Speakers: José Scaglione/Azza Alameddine/Emma Conway/Archie Heaslip/Dee Maher Ring

Chair: Max Phillips

Typography Ireland (in conjunction with type foundry TypeTogether) is holding an afternoon of talks, chaired by Max Phillips (of Signal Type Foundry) to mark the publication of TypeTogether’s new book, Building Ligatures at TU Dublin's East Quad. This will be followed by Type Club in the Belfry pub (at 37 Stoneybatter) from 17.30, where the book launch will take place.

Type Together: Building Ligatures–The Power of Type

2–5pm

Programme schedule (subject to change):

2pm: Azza Alameddine: Designing Bree Arabic (Type Together)

Bree is a Latin display typeface influenced by handwriting. It was designed by TypeTogether in 2008 and intended mainly for branding, packaging and headline usage. In 2019, the foundry decided to expand it to other scripts, including Arabic, Greek and Cyrillic. Azza will talk about the process of designing Bree Arabic, its concept, challenges and technical development.

3pm: New directions in research on typography and lettering in Ireland:

Emma Conway: Letters from the Library (National Library of Ireland)

Since joining the National Library of Ireland as in house designer, Emma has come across some intriguing examples of typography within the archives. Some of the type is Irish, some of it passed through Ireland, some was printed in Ireland and other examples show the penmanship of Irish writers and poets. In her talk she will show a snapshot of these pieces and examine links and threads between the work that she finds.

Archie Heaslip: Process & Progress (CI studio )

Archie will be presenting a selection of typefaces he has created since he started practising type design in 2019. Some are hard to read, some aren't done yet (and some look like they've been drawn by a child). Each typeface has its own source of inspiration—from board games to manhole covers—therefore, each comes with its own unique set of considerations and outcomes.

Dee Maher Ring: Signs of the time

@Signwriteire was established by Dee Maher Ring in September 2021, following the conclusion of the Creative Ireland/Kilkenny County Council funded project, "Kilkenny Traditional Shopfront Signage Project". This survey trialled a methodology for cataloguing the vernacular fascia signs of Kilkenny City. The Instagram account arose from a desire to network, provide a platform for discussion, create public awareness and disseminate research findings. Dee will talk about last year’s Creative Ireland project, how it has inspired the upcoming PhD research and the current Creative Ireland funded School’s project she’s working on, “Towards a methodology for documenting Ireland's visual graphic heritage of vernacular shopfront lettering: A case study of Kilkenny Signwriting”. The project aims to create a repository of vernacular signage and promote traditional signage methods on Ireland’s traditional shopfronts, ultimately, creating value around this long-overlooked element of our cultural heritage. May include the unexpected development of a Bubbly Cló!

4.20: José Scaglione: Building ligatures: the power of type (TypeTogether)

On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the independent type foundry TypeTogether has published a book entitled Building Ligatures: The Power of Type. It presents a cross section of knowledge, experience, and best practice in type design, typography, and graphic design. Moreover, it provides a sound framework to discuss the role of the modern type foundry, the challenges faced by independent companies, and the possibilities that open up for collaboration in the fields of education and new media.

5.30 pm: Type Club/Book launch:

Belfry, 37 Stoneybatter, D07 X029

Biographies:

Azza Alameddine has been working as a graphic & type designer in the UK and Spain. She holds a BA in visual communication and a Masters in typeface design. She’s interested in typefaces from a cultural point of view and in the feelings they convey to people. Her goal is to bring more awareness to graphic and type designers in the Middle East about the added value of good typography in visual communication. Azza specializes in Arabic branding and tries through her work to preserve the identity of the Arabic script and culture.

Emma Conway has over 10 years’ experience in the design industry and has worked in agencies in both Dublin and Rotterdam. Prior to joining The National Library of Ireland where she is the first in-house graphic designer, she worked at Image Now, Dept (Rotterdam) and Language where she was lead designer on various projects which included clients such as Temple Bar Gallery, The Yes Campaign and Trinity College Dublin. Emma’s areas of speciality lie within branding, typography, archiving and digital applications. She has also been recognised for her independent projects for the music and arts scene in Dublin and has been featured in Totally Dublin and District Magazine.

Archie Heaslip is a graphic and type designer from Dublin, Ireland. He graduated with a degree in Visual Communication Design from IADT, Dún Laoghaire in 2015. He now works as a graphic designer at CI Studio and as a freelance type designer creating typefaces released by Signal Type Foundry.

Dee Maher Ring has always loved lettering. Inspired by her painter/decorator/signwriting father, she began designing hand-rendered lettering, logos and promotional material in her teens. She went on to receive a BA in Visual Communications, a HDip in Arts and an MDes in Interdisciplinary Design from Edinburgh Napier University. She has previously worked as a graphic design lecturer in Scotland. Her current research interest lies in the intersection between design, craft and heritage. This September she will embark upon a PhD with TU Dublin entitled, "Towards a methodology for documenting Ireland's visual graphic heritage of vernacular shopfront lettering: A case study of Kilkenny Signwriting”.

José Scaglione is an Argentinian typeface designer, lecturer and writer specialising in typography. He co-founded the award-winning type foundry TypeTogether.

Max Phillips (New York-born, Dublin-based) is the proprietor of the Signal Type Foundry & Drawing Office, which specialises in type design, lettering, and branding. A former novelist and toy designer, he now makes useful, attractive things for clients like Bewley’s, CBS, Christie’s, Citi, FAO Schwarz, and Trinity College Dublin, and collaborates with studios and agencies in Ireland and abroad.