Gettos, Pericles Leng Cheng, and Panayiota Michael. Their diverse talents and innovative perspectives promise to enrich this milestone edition, offering attendees a unique and inspiring experience in the world of visual communication.

What the program includes:

– 9 Lectures (in person & live streaming): Renowned professionals will deliver nine lectures exploring the transformative possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in artistic creation, the impact of mechanization on design, video games, and more. 

– 5 Creative Workshops (in person): These include scenario creation for video games, a specialized workshop utilizing Artificial Intelligence, a human library workshop, and workshops on virtual/augmented reality and illustration for children.

– International Poster Exhibitions: Presentation of retrospective poster exhibitions from Graphic Stories and a commemorative exhibition themed Destinat10n. 

– Documentaries (in person & live streaming): Screening of documentaries on visual communication.

– Interactive Installations: Creation of interactive installations related to the theme Destinat10n and celebrating the festival’s 10-year anniversary. 

– Live Performance: Experience an extraordinary live performance by the contemporary dance team from the London School of Ballet. 

– Live Music: A performance by the talented HajiMike.

Combining innovation, new technologies, knowledge, and creativity, the 10th ConFest Graphic Stories promises an unforgettable experience that transcends the boundaries of visual communication. Come and participate in a journey that will showcase the world of creativity and technology.

Destinat10n

When?
March 8th to 10th, 2024

Where?
Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus, the offices of the “Politis” newspaper and the STEM Education Cyprus, in Nicosia.

Find further information here.
Get your ticket!

Limited Slanted Notebook BK LVRS

Posted on by Julia Kahl

Slanted loves books—and Slanted loves this beautiful Slanted Limited Notebook BK LVRS! Inspired by our latest Slanted Magazine #42—Books, this high-quality notebook was designed by us with plenty of space for your notes, sketches or daydreams …

Make your loved one a special Valentine’s gift—exclusively and only available in very limited quantities in our shop!

By the way: Goes great with our Limited Special Edition Books: Magazine + BK LVRS Pencils!

Format: 14.8 × 21 cm
Volume: 256 pages
Design: Slanted Publishers
Workmanship: Softcover, offset-printing with sport-colors, color-cut with typography
Paper: Inapa Deutschland
Printer: Stober Medien
Produced by brandbook
Price: €26.–

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Typotalk with Lars Harmsen

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

In the context of the exhibition Dagmar Buhr: Lui at Neues Museum in Nürnberg, bayern design presents a Typotalk with Lars Harmsen, Creative Director at Melville Brand Design and Co-founder of Slanted Publishers. In Prof. Lars Harmsen’s Typotalk, the focus is on typography in space, from “A” like Art and Anarchy, “C” like Corporate, “P” like Public, and “Z” like Zoo.

Like few other design elements, typography reflects the diversity and heterogeneity of a city. Typography produces new urban spaces and interacts with the places and people of a city. Typography can represent the identities of a city, its people, companies, brands, and organizations, thus creating social to commercial spaces. Typography can make cultural patterns of action visible, reinterpret them, and question them. Typography can convey information and guide people through the city. Typography in urban space is the work of designers, engineers, amateurs, and children.

Immediately before the Typotalk, there will be a Typowalk with type designer Mona Franz and government building officer Rebecca Pröbster through Nuremberg. Fonts in the city will be presented and analyzed for their design during this event. Separate registration is required for this event. Combo tickets are available.

About Prof. Lars Harmsen

Prof. Lars Harmsen is a professor for design and typography at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Dortmund, Creative Director and partner at Melville Brand Design in Munich. Additionally, he is the founder of Slanted Publishers. The main focus of his work includes typography, corporate and editorial design, as well as brands in space. He is the founder of the font label Volcano-Type, editor and Creative Director at Slanted Blog and Magazine, and the author and designer of numerous books on design, typography, and photography. Harmsen is the curator of the artist book series 100for10 and a co-founder of Poster Rex, a screen printing poster project. He has received over 100 national and international awards for his work.

Typotalk with Lars Harmsen

When?
Thursday, February 8th, 5 p.m.

Where?
Neues Museum in Nürnberg
Luitpoldstraße 5
90402 Nürnberg

Tickets for the Typotalk are now available here.
Find more information here.

