Typographics 2025
On June 27 and June 28, 2025, The Great Hall was packed with graphic designers from around the world who gathered to learn about contemporary typography and where its future may lie as part of The Cooper Union's annual Typographics festival. Presented by Type@Cooper and the Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design and Typography, the event is now in its 11th year.
Here is a selection of photos from the main stage conference, just one aspect of the festival alongside workshops, the interactive TypeLab, and a book fair. All images by Henrique Nardi.
The 2025 Typographics curators (l to r): designer and author Jon Key; Barbara Glauber, The Cooper Union Frank Stanton Chair in Graphic Design; Ellen Lupton A’85, the Betty Cooker and William O. Steinmetz Design Chair at Maryland Institute College of Art; and Alexander Tochilovsky A’00, curator of The Cooper Union Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design & Typography and conference director.
Leo Porto and Gabriela Carnabuci start the conference with the presentation “Beyond the Logo: Type as Brand.”
Arsh Raziuddin discusses how design helps shape our perception of reality.
Yehwan Song’s talk explored how both typography—through letters, words, fonts, spacing, and visual structure—and gestures—through facial and bodily movements, interface cues, and screen animations—shape the flow of the viewer’s eye.
Curator Ellen Lupton A’85 speaks with presenters Sadie Red Wing and Elizabeth Goodspeed.
Interdisciplinary artist Jeffrey Gibson shares the use of his letterform alphabet, which he created in 2017.
Talia Cotton explores the tension between control and chaos in contemporary creative practice.
Elizabeth Goodspeed spoke to how engagement with archival typography can sharpen one’s practice.
Robyn Kanner’s talk served as a reminder that design—like nearly every discipline—is, at its core, about people.
Ellen Lupton A’85 introduces fellow curator Jon Key for his presentation “Black, Queer, and Untold.”
Pentagram partner Matt Willey speaks about his body of work, sharing what he learned about type, television, and narrative.
A rapt audience in the Great Hall.
