ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) has decided to extend the deadline for submisions for this year's annual conference. ATypI 2010 – The Word will take place from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September in Dublin Castle, and is hosted by the Dublin Institute of Technology. To accompany the conference, a series of workshops will run on September 8th and 9th in The School of Art, Design and Printing at DIT. From the Book of Kells to Samuel Beckett and beyond, the word has always been at the centre of Irish political, cultural and social life. Dublin is therefore the ideal place for a gathering of those who are closely involved with the visual and material form of words. Thus from the cultural heart of a literary city the theme for ATypI 2010 – The Word – has offered itself up.

Dublin Castle. Photo by Donaldytong

Ireland has a significant and far-reaching typographic heritage. As the tides of Roman civilisation began to recede – language, literacy and learning remained alive on this island – stationed at the edge of the world. From these shores voyages were made that journeyed out into the darkness, carrying a cargo of books and writing that would illuminate the ages. However, Ireland is not alone in having contributed to the evolution of lettering and calligraphy. Any attempt to broaden our understanding of typography must draw upon traditions and practices from around the globe. Therefore, on the occasion of ATypI 2010, Ireland now invites return journeys.

Presentation at Typ09 Mexico. Photo by Paco Calles

Proposals

Those of us who engage with letters for a living are uniquely placed to examine the political, cultural, historical, and social significance of words in all their forms. We en-courage submissions that consider typography, in as broad a context as possible, as part of the material fabric of everyday life. You are invited to explore the word in its various dimensions including typographic, literary, historical, political, technological and aesthetic. ATypI 2010 welcomes investigations into the materiality of the word in any of its forms: aural, oral, digital, concrete, architectural, environmental, printed, and written.

John Downer gives Eben Sorkin a few pieces of advice. Dalton Maag's Fabio Haag, Erik Spiekermann, and Georg Seifert look on. Photo by FontFont

Audience

Conference attendees will represent the craft, business, educational and technological spheres of type and typography. They will include type designers, graphic designers, project managers and software engineers from leading software companies and font foundries, web designers, information designers, researchers, historians, educators, writers, publishers, lettering artists, students, and typography enthusiasts from around the world.

During the ATypI 2009 dinner dance party at Salón Los Angeles; Centro Histórico, Mexico City. Photo by Nick Sherman

Submissions

A submission must contain a title and an abstract of the proposed presentation (400 words maximum), and a speaker's biography (100 words maximum). Presentations may be of 20 or 40 minutes duration. Duration of paper should be specified in the proposal. To submit a proposal, please download and fill out the form posted here: ATypI 2010 call for papers.

Programme Committee

All abstracts will be read by a selection panel made up of ATypI board members and members of the local preparatory committee. Programme committee may suggest amendments to papers or presentations.

Submission date

Submissions due 16th April, 2010