This week the typographic world congregates in Los Angeles, as TypeCon2010: Babel takes over the City of the Angels. The Society of Typographic Aficionados presents its annual letterfest, featuring more than 70 of the brightest names in type and design, including: Akira Kobayashi, Doyald Young, Jill Bell, Teri Kahan, Andrew Byrom, Sean Adams, Richard Kegler, Kevin Larson, Jean François Porchez, Hank Richardson, Matthew Carter, John Downer, Gerald Lange, Chaz Bojorquez, Ricardo Martins, Johanna Drucker, Kris Sowersby, Denise Gonzales Crisp, Shelley Gruendler, Miguel Sousa, Adam Twardoch, Satya Rajpurohit, Adrian Wilson, Roger Black, and many more.

TypeCon2010 explores the hot button topic of web fonts; an eye-popping look at antique type and lettering of the textile trade; the typography and lettering of Disneyland, a documentary film on the life and work of beloved type designer/letterpress printer/book artist Jim Rimmer; an exploration of the potential for a graduate program in type design in the US, and much more.

Type that Moves (you) from Josel Cruz on Vimeo.

TypeCon2010 started on Tuesday with the special event What the Font is WOFF?, and yesterday AIGA/LA presented in partnership with the SOTA and TypeCon Type That Moves (You), an inspiring evening of motion design and titles from some of Hollywood's most talented designers. I posted the motion promo by Josel Cruz above; shame about the dreadfully letterspaced lowercase Myriad. Shagging sheep, anyone?

Tonight TypeCon2010 officially opens with Typekit, Adobe, and Font Bureau – including a cocktail reception and mingling in the land of web fonts. Roger Black will give his keynote presentation The Future of Type Design, which will be followed by a screening of Richard Kegler's documentary Making Faces: Metal Type in the 21st Century. The main conference programme kicks off on Friday, August 20.

You can follow conference news and feedback through the Typecon Twitter account, as well as the #typecon hash tag. Furthermore Si Daniels is providing coverage of TypeCon for those of us not there live. And the first pictures have started appearing in the TypeCon Flickr Group Pool.