Inspire, Educate, Entertain | Newsletter
The last couple of months have been about meeting old friends, making new ones and learning about very talented people around the globe.
My conference season started in late March attending OFFF Fest after twelve years since my first time. I learned from many inspiring creatives including Marta Cerdà, Javier Jaén, Sarah Boris, Omse and Porto Rocha amongst many others.
In May, I had the opportunity of teaching a Copperplate calligraphy workshop at AtypI Paris. This experience was a blast, as I could spend four days with close friends of mine, including the one and only Lara Captan. One of my highlights from AtypI was the presentation by Underware. You can read more about their latest project on an interview by Gina Serret —part of the first annual edition of Now23 organised by TypeParis. Additionally, you can still purchase AtypI 2023 on-demand tickets here.
In June, I streamed The Design Conference Brisbane and I can only say that I felt THE ENERGY all the way from Barcelona!! Back in 2018, I was honoured to be among the line-up of speakers at TDC, and ever since then, I’ve been closely following the conference.
This year’s presentations were outstanding. Out of all of them, one that touched me personally was Jim Antonopoulos’ one.
Short after TDC Brisbane, Type Lab Asia, Europe and The Americas kicked off, followed by Typographics.
On June 13, I gave a demo/presentation part of the Type Lab Europe channel called “Script lettering overview: 9 principles to better understand, curate and design script alphabets”. The talk is currently not available due to tech challenges, but you can watch many others for free on Youtube.
I haven’t been able to catch up with Typographics yet, but I’ll include my highlights on my next letter.
Have you watched any talks/presentations/movies/series that have moved you in any way? Hit reply and share it with me, I would love to learn about them. My latest one this week is this 5-min speech by Tea Uglow and Beef on Netflix.
Below, you’ll find a brandmark designed in collaboration with Inaria Luxury Agency; the Latin wordmark of the brand new Arabic Type Foundry called Ama; my vector feather illustration in use and my first pre-recorded, self-paced course called “Pump Up Your Copperplate”.
On the last section of this newsletter, you’ll find the launch of “Counter Forms”, discounted on-demand tickets to watch the TDCBNE 2023 and a great lecture + research project called “Primarium”.
Supporting, sharing and contributing.
Much love, Maria xx
Sitara Luxury Hotel | Logotype
At one with the cosmos | Sitara Himalaya is a private sanctuary with just ten elegant guest rooms set amidst the grandeur, beauty and spirituality of the Himalayas.
Sitara Himalaya is guided by the Vedic concept that we are at one with the cosmos. This ancient wisdom, which reminds us that everything in the universe is connected and the same, is summarised in the Vedas as Tat Tvam Asi – You Are That.
Art Direction: Andrew Thomas
Agency: Inaria Luxury Brand
Client: Sitara Himalaya
Ama Foundry | Latin Partner Logotype
Recently, I collaborated with my dear friend and talented Arabic type designer Lara Captan crafting the Latin version of her brand new project called Ama Foundry.
This Arabic type foundry is dedicated to Lara Captan’s mother Amale as a homage to continuity and forward-thinking Arab women. It also honours the foundry’s core value of creating warm, inspiring, and long-lasting connections with people.
On Ama Foundry, Lara publishes Arabic fonts exclusively made in-house, provides custom Arabic type services, and shares knowledge for you to make authentic, powerful, and contemporary designs. Check it out here!
Feather x Sarah J. Maas | Illustration In Use
I’m really happy to finally see my vector feather illustration on the spine of #1 New York Times and international bestselling novel “A court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas.
Was even more exciting to see it IRL in Barcelona during La Diada de Sant Jordi (World Book Day 2023). Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Bloomsbury USA for reaching out and licensing my work!
Photograph by Jenni Parady.
Upcoming Calligraphy Courses
Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy (Level 1)
August 2, 9, 16, 23
Book Your Spot
Pump Up Your Copperplate Calligraphy
Refine, up-skill and fine tune your existing Copperplate calligraphy skills.
Pre-recorded, self-paced course | Life-time access
Learn More
Copperplate Variations (Level 2)
September 6, 13, 20, 27
October 4,
Book Your Spot
Introducing Counter Forms | A Platform for Emerging, Discursive, Antipodian Designers
Counter Forms is a platform that champions emerging, discursive, antipodean type designers. Driven by typographic research, education and advocacy, we publish original typefaces and texts towards a more accessible, diverse and equitable future.
Counter Forms was made on/across/between the stolen lands of many Sovereign people including on Wurundjeri and Whadjuk lands. We acknowledge and honour Ngati Whatua and Te Kawerau a Maki. We recognise that our practices are situated on unceded land and that colonisation continues today. We seek to wrestle, reckon and confront these ongoing injustices. Watch their TypeLab Asia Channel Day 3 (starts at 27 min) here.
The Design Conference Brisbane 2023
This year I live streamed The Design Conference Brisbane, and I can say that I felt the energy all the way from Barcelona! This year’s line up of speakers were remarkable, featuring some creatives I have been following and admiring for a long time including Kevin Finn, Liza Enebeis, Alistair McCready and Jim Antonopoulos. I have also discovered many new faces that brought tones of inspiration.
TDCBNE 2023 is offering discounted on-demand tickets to catch this year’s conference. It is an amazing value for money and I cannot recommend it enough.
The image above belongs to Jane Duru keynote presentation from R/GA (SYD) in 2022 which is now available for public viewing.
Primarium, a global view on handwriting education with Veronika Burian and José Scaglione
This event took place on June 12 as part of Type@Cooper’s Lubalin Lecture. The video archive is made possible with the generous support of TypeCulture.
In early 2022, researchers at independent type foundry TypeTogether began a groundbreaking research project to examine the state of Latin script-based handwriting education in primary schools in over 40 countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The end result will be to create a free, public resource for the typographic and educational communities. This presentation will provide a snapshot of our ongoing research, marking the beginning of our efforts to share our learning with a wide audience. Watch here.
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