Conceptual Type: Type Led by Ideas

Abstract

In the hopes of launching a non-dogmatic effort to discover the idea-type-machines of our time, a conference was held in Copenhagen in 2010, where designers and theorists convened to discuss the current status of type design with a point of departure in what was proposed on the invitation quoted above. The conference attracted more than 500 graphic designers, type designers and theorists from all over Europe and the large turnout and the huge interest in debating type inspired us to make use of the conference and the concept of ‘conceptual type’ as the basis of a combined book and special issue of Artifact. We call this combination a signature edition.