Slanted Publishers

24/01/2025

24/01/2025

Join us for the release party of Experimental Type 3.0 and the exhibition of works from the course “Experimental Type” by Prof. Lars Harmsen and Andreas Ruhe at FH Dortmund!

In this course, students from FH Dortmund developed projects that incorporated chance into the design process, works based on mistakes and imperfections, and typefaces emerging from concepts or systems—ultimately exploring experimental or unconventional approaches to design. A major outcome of this work became a significant part of the latest issue of Experimental Type 3.0, for which a team of students also collaborated on the editorial design.

The third edition, developed in collaboration with students from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts under the direction of Prof. Lars Harmsen and Andreas Ruhe, introduces entirely new content, pushing the boundaries of creative experimentation. When borders are drawn arbitrarily, they often disregard geographical, ethnic, or historical realities, sparking tension and conflict. While these themes might seem distant from typography, applying such reflections to design offers intriguing challenges. Designers often grapple with their role in a consumer-driven system, questioning the purpose of their work. Yet, they hold the power to choose projects, cross boundaries, and explore uncharted paths.

This project delves into design strategies that embrace accidents, imprecision, and unconventional methods, showcasing fonts born from unique concepts or systems. From AI-generated typefaces to variable fonts, Experimental Type 3.0 challenges norms and redefines the design process. It’s an invitation to venture into uncharted territory, shift perspectives, and question the lines we draw—both in design and beyond.

The results will be showcased in poster format on February 5th at ANNELISE in Dortmund, accompanied by drinks and music. You’ll also get a first look at the new Experimental Type 3.0—don’t miss it!

Experimental Type 3.0 Release Party

Where?
ANNELISE — Raum für Bücher und Bilder
Gneisenaustraße 30, 44137 Dortmund

When?
February 5th, 2025, 5pm

Join us for the Experimental Type 3.0 release party and exhibition of works from Prof. Lars Harmsen and Andreas Ruhe’s course at FH Dortmund!

24/01/2025

Join us for the release party of Experimental Type 3.0 and the exhibition of works from the course “Experimental Type” by Prof. Lars Harmsen (.harmsen) and Andreas Ruhe () at FH Dortmund! 🪩🔠✨

In this course, students from FH Dortmund developed projects that incorporated chance into the design process, works based on mistakes and imperfections, and typefaces emerging from concepts or systems—ultimately exploring experimental or unconventional approaches to design. A major outcome of this work became a significant part of the latest issue of Experimental Type 3.0, for which a team of students also collaborated on the editorial design.

The third edition introduces entirely new content, pushing the boundaries of creative experimentation, delving into design strategies that embrace accidents, imprecision, and unconventional methods, showcasing fonts born from unique concepts or systems.

The results will be showcased in poster format on February 5th at ANNELISE in Dortmund, accompanied by drinks and music. You’ll also get a first look at the new Experimental Type 3.0—don’t miss it!

February 5th, 2025, 17:00CET
ANNELISE — Raum für Bücher und Bilder
Gneisenaustraße 30, 44137 Dortmund

Event poster and visuals by , .w.meyer und aka. . Sneak Peak Animation: .pruesener

23/01/2025

🔤 Molecular Typography Laboratory: Redefining Letters! ✨ Explore the groundbreaking fusion of Hebrew and Latin scripts in Kobi Franco's outstanding new book. 🧬📚 → https://mailchi.mp/slanted/molecular-typography-lab

23/01/2025

Molecular Typography Laboratory by Kobi Franco is a speculative research project that delves into experimental typography, exploring the intersection of function versus aesthetics and content versus form. This study is based on the premise that Latin and Hebrew letters possess a molecular structure, exploring how this concept can be applied to alphabets and languages. It is an interdisciplinary endeavor that bridges the gap between design, science, and language.

The research is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the concept of “molecular typography.” It involves a series of over 150 tests, each designed as a structured “game” where Franco defines the rules, sets the stage, and selects the participants. These tests have led to the identification of 11 key themes: foundations, language, gender, formula, weight, 3D, gravitation, generative research, color, word play, and the relationship between type and image.

The book features four illuminating essays that provide historical, cultural, and academic insights into typographic research and is accompanied by the website themtlab.com, offering additional animated and interactive content.

This is the first book to combine the similarities and components of Hebrew and Latin script based on years of research and experimentation!

CONTENT
— Inspiring visual representations of Latin and Hebrew letters.
— Methods and rules enabling a rhizomatic exploration of experimental typography.
— The project received the New York’s TDC awards.

ABOUT
Kobi Franco is a Tel Aviv based designer, researcher, curator, and the Head of the Master's in Design Program at Shenkar College in Tel Aviv. He owns a leading studio specializing in design for culture and art. His work has been exhibited in a variety of exhibitions in Israel and around the world. The book Molecular Typography Laboratory is the result of five years of research in experimental typography. The project has been showcased in several exhibitions and has received numerous awards, including Typographic Excellence from New York's Type Directors Club.

