21st-century type

Types for the New Century is being organised by the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and brings together new typefaces and typographic work from around the world – with UK designers including Jonathan Barnbrook and Jeremy Tankard.

The one-day exhibition is curated by Will Hill, a graphic design lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, who says, ‘The work in this exhibition marks a period in which the supremacy of the printed word has given way to a mix of complementary technologies.

‘Type design in the 21st century is no longer directed to the printed page alone, but increasingly concerned with the production of faces that will function effectively on screen.’

As well as digital-age designs, the exhibition will also feature typefaces for non-Latin scripts – such as Arabic types by Nadine Chahine – and typefaces based on calligraphy, lettercutting and other techniques.

Following its stint at Stationers’ Hall, the exhibition will then travel to venues across the UK and Europe.

Types for the New Century is at Stationers’ Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London EC4, on 14 May before travelling to venues in Birmingham, Bristol, Northumbria, Brighton and throughout Europe in 2012 and beyond.