Forward Festival 2024

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

The renowned creative conference Forward Festival is growing and expanding to four European cities for its 2024 season.

Celebrating its debut in Amsterdam as well as its comeback in Hamburg, while also returning to Berlin and Vienna, the established annual hub of the creative industry across all disciplines is set to captivate audiences with an impressive total lineup of more than 125 speakers from creative fields like AI, digital art, graphic design, typography, photography and much more.

After having remarkable success in the last years, Forward is ready to elevate to new heights in 2024, promising a season of unleashed creativity and inspiration. To date, Forward has realised 27 Festivals in three countries, inspiring over 40.000 visitors from 70 nations, while gaining extra momentum with last year’s Berlin edition at the prestigious Haus der Kulturen der Welt. For the upcoming edition there are some major announcements: Firstly, Forward is expanding its horizons to the Netherlands and takes place in Amsterdam for the first time. Renowned for its flourishing creative scene, the city stands as a key player in the global creative industry. Forward Festival will take place at the prestigious Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, a venue meticulously designed to foster both inspiration and expression, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience.

Secondly, Forward is also making its big comeback to Hamburg after a break that began with the covid disruptions in 2020. The big return was obviously just a matter of time, since Forward is aligning seamlessly with the city’s diverse and vibrant creative culture.

Unlike most other conferences, Forward’s curation blends creative minds from all directions of the scene to a unique mix with a lot of personal insights and a vibe that is unmatched. Spiked with specials like art performances, expo areas, side-events and after parties, the main core of the festival—the talks—focus on what’s really important for creative people: finding inspiration, maintaining focus on creative work, and fostering collaboration to share creativity without boundaries.

The Forward Festival for creativity, design, and communication is a renowned conference for the local and international creative industries, established in 2015. The festival’s self-declared mission is to serve as a platform for creative people and to promote inspiration and exchange. Protagonists from all disciplines of creativity are brought together in a program combining forums, workshops, exhibitions, talks and side-events. Topics range from (graphic) design, typography, marketing and branding to VR/AR, artificial intelligence and architecture to photography, film and TV.

SPEAKER: ERIK KESSELS | ANNA KULASCHEK | JEAN-REMY VON MATT | SNASK | ANNA | GINSBURG | GAVIN STRANGE | LOULOU JOAO | DEUTSCHE & JAPANER | BAUGASM | KELLY | ANNA | VIKTOR HAMMARBERG | CHARLOTTE ROHDE | KELLY ANNA | VINCENT SCHWENK | MR. BINGO | STUDIO FEIXEN | DADA PROJECTS | STUDIO SANDER PLUG | SOFIA CRESPO | EVA CREMERS | LOOPING LOVERS | LUIS PEREZ

Forward Festival 2024

Hamburg: April 25th to 26th
Amsterdam: May 23th to 24th
Berlin: August 29th to 30th
Vienna: October 3rd to 4th

Find Forward Festival on Instagram. 

Formale Grotesque

Posted on by binnenland

With the development of Formale Grotesque, Binnenland pursued a strategy that is more variable for a more differentiated use of a type family. Structured in L, N, B (Light, Normal, Bold), and each with 4 different weights (1–4), the Formale Grotesque offers a simple orientation. The font weight and their combinations can thus be adapted in a nuanced way to the design requirements and typographic use and refer to possible combinations. The weight mix, the gradations of the font weights, can follow the numerical sequence but are just as well harmonised in units of 2 or 3.

With several OpenType features and alternative style sets, ligatures, and small caps, the typeface has finesse and characterful typographically appropriate additions.

The Formale Grotesque fits into the typographic tradition of sans serif typefaces dating back to the late 19th century. With its low stroke weight contrast, it pursues a new approach by mixing geometrically constructed and dynamic forms, resulting in a design that is not a response to an existing grotesque or neo-grotesque typeface, but the interpretation of an attitude.

Design by Michael Mischler and Nik Thoenen, 2019
Current Version 2.021 Jan 2024

Formale Grotesque

Foundry: Binnenland
Designer: Michael Mischler, Nik Thoenen
Update Release: January 2024
File Formats: OTF, TTF (variable)
Style: Grotesk
Weights: Thin to Black with Italics
Price: per style: € 70.–; Full family + variable: € 693.–

Take a look at Formale Grotesque here. 

