AI (Artificial Intimacy) | Newsletter
This month’s newsletter is a celebration of a couple of things. The first one is that my partner and I are celebrating our sixteenth anniversary together.
The second one is that on July 19th, we are celebrating two years on the road by having an AGM (Annual General Meeting) to assess the situation, reflect on our nomadic journey, say thank you, and design what’s ahead of us.
These are the locations we have lived in since July 19th, 2022:
1 x month in Chiang Mai
2 x months in Sant Andreu, Barcelona
2 x months in Canet de Mar, Barcelona
4 x months in Sant Andreu, Barcelona
1 x month in La Vilella Baixa, Priorat
2 x months in Sants-Montjuïc, Barcelona
1 x month in Berlin
2 x months in Sants-Montjuïc, Barcelona
3 x months in Chiang Mai
2 x months in Hoi An
1 x month in Istanbul
1 x month in La Vilella Baixa, Priorat
2 x months in Sants-Montjuïc, Barcelona
We have already planned this month and the next one, but September is currently a work in progress.
Moving around constantly is fun, very tiring, and somehow addictive at the same time. Your routine can be all over the place, and I have had to become more agile and fluid—two things I’m notoriously not great at. Our drinking and eating habits have changed considerably depending on the location we are at, as well as our sleeping schedule.
We are currently in Barcelona enjoying summer and the festival season. The weather is much cooler than in previous years, which makes it a dream to be out and about.
Last month, I streamed The Design Conference and I cannot recommend it enough. In 2019, I had the great honour of being part of their speaker’s lineup, and since then, I support them by purchasing a streaming ticket, and getting inspired by the amazing, honest, and vulnerable talks by creatives from Australia, New Zealand, and around the world.
During this year’s conference, there were many moments centred around the AI topic, the importance of IRL human connections, and how technology is transforming our creative industry at a pace faster than what we are comfortable with.
To the landscape described above, I would like to add my two cents: Post-covid life seems to go faster than ever, and there is another AI topic that I am very interested in called “Artificial Intimacy,” coined by Belgian-American psychotherapist Esther Perel.
She summarises the rise of this new AI as the lonely feeling you experience while being with others and not being able to fully connect, because one or all of you are not really present. In her own words:
“Modern loneliness masks as hyper-connectivity.
I can have 1,000 virtual friends, but nobody to feed my cat, nobody to ask to go and pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, but 1,000 people who are giving me likes and dislikes, and all kinds of things that are now becoming the foundation of my self-esteem.
And that’s a different kind of loneliness. It’s not about being physically alone, it’s about being misunderstood, unseen, rejected, ostracized, all of that.”
In my opinion, much food for thought. You can listen to the full conversation here.
As Esther Perel also says, “the longevity of a relationship does not necessarily equal success.” In our personal case, it means celebration and joy!
Much love to all of you,
Maria xx
Below you’ll find a list of resources for your next/first visit to Barcelona; my very-late personal project on our former 15th anniversary; and my new pre-recorded, self-paced calligraphy courses.
On the third part of this newsletter, you’ll find a new type podcast by Sandra García; Alistar McCready in conversation with Australian Design Radio; and how Copperplate Scripts became synonymous with girliness by Claire Marie Healy.
E X T R A $
For those seeking a more emotive narrative of my last two months, you’ll find a personal video describing our nomadic life, plus a few extra links at the end of this letter.
Fifteen Anniversary
On July 4th, 2023, my partner and I celebrated our fifteenth anniversary together. In the past, I have created several pairs of decks, which I very much enjoy as it is one of the only tactile creative jobs I do during the year, with the exception of my calligraphy practice.
The concept for last year was ‘ants in my pants,’ as it represented how much traveling we were doing.
Purchasing a pair of decks and moving them around turned out to be challenging, so instead, I’m pairing the design with a couple of photographs.
During my 11 years living in Fitzroy, I had a couple of suitcases very similar to these ones, so I connected with this image strongly.
Thank you very much to everyone who has allowed us to live in their homes and make this journey possible. We are still pinching ourselves!
Quinze Anniversary
Something that has happened recently is that we look at small dogs and we melt. This is new to me as we have always been cat people.
Our cat Graham lived with us for 8 years and was an important part of our journey in Australia.So, for the past couple of years, we have started to look at cat-sized dogs and we lose it. Currently, at the top of my list are dachshunds.
We have seen dogs in many different parts of the world and have connected with some of them in a beautiful way. So, this Quinze/Fifteen anniversary design is about moving, suitcases, and our new love for cat-sized dogs.
Happy anniversary Mr Tickner, you are a precious gift in my life.
Barcelona x Graphic Designers
Barcelona for graphic designers is my incomplete and ever evolving list of resources for any creative visiting this city for the first time(s).
Every recommendation is only personal, and it comes with its neighbourhood location and a hyperlink to their website, Google map or Instagram account. Life post-Covid changes rapidly, so check every business updated info and opening hours before heading there. Enjoy!
Pre-recorded, self-paced calligraphy courses
Last month I launched all my 2024 courses as self-paced learning experiences. This means, you complete my calligraphy courses in your own schedule with your own agenda + now with unlimited access! Check them all out here.
— Intro to Copperplate (Level 1)
— Pump up your Copperplate (Level 2)
— Copperplate Variations (Level 3)
— Intro to Foundational Hand (Level 1)
— Intro to Italic Calligraphy (Level 1)
R. E. S. O. U. R. C. E. S.
Sandra García: TypoD.Cast | Primer Episodio
Sandra García is a type designer based in Mexico City, half of TipasType (who recently released Sandhouse), co-author of Elementype, prolific user of reaction emoji, and now, podcast host to the brand new TypoDcastMx. She answered a few questions about this new endeavor in Español and English here!
Alistar McCready at Australian Design Radio | TDC23
In this episode we hear from Alistair McCready, founder of Monolith, a typographic design practice based out of Auckland, New Zealand. Alistair speaks with co-host Frankie Young and Matt Leach about what type designers are like and the momentum you need when designing type. It’s a fascinating chat, covering everything from awards to embracing place and how ‘where you are’ feeds into the work.
How Copperplate Scripts became synonymous with girliness by Claire Marie Healy via Dinamo.
Guest post article by Claire Marie Healy via Dinamo’s newsletter. Thanks for your recommendation Lane!
For over ten years, I’m the author and editor of a bi-monthly email newsletter announcing calligraphy courses, community events, type related matter and other topics which often include creative mental health and fostering women in the industry. Subscribe here and join my journey!