AUK Announces its Academic Partnership with TypeCal Symposium Kuwait
20th Feb 2019 | by the Department of PR & Marketing
As part of its efforts to support art and design initiatives that enrich the cultural scene in Kuwait, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) has announced its sponsorship of the Typography/Calligraphy Symposium, "Intersection/Taqatua” (TypeCal) Kuwait, which will be held for the first time in Kuwait to create a regional platform that will become a springboard for emerging designers as well as established professionals with the support of the pioneers in their realm of creative industries.
The 4-day symposium will be held at Al-Yarmouk Cultural Center of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (DAI) from March 7th to the 10th, and will include talks, panel discussions, cultural activities, as well as technical and experimental workshops led by nationally and internationally renowned typographers, calligraphers, and scholars.
AUK President, Dr. Rawda Awwad expressed the significance of typography in our developing culture, “Typography and calligraphy underwrite our traditions. To this day, they have served as one of the primary means by which we lend expression to our beliefs that overlap with our notions of art and beauty. AUK welcomes the opportunity to engage our community in a conversation on and about an important aspect of our culture and its production—its past, present and future.
Additionally, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at AUK and Organizing Chair of the Symposium, Professor Maryam Hosseinia elaborates on the growing interest in design and calligraphy as a creative outlet in Kuwait, "Our vision behind the TypeCal Symposium is to create a platform for independent designers, students, creative agencies, and the community at large. Our platform aims to exchange and connect creative ideas around type and lettering for both Arabic and Latin script. Awareness of art and design and a growing interest in type and calligraphy is at its peak in Kuwait."
About TypeCal
Established in 2017, TypeCal is a cultural platform that aims to address a growing interest and appreciation for art and design, which Kuwait has been witnessing in the past few years. With specific emphasis on typography and usage of variations of letterforms, TypeCal aims to bring in scholars and designers who shape and talk about this field of specialization and innovation, which will add a tangible value to the future of TypeCal and the community at large.
TypeCal Symposium Poster