Werkschau HS Bielefeld 2024

Posted on by werkschau_hsbi_24

The Department of Design at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts invites you to the Werkschau!

It opens its doors for the 2023/24 winter semester exhibition in February. This year’s graduates proudly present their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses from the fields of Digital Media and Experiment, Photography and Visual Media, Communication Design, and Fashion.

The design concept for the exhibition is based on the powerful symbolism of the eyes, which stand for a rich landscape of creative brilliance that embodies the visual and what can be perceived primarily with the eyes. Furthermore, the consistent integration of the eye motif creates a continuous narrative and emphasizes the goal of making the graduates visible and honoring their creative achievements.

The use of greatly reduced design elements is intended to draw the viewer’s attention to what is essential for the exhibition, while the highly concise appearance of the exhibition is intended to ensure that the visual message of the exhibition does not get lost in today’s sensory overload.

The HS Bielefeld and the graduates are looking forward to an event of contemplation and amazement and the visit of many spectators!

Werkschau HS Bielefeld 2024

When?
Vernissage:
Friday, February 2nd, 6 p.m.

Exhibition:
Saturday, February 3rd, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, February 4th, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where?
Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Design and Art
Lampingstraße 3
33615 Bielefeld

Find more information here. 

European Design Awards 2024

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

The prestigious European Design Awards (ED-Awards), an annual event that has been at the forefront of recognizing outstanding design achievements since its inception in 2007, is set to launch its 2024 edition.

Marking nearly two decades of inspiring creativity and design innovation, the European Design Awards continue to be a hallmark celebration within the design community. With a commitment to showcasing excellence in various communication design disciplines, the awards honor the visionaries and trendsetters who push the boundaries of creativity.

A distinguishing feature that sets the European Design Awards apart in the industry is its distinctive jury composition. Unlike traditional design competitions, the ED-Awards boasts a panel comprising not design professionals but eminent design critics. Consisting of editors, academics, and publishers—essentially, content creators who significantly influence and shape the discourse within the communication design industry—the jury brings a unique perspective to the evaluation process. This approach ensures a nuanced and comprehensive assessment of entries, emphasising not only aesthetic appeal but also the intellectual and communicative prowess of the submitted designs. The ED-Awards’ commitment to having content creators at the helm of its jury reflects a visionary understanding of the evolving landscape of design and reinforces its dedication to recognizing excellence in both form and substance.

The 2024 edition of the European Design Awards promises to be a spectacular showcase of groundbreaking designs, cutting-edge concepts, and the visionary talents that shape the design landscape. Designers, agencies, and creative minds from across Europe and beyond are invited to participate in this prestigious event that recognizes and celebrates the finest achievements in graphic design, branding, digital media, packaging, typography, and more.

Key Information for Participants:

  • Submission Period: The call for entries for the European Design Awards 2024 officially opens on Friday, December 15th.
  • Submission Deadline: Entrants are encouraged to submit their work by February 16th, 2024, to ensure inclusion in this year’s esteemed competition.
  • Results Announcement: The much-anticipated results of the European Design Awards 2024 will be unveiled on June 1st, 2024, during the annual ED-Festival, taking place in Naples, Italy.

“The European Design Awards stand as a testament to the brilliance and ingenuity within the design community. As we embark on the 2024 edition, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable work that will shape the future of design. It’s a celebration of creativity, originality, and the pursuit of design excellence,” said Demetrios Fakinos, Director of the European Design Festival.

Join us in celebrating the power of design to inspire, captivate, and transform the world!

European Design Awards 2024

Established in 2007, the European Design Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in graphic design, branding, and communication. The annual event recognizes the outstanding work of designers and creative agencies across Europe, providing a platform for showcasing innovation, talent, and design mastery.

For submission guidelines, categories, and additional details, please visit www.europeandesign.org

Winterwerkschau

Posted on by [email protected]

From February 2nd to 4th, 2024, the student-organized Winterwerkschau will take place for the seventh time at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Students will present around 70 projects and study results, mainly from the Faculty of Art and Design, at more than 20 locations. For prospective students, portfolio consultations are offered in the artistic degree programms, which can be attended without prior registration.

