Type Journeys

Three designers share their stories and the lessons they've learned through the stages of their type journeys.

Presentations

What went into the machine and what came out, presented by Tanguy Vanlaeys
Type designer Tanguy will share the story behind his typeface Milling (published by 205TF).
In this talk, Tanguy will explain how the concept of toolpaths became central to his type design process following his discovery of FabLabs, CNC, and single-line fonts.

Tanguy is a type designer and font engineer based in Lyon, France. His work explores equilibriums between stroke and surface. He is designing retail typefaces and helps designers to develop high-quality custom typefaces. He is a graduate of the Atelier national de recherche typographique (ANRT) in Nancy and TypeMedia in The Hague. Since 2021 he has worked as a part of 205TF.

Preserving heritage through type design, presented by Taurai Valerie Mtake
In this talk, Taurai shares her journey into type design as a powerful act of cultural preservation. She explores how indigenous Afrikan symbols, scripts and storytelling traditions can be thoughtfully reimagined within modern type and visual design. Drawing from projects such as Madimi One, Taurai reveals how her personal frustration with the lack of typefaces resonating with her cultural identity inspired her to create her own. She will unpack the process of transforming these cultural elements into functional, contemporary letterforms that honour their origins. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the delicate balance between authenticity and adaptation, the critical role typography plays in sustaining linguistic diversity and the exciting possibilities of decolonial design within a global creative landscape.

Taurai is a multi-award-winning graphic designer and type designer from Harare, Zimbabwe, now based in Sweden. Her work sits at the intersection of cultural preservation, typography, brand strategy and identity, blending Afrikan visual heritage with contemporary design.Taurai holds a Master’s degree in Visual Communication from Konstfack University of Arts Crafts and Design. She has collaborated with internationally recognised brands including Google Fonts. Her acclaimed Madimi ongoing project featuring the Madimi One typeface draws inspiration from Nguni symbols and Afrikan storytelling traditions and games. Through her work Taurai actively redefines how indigenous knowledge systems can be preserved, adapted and revitalised within modern design landscapes.