Molecular Typography Laboratory

Publisher: Slanted Publishers
Author, Editor, Concept: Kobi Franco
Design: Kobi Franco
Release: January 2025
Format: 21 × 27 cm
Volume: 224 pages
Language: English, Hebrew
Printing: Offset printing with spot colors, NINO Druck
Bookbinding: Open thread-stitching with black thread, dust jacket
Paper: Munken Print White 1.5 115 g/sm (Inside), 300 g/sm (cover)
ISBN: 978-3-948440-79-4
Price: € 42.–

Buy here: slanted.de/product/molecular-typography-laboratory

Molecular Typography Laboratory is a speculative research project by Tel Aviv based designer, researcher and curator Kobi Franco

23/01/2025

OUT NOW: Molecular Typography Laboratory by Kobi Franco 📚🔠🔬

Molecular Typography Laboratory by Kobi Franco () is a speculative research project that delves into experimental typography, exploring the intersection of function versus aesthetics and content versus form. This study is based on the premise that Latin and Hebrew letters possess a molecular structure, exploring how this concept can be applied to alphabets and languages. It is an interdisciplinary endeavor that bridges the gap between design, science, and language.

The research is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the concept of “molecular typography.” It involves a series of over 150 tests, each designed as a structured “game” where Franco defines the rules, sets the stage, and selects the participants. These tests have led to the identification of 11 key themes: foundations, language, gender, formula, weight, 3D, gravitation, generative research, color, word play, and the relationship between type and image.

The book features four illuminating essays that provide historical, cultural, and academic insights into typographic research and is accompanied by the website themtlab.com, offering additional animated and interactive content.

This is the first book to combine the similarities and components of Hebrew and Latin script based on years of research and experimentation!

CONTENT
— Inspiring visual representations of Latin and Hebrew letters.
— Methods and rules enabling a rhizomatic exploration of experimental typography.
— The project received the New York’s TDC awards.

Slanted Publishers (pub.), (author, editor, concept, design), January 2025, 21 × 27 cm, 224 pages, English, Hebrew, offset printing with spot colors by , open thread-stitching with black thread, dust jacket, ISBN: 978-3-948440-79-4, € 42.– (DE)

Buy here or tap link in bio: slanted.de/product/molecular-typography-laboratory

22/01/2025

Just a small selection of posters created by students of / Prof. Lars Harmsen / from last spring/summer 2024.

20/01/2025

The Anfachen Award IX addresses a critical fracture point in democratic societies: privilege. The unequal distribution of opportunities, power, and resources ignites debates, shapes political party platforms, and threatens social cohesion—particularly in free societies. The award invites engagement with personal and collective experiences of privilege and prompts reflection on its implications in everyday life, political decision-making, and the global context. The submission deadline for the competition is April 16, 2025.

As in previous editions, a high-profile jury will select 25 winning designs from the submissions. These large-format posters will be displayed in prominent streets and public spaces in Hamburg starting June 17, 2025. Additionally, plans are underway for a touring exhibition of the posters through partnerships with cooperating organizations. Once again, the patron of the award is Klaus Staeck, renowned in Germany for his political poster art.

The jury members for the Anfachen Award IX are Agnieszka Węglarska (Poland), Birgit Lohmeyer (Germany), Nestory Thobias Owano (Tanzania), Yoav Perry (Israel), Marlis Zimmermann (Netherlands/Switzerland), 2x Goldstein (Germany), Maren Amini (Germany), Stas Kolotov (Ukraine), Dan Thy Nguyen (Germany)

Anfachen Award IX

Designs from around the world can be submitted until April 16th, 2025.

Further information here: anfachenaward.de/en

The Anfachen Award IX addresses a critical fracture point in democratic societies: privilege. The submission deadline is April 16, 2025.

17/01/2025

The students and Faculty of Design and Art at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts warmly invite you to the 2024/25 Werkschau exhibition!
Around 40 graduates will proudly present their Bachelor’s and Master’s projects, showcasing creativity and innovation in Digital Media and Experiment, Photography and Visual Media, Communication Design, and Fashion.

Come celebrate with us, and gain insights into the exciting work of our graduates. We’d love you to join us!
Design: Ina Batrov, Paul Ring, Lea Walz

Werkschau Hochschule Bielefeld 2024/25

When?
Vernissage:
Friday, January 31st, 6 pm.

Exhibition:
Saturday, February 1st, 11 am – 6 pm.
Sunday, February 2nd, 11 am – 6 pm.

Where?
Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Faculty of Design and Art
Lampingstraße 3
33615 Bielefeld

Find more information here: hsbi.de/gestaltung/werkschauen/w24

The students and Faculty of Design and Art at Hochschule Bielefeld invite you to the 2024/25 Werkschau exhibition!