Initiated and organized by the students of the Faculty of Art and Design, the Winterwerkschau offers the opportunity to explore the results of the winter semester, exchange ideas and round off the semester alongside the summaery—the large annual exhibition in summer.

The project study in Weimar leaves plenty of room for experimentation and opens up a variety of ways to realize ideas and new concepts. The students would like to give all interested parties, whether high school graduates, trainees, career changers, or flaneurs, the opportunity to get to know the life and studies of artists and designers in Weimar first-hand. The students therefore open up their workspaces and studios and show their work in an uncomplicated way: Insights into processes and interim statuses as well as already completed works from the current semester are presented to the public and offer a practical insight into studying at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

Winterwerkschau 2024

Exhibition duration:
Friday, February 2nd, 2024 to Sunday, February 4th, 2024

Opening:
Friday, February 2nd, 5 p.m.

Location:
M18, Café S140
Marienstrasse 18
99423 Weimar

Opening hours of the studios:
Friday, 6–8 p.m.
Saturday, 12–8 p.m.
Sunday, 12–4 p.m.

An overview of all projects, the associated events, and information on portfolio consultations can be found here. 
Winterwerkschau on Instagram.
Graphics by Amelie Knoblich.

Script – Über das Wesen der Schrift

Posted on by Juliane Lipp

Do the existing writing systems suffice for future communication, even with machines? Script – Über das Wesen der Schrift is a fundamental reflection on the current state of our writing and the developments it will undergo in the future.

Our existing writing systems are among the most significant socio-cultural achievements–writing has profoundly influenced both our thinking and actions, and no technological progress would have been possible without it. However, the ongoing technological changes–the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, AI—require a structural shift that will impact how we think, communicate, and produce.

With this position paper, the author Christian Stindl initiates a long-overdue discourse on the prevailing practices in the field of font design. He criticizes the evident disparity between the steadily increasing number of formal reinterpretations of characters on one hand, and the lack of structural reflection on the Latin character system on the other.

With his book Script – Über das Wesen der Schrift, Christian Stindl embarks on a quest to explore the essence of the writing of the future. He questions its current relevance and simultaneously predicts the downfall of the Latin character system. In his view, a fundamental rethinking by font designers and a necessary realignment of this discipline are imperative.

Script – Über das Wesen der Schrift

Publisher: Triest
Design: Christian Stindl, Brühl
Format: 14.8 × 21 cm
Volume: 129 pages
Language: German
ISBN: 978-3-03863-079-1
Price: € 29.– (DE)

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These URLs Will Save the IRL

Posted on by wishious

You open it, squint, think for a bit, scroll up, scroll down, search for half a minute for a language change. After the third go-through-the-menubar, acceptance comes and cmd+f is used. Then you finally find the right section and it leads to a pdf with no ability to copy the text. You guessed it — if you ever tried to apply to a German art university, this was the interaction most of the time. These sites were made to surprise the viewer, and so far, they are successful. The creators use different methods to keep a user engaged, not to just utilitaristically find the information on an invisible canvas, but to go through the full-experience, feel the web in which this content is weaved.

Finding useful info on most German art schools’ websites is an interesting experience since they are not constructed according to the usual web selling patterns. What is even more interesting, although renovated German websites do not follow “selling” UX trends, they look and perform decently.

While collecting and organising a database of university websites, Nilya Musaeva began to notice specific patterns. She tried to combine and classify them within the concept of German UX design. In her research, just like in the statement of the United States Secretary of Defense, there are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns. This means that even after the long process of developing this project, a huge mysterious field of knowledge will remain untapped.

The elaboration and classification led Musaeva into the mystical entangled net of German websites. The more she delved into this study, the more confusing her narrative became. The initially harmonious classification began to be saturated with speculations, philosophical thoughts, and the Sisyphean stone-like burden of responsibility that I could barely withstand. At some point, it became clear that this project has no beginning or end, and in this book, I would only be able to slightly lift the veil of secrecy.

