About Ligatures
The term "ligatures" refers to special characters in calligraphy and typography, where different forms come together to create a unique element. This symbolizes our aim to connect cultural, political, technological, and health challenges and opportunities through a design-based approach. By examining the design of various written forms, calligraphy, and typography across different cultures and technologies, we aim to reveal the rich fabric of human expression through language as an artistic or design process.
According to Johanna Drucker (2022), typography and visual language are tools that shape—and are shaped by—our communication. They allow us to capture and interpret various cultural and historical moments. Therefore, exploring letterforms and their evolution over time enables us to investigate and promote social changes by reflecting and shaping these through visual language.
Mission and Action Lines
The main mission of Ligatures is to promote and preserve cultural heritage. To achieve this, we aim to foster intergenerational and intercultural networks, celebrate diversity, encourage sustainable behaviors, and advocate for inclusion and peace through visual and discursive practices that reflect and engage with social and cultural realities.To fulfill this mission, our key lines of action include:
- Promoting cultural and heritage preservation: Inspired by Drucker, we see letterforms—both graphic and typographic—as cultural memory. Preserving them helps keep societal narratives alive.
- Promoting cultural and heritage preservation: Inspired by Drucker, we see letterforms—both graphic and typographic—as cultural memory. Preserving them helps keep societal narratives alive.
These action lines present Ligatures as an “expanded field” where visual and discursive practices intertwine to create meaning, reflecting and engaging with social and cultural realities.
Research Topics
Our research topics include:
- Historical Research: Exploring the history of Graphic Design, including known or influential designers and lesser-known figures, their communities, and legacies. Studying past techniques to understand their impact on contemporary creations.
- Technological Research: Investigating traditional tools and processes like writing, graffiti, calligraphy, wood and lead type, typewriters, and letterpress printing. Exploring how these can integrate into modern hybrid design approaches.
- Contemporary Digital Typeface Design: Analyzing the state of the art in digital font design, tools, aesthetics, and functionality. Extending Latin writing to multi-script systems, pushing the boundaries of contemporary typography.
Activity Plan
Main Initiatives and Expected Outcomes
Ligatures aims to:
- Organize conferences, workshops or master classes regularly throughout the year (see the events section)
- Organize an annual summer school. Ligatures' Summer School format may include keynote speakers, Workshops and/or Commnications. The format will vary accordingly to the SIG's activity plan. Feel free to contact us with proposals.
- Establish partnerships with national and international entities.
- Support members and students research and developement of academic and seed projects.
Members
The Ligatures Special Interest Group (SIG) is composed of a diverse team of academic and research professionals. Members include associate and assistant professors, as well as researchers from the i2ADS research unit at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto (FBAUP).
The team also features coordinator and adjunct professors from the ID+ research unit, representing partner institutions. In addition to this academic leadership, the SIG actively collaborates with bachelor’s and master’s students from the design programs at FBAUP, the Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (IPCA), and the School of Media Arts and Design (ESMAD).
See all member's details ⮑