14/01/2025

The Forward Festival, the renowned annual gathering of the creative industry, will focus exclusively on Berlin and Vienna in 2025. After hosting four stops across Europe in previous years, the festival is honing in on these capitals with tailored programs and deeper integration into local creative scenes. Featuring over 80 speakers from fields such as AI, digital art, graphic design, and photography, the 2025 edition will unite global creatives at the HKW in Berlin and the Gartenbaukino in Vienna.

Having inspired over 45,000 visitors from 70 nations through 31 festivals in four countries, the event is set to reach new heights in 2025. This season will spotlight Berlin and Vienna through collaborations with local creative leaders, targeted integrations, and side events, emphasizing its networking spirit. The lineup will feature both international top speakers and local talents, creating a vibrant, dynamic experience.

Forward Festival distinguishes itself with a carefully curated program blending personal insights, art performances, innovative expo areas, and lively after-parties. It’s a celebration of inspiration, meaningful work, and boundary-crossing collaboration.

Key speakers at Forward Festival 2025 Berlin include Anthony Burrill on impactful design, Roel Wouters of Random Studio on interactive environments, Porto Rocha on brand storytelling, and Zeynep Orbay of Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam on crafting campaigns with deep connections. At Forward Festival 2025 Vienna, Kelly Anna will discuss creativity and self-expression, SNASK will delve into playfulness in advertising, Floriane Rousselot will address balancing intuition with strategy, and Public Possession will explore the intersection of sound, art, and community.

Forward Festival 2025

Where & When?
Forward Festival Berlin
Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
August 28th to 29th, 2025

Forward Festival Vienna
Gartenbaukino, Vienna
October 2nd to 3rd, 2025

© Images by Alex Heuvink and Nils Leon Brauer

Further Information here: forward-festival.com

The Forward Festival, the established annual gathering of the creative industry, will take place exclusively in Berlin and Vienna in 2025.

13/01/2025

🧶🌈 Did you know 1 in 12 rams are gay? Yes, you read that right! And while these fabulous creatures can’t help with breeding, and openly gay farmer Michael Stücke found a way to celebrate their uniqueness! 🐏💖

Introducing Rainbow Wool – the first gay textile fiber made from the wool of gay rams 🐑✨. Designed by , it’s not just fashion, it’s a statement for q***r rights! Proud, colorful, and full of love. 🌈💪

Want to know how this fabulous project came to life? Check out the full interview with Andy Wyeth from Serviceplan about how Rainbow Wool was born!
https://www.slanted.de/rainbow-wool-the-first-gay-textile-fiber-for-global-equality/ 🔥

***rdesign

12/01/2025

at .
Brilliant!

11/01/2025

Working on the upcoming Slanted issue showcasing publications from the Archive Artist Publications…with absolutely fantastic pieces of work. This one on my screens blew me away, from the publication „I Want a President“ (Zoe Leonard, Gato Negro Ediciones, 2017, 32 pages, 8.5 × 10.5 cm, Risograph printed).
The poem I Want a President was written by Zoe Leonard in 1992 and was inspired by the presidential candidacy of Eileen Myles, a poet and activist who ran as an “openly female” candidate in the U.S. presidential election. Myles ran as an independent against George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot, and their identity as a le***an woman created a stark contrast to the male, wealthy opponents. Myles came from a community directly affected by poverty and AIDS. The poem opens with the line “I want a d**e for president” and consists of a series of “I want...” statements in which Leonard describes the kinds of people she wishes to see as president. Originally, the poem was meant to be published in an LGBT magazine, but the publication ceased production. Instead, it was photocopied and distributed. Vice later described it as “a kind of pre-internet meme” – something shared, copied, and reinterpreted before most people had access to the internet.

02/01/2025

This year, which is coming to an end, has been eventful. I am especially proud of our project , which I have been running with since 2015. The exhibition at the was an absolute blast. The project has opened many doors for us. Our book has been published, and we’re planning a huge exhibition in Graz for 2025. Stay tuned – big news coming soon!

01/01/2025

What is your motto for 2025? What will you collect?
I want to collect experiences. Do a lot of screen printing. Organize exhibitions. Collaborate with amazing people. Be grateful.

31/12/2024

Thankfull for this incredible year.

29/12/2024

Can you believe how Lorenzo does it? Well, it’s all cut out with scissors and glued together. I couldn’t believe it myself when he showed up with his work, and after much back and forth, we turned it into this amazing book.

Timewarp by – Graphic Artist, Illustrator, Designer & Artist from Milan, Italy 🇮🇹. Using handmade collages, Petrantoni transforms 19th-century engravings found in bookshops, libraries, markets, and fairs worldwide into stunning, one-of-a-kind creations. 🌍✂️