As a result, this book will guide you through Germany, not using Autobahns and Schlössers but links and browser windows

These URLs will save the IRL is a result of a two-year-long speculation on the topic of German art schools’ websites  by Nilya Musaeva. The project started a hypothesis that German art schools sometimes deliberately create opaque interaction patterns to create an obstacle for potential applicants. During the research, Musaeva conducted UX tests, accessed archived versions of the websites, made design/UX analysis, comparison tables, manuscript writing, and travelling on the spot undercover to compare the website and real-life accessibility. This turned into the publication, written by Musaeva and collaboratively designed by 25 students of University of Arts Bremen and Klasse Digitale Grafik Hamburg.

These URLs Will Save the IRL

Language: English
Released in 2023
Self-published, 100 Copies
All the further info on the website.

Werkschau Design & Architecture 23/24

Posted on by eric_fritsch

At the end of the winter term 23/24, the graduates of the Design and Architecture departments of the Peter Behrens School of Arts at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf will present their projects during the Werkschau Design & Architecture 23/24.

Around 250 young designers and architects specializing in Architecture, Interior Design, and Civic Design as well as Communication Design, Exhibition Design, New Craft Object Design, and Retail Design are looking forward to your visit.

You can take a look at the graduation projects here.

Werkschau Design & Architecture 23/24

When?

January 26th, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

January 27th, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where?
Hochschule Düsseldorf
Peter Behrens School of Arts

Building 6

Münsterstraße 156

40476 Düsseldorf

More information here.
Instagram

Design: Michelle Duong, Eileen Gräfenstein, Florian Littke / Code: Stefan Völker / Supervision: Prof. Holger Jacobs / Public Relations: Eric Fritsch, Stephanie Muscat-Bruhn

Flint*ype

Posted on by Juliane Lipp

flint*ype is a tool, an archive, and a curated showcase, that aims to make typefaces from FLINTA* (F=female, L=lesbians, I=inter-, N=non-binary, T=trans, A=agender) designers from all over the world more easily accessible. The initiators of the project Lilot Kammermeier, Sophia Krayc, Coco Lobinger and Hannah Witte believe that through the use of FLINTA* typefaces, marginalised designers in graphic design will be supported, made visible, and re-inscribed into history.

Selecting a typeface involves considering numerous factors, and when incorporating a typeface into graphic design, its creation context should be purposefully taken into account. Commonly referred to as “neutral” typefaces, European classics such as Helvetica, Universe, or Times can perpetuate the Eurocentric and male-dominated norms of Western graphic design when employed in comprehensive design solutions. This, in turn, reinforces patriarchal structures within graphic design, hindering the progression of artistic discourse. The pursuit of FLINTA* type design requires dedication, acknowledging that it may not always be a straightforward endeavor. In this challenging endeavor,  flint*ype aims to empower the graphic design community to scrutinize established structures and strive for liberation from them, aiming to streamline and diversify individual type research.

Regularly bringing in special curators with their vibrant featured type collections will assist in moving away from a binary and Eurocentric approach to type design. This initiative aims to shift and redirect viewpoints.

Blackletter—Rotunda

Posted on by Nina Vollmer

After the debut of the Calligraphy Manuals collection with the book Blackletter – Fraktur, the Portuguese publishing house 0. itemzero has released a new volume: Blackletter—Rotunda.

Popular in the Middle Ages in Italy, southern France, and the Iberian Peninsula, Rotunda is a rounder, warmer flavor of blackletter styles, celebrated in mediaeval academic circles for its ease of reading.

Akin to the Fraktur release, this book repeats the collaboration with Hugo “Xesta” Moura, the Portuguese graphic artists and calligrapher, extending the historical material to add a contemporary interpretation to the hand.

The book features over 750 real-scale examples of letter variations, ligatures and exercises, making extensive use of notes and building up complexity as it progresses. As worthy extras, the release also features a large set of digital, ready-to-print practice sheets, as well as two screenprint posters designed by Xesta.

Blackletter—Rotunda 

Publisher: 0. itemzero
Authors: Hugo “Xesta” Moura, Fábio Duarte Martins, Ruben Dias, Ricardo Philippe Dantas
Price: € 14.90
Find out more here. 

Typeface of the Month: Perec Scripte

Posted on by Juliane Lipp

With a serene air and a hint of nostalgia, our new Typeface of the Month Perec Scripte is a vertical script font with a delicate persuasive tone.

