AIGA Maine Graphic Practices 04: Mark Jamra & Neil Patel

Join us for an evening with Mark Jamra and Neil Patel, partners at JamraPatel, a Portland studio focusing on type design for under-supported language communities.

Beyond Letters: How an African Typeface Project Became More Than Just Type Design

In 2014, we embarked on a project to create more options for typographic expression and increasing literacy with African scripts. Through the process of extensive research and community outreach, we discovered a host of historical, cultural and technical issues that demanded attention before we could get our typeface to the people. What started as a type design project evolved to include developing tools to help African language communities participate more fully on the internet.

This presentation will tell the story of our typeface Kigelia, a first-of-its-kind, 10-script, multi-style family, and show how research, outreach, and developing apps helped us to better understand the communities we were working for.

Graphic Practices is a Lecture Series from AIGA Maine that invites fresh design voices from across the country who are pushing the boundaries of traditional graphic design through their practice.

AIGA Maine is the Maine chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. It exists to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force.