Report from Typecon: gather at all costs

I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Portland attending TypeCon 2025, the type conference that this year turned 25, where I presented my talk on historic research and databases.

Again at Revolution Hall, the perfect venue: a cool theatre with nice acoustics and comfortable chairs, a cafe/bar, outdoor tables to sit and chat during breaks, and multiple food options at walking distance. Add to that a mix of type people from different parts of the world that show interesting work and enjoy geeking out together. And warm summer nights. Just perfect.

The SOTA team once again was the most welcoming and put together a very diverse set of speakers. The format is great: a very civilized start at 12pm for the keynote speaker (though that means no proper lunch, which my Italian genes really struggle with), Q&A every three speakers, 20 min talks (you don’t need more that that), all done by 5:30. Dan Rhatigan and Kyle Letendre (who designed the killer identity for the 2024 edition) were the MC and with grace and competence introduced all the guests and had questions for everyone.

This year identity was designed by James Plattner. Once again the digital team did a fantastic job documenting the conference, including great portraits by Henrique Nardi. Follow them on Mastodon (that’s where the type community mostly hangs out) or IG and check that out.

My personal highlights, though it’s hard to chose:

Keynote address: Cyla Costa (she is so effing talented and energetic and fun)
Keynote address: Kate Bingaman-Burt (she gave away stickers, positive energy, and a guide full of resources on how to make zines)
Designing the New Typeface for Slovak Car License Plates by Michal Tornyai & Simona Császárová. The project was developed at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava (Please don’t call them Czechoslovakian, that country stopped existing in 1993)
A Solid Foundation for Cherokee Type by Chris Skillern/Tulsey Type (because Cherokee and other languages need great typefaces, for text AND display!). Also a big shout out to Typoteque that is pushing support for all North American indigenous languages.
Nastaʿlīq: The Art of Identity in Iranian Calligraphy by Kourosh Beigpour.
Why is TypeCon in Portland Again? So You Can Hear This Story. Lloyd Reynolds, Reed College, and the Calligraphic Renaissance in Portland Oregon by Gregory MacNaughton (on the importance of acquiring skills AND teaching them. Full story here).
You’re Losing Your Soul by AJ Mercer (From old school sign painting to contemporary brands)

As a Seattleite every time I visit Portland I get envious: how come they are cooler, more interesting, AND have better food? The local type/graphic community showed up, which made the event even better. Volumes Design Library was there: the new project in Portland from Michael Ellsworth from the studio Civilization will open a brick and mortar location in September, just above Chess Club (great magazine shop, a must for every Portland visit). On Thursday night FutureFonts sponsored a gathering at Outlet PDX, the risograph and press studio of Kate Bingaman-Burt and Leland Vaughan. I got a yellow t-shirt printed on the spot by Dan, who spent the entire evening printing custom words on t-shirts for everyone. I hope those of you that got one Venmoed them a contribution!

Quoting nicole killian from their talk at Typographics 2025: “gather at all costs”. It’s so important to be present with our bodies, being in person, share a space together, connect, discuss, chat, laugh, drink, complain, eat. There is so many of us, and it was great to be reminded that once again at beloved Typecon. Hope to see you all next year, it’s a truly great conference (and remember if you pay full price, you can bring a friend for 25$. No excuses).