Tomar la palabra [1]

Nota: Este artículo es parte de una compilación de textos realizada por Mariana Pittaluga en el libro «Visiones sobre el rol social del diseño», Buenos Aires, Argentina, Octubre 2020. Wolkowicz Editores. En esta versión digital se han modificado y agregado imágenes mas el contenido es el mismo.
 
La invitación a participar en este libro me transportó al momento en el que oí por primera vez hablar sobre la dimensión social del diseño; me refiero a la ponencia de Gérard Paris Clavel en la conferencia organizada por la revista Tipográfica en 1996. El caballero se paró en el escenario y sin dar muchas vueltas dijo alto y claro: «el diseño cobra sentido realmente si persigue un objetivo social», y continuó:
…frente al poder mundial de los medios masivos de comunicación podemos proponer un medio «internacional de la proximidad». Compartir en todo el mundo las singularidades locales, nuestras propias referencias culturales, en lugar de dar paso a una «sopa mundializada» servida por las autopistas de la comunicación mercantil. [2]
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Alphabettes Variety Show: Today!

In the Before Times, back when we used to ✌️travel to conferences✌️ and ✌️sit in darkened and aggressively air-conditioned auditoriums✌️, The Alphabettes Variety Show could be found drumming up trouble in the basement of 41 Cooper Square, New York, NY. With the TypeLab at Typographics in its second year as a free, online, 72-hour smorgasbord of talks, workshops, and presentations, it’s time for Alphabettes to emerge from its shell.

Alphabettes lettering illustrated as cicadas

The Alphabettes Variety Show buzzes back to life with live chatter, brooding guests, and some noisy fun TODAY, June 18, 16:00–17:00 ET (the TypeLab site will magically tell you the correct time wherever you are). Tune in via the TypeLab Americas YouTube Livestream or get loud with us and register for TypeLab to join the Zoom call.

Cicadalphabettes illustration by the buzzworthy Laura Serra. Typeface family is Faune by Alice Savoie / Cnap.

Workspacing, part 1

An inspiring workspace isn’t easy to create. And yet, after we get our act together and design a space that is right for us, we know that our work will be better. We will be more motivated, our mind will be clearer. This workspace will allow new ideas to flow and focus time to be cultivated.

When thinking of a type designer’s desk, we may have a few images in mind: the messy, crazy-artist desk with ink all over and paper flying around. But at the same time, we may imagine the ultra-organised designer where every file is cataloged in a neatly labeled folder, a huge monitor and the newest tech gadgets.

Out of pure curiosity and an unmet wish to be a fly on some Alphabette’s walls, I’ve set out to explore some of our workspaces.

Feel free to reach out to any of them, ask questions and share what you thought.

Let’s begin!
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