It comes in two styles: unlinked (1) and linked (2), both declined in six full weights including numerous contextual sorts, ligatures, alternates, swashes, and more. Although it was conceived as a display font, it can also be used in text pieces that are not too long, especially the Light, Regular and Medium weights. The third style of the family is Perec Scripte Deco, meant for greater graphic impact, ideal for special titles, signs and logos. Perec Scripte Deco has three carefully hand-drawn stripes that flow throughout the alphabet giving a subtle sense of volume and creating a unique word appeal. Equipped with the same Latin extended set, it also includes ligatures, swashes, two sets of numerals and other type goodies.

Like the Perec and Perec Ludique series, the Perec Scripte series is part of the Perec superfamily, made as a tribute to the genius of Georges Perec, a singular writer of the 20th century. All Perec styles can be used together, judiciously, to achieve editorial pages rich in expression.

Typeface of the Month: Perec Scripte

Foundry: Pampa Type
Designer: Alejandro Lo Celso
Release: December 2023
File Formats: OTF, TTF, WOFF, WOFF2
Styles & Weights: Perec Scripte 1 with Thin, Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, and Black / Perec Scripte 2 with Thin, Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, and Black / Perec Scripte Deco Regular
Price: per style € 48 / per family € 308

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Slanted Winter Break 2023 / 2024

Posted on by Julia Kahl

From December 22nd we will be taking our annual winter break to recharge our batteries and tackle many new projects in the new year full of energy! From January 4th, 2024, we will be back in person for you. Please note that from now until January 4th, 2023, there will be no support from the Slanted Shop (subscriptions included) and shipping will take a little longer than usual. In the meantime, we will be happy to take your orders—and this is especially worthwhile, because we need more space in our warehouse and offer selected magazines and special editions starting at €5.– until 01/03/2024 (online only, as long as stock lasts). First come, first served 😉

This year was not easy for us, like many other publishers, we had to face some obstacles and challenges, but we are very proud to have overcome them successfully. We are deeply saddened that some beloved print magazines, such as form, étapes, etc., could not overcome these hurdles and had to cease their production—R.I.P.

At the same time, we are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from our community. Everyone can contribute to ensuring that independent publishing and the production of unique print products continue to thrive: buy from local retailers, shop in our online store, and keep in mind that you are supporting an entire industry with your choices. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers, media partners, supporters, cooperation partners, friends, editorial staff, and all contributors who make Slanted in all its facets possible.

A big thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

We are very grateful for all the wonderful book and magazine releases, many of which have already won awards, and some have been reprinted or are currently out of stock. We have once again attended many book fairs and design conferences and look forward to engaging in personal conversations with our readers. As we scroll through our social media channels, it makes us very happy to see how you, our readers and community, celebrate our work and become a part of it yourselves. That’s why we’ve collected some impressions of the past year here—these make us always smile!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Your Slanted Team

Photos: © Instagram + © Slanted Publishers

Makers Bible Crafting Cuisine

Posted on by Melville Brand Design

Makers Bible Crafting Cuisine is for those who love to spend time in the kitchen, cook with hand and heart, try new things and celebrate a consciously prepared meal in good company. This time it is for those who passionately cook and appreciate using the best handmade tools and ingredients. This book shows on 352 pages over 130 makers and crafters.

Five chapters guide the reader from the field and garden to the kitchen, where things get cut and heated; the pantry is opened on all things storable. Stock up the bar cabinet and finally serve and celebrate food consciously prepared, whether it’ll be simply toasted sandwiches or a five-course dinner.

Foodies, connaisseurs, and gourmands—admittingly this book is not for beginners. It is rather a book for hobby chefs and hosts who like to get to the next level. And to the source: All relevant makers and crafters are accompanied by QR codes that lead the reader directly to the source, the makers’ online presence.

Curated, designed and published by Melville Brand Design.

Makers Bible Crafting Cuisine

Design and Publishing: Melville Brand Design
Format: 16 × 24 cm
Volume: 352 pages
Language: English
Paper: IGEPA Salzer Touch
ISBN: 978-3-948440-67-1
Price: € 42.– (DE)

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