Seven of Australia’s best typographers, type designers, calligraphers and logo designers will come together on the Gold Coast this April to talk about their work at a creative conference to focus purely on the craft of typography.
Typismis the brainchild ofartist, author, speaker and educatorDominique Falla — who also heads up the Bachelor of Digital Media at the Queensland College of Art and recently completed a Doctorate herself inTactile Typography.
According to Dominique, it’s an event to celebrate and discuss the art and technique of making written language readable and beautiful.
“Typography is everywhere and part of so much around us yet itisn’tuntil we start to look closely that we recognise it for its true value,” she says.
The self-confessed “type snob” says it was being left handed that made her first consider the art form.
“Writing my own name as a small child was a little more laborious than for most!” she explains.
“As a lefty with nine letters in my name, I had to give it a lot of attention and thought as to how I could best write it.
“This focus has continued throughout my design practice over the last 20 years, and I’ll admit that it was a passion which slowly crept into an obsession!”
“Now as an educator, I see so many students coming through in a digital age and they need to understand the importance of typography, so it plays significant part of my teaching practice.”
“It is important to explore ways in which the digital world can inhabit the real one using typography,” she says.
It’s a skill that she says is in hot demand, with typographers called upon for advertising, packaging and branding.
Dominique herself continues to produce tactile typography works for commission,with Google and Woolworths just some of the big names that have called on her expertise for large-scale installations.
“Typefaces have personalities — so success is down to choosing the appropriate one for the environment you’re in.
“But in the end so much comes down to the individual designer, as it’s not the typeface you use but how you use it!” she says.
Typismwill feature leading expertsJamie Clarke(UK);Jess Cruickshank(Sydney);Luke Lucas,Carla HackettandBarry Spencer(Melbourne);Jasmine Dowling(Brisbane); andDave Foster(Sydney).
Tuesday 14 April @Event Cinemas, Robina, Gold Coast
