Guide to the basics of typography
Katarzyna Sowa is a passionate graphic designer and typography enthusiast. As a teaching assistant at the Department of Graphic Design at SWPS University's Faculty of Law and Communication in Wrocław, she imparts her knowledge and expertise in the areas of the history of typography, typesetting principles, and book and type design.
Her book, The ABC of Typography, offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of typography. Through easy-to-understand language, lively anecdotes, and masterfully crafted illustrations, Sowa provides readers with a starting point to grasp the basics of typography and engage in an exciting conversation with its tradition. Additionally, she includes an in-depth description of the creative process behind the book's graphic design. She reveales her motivations, shares the reasoning behind the essential design decisions, and describes the consequences these decisions have for the reader.
The ABC of Typography book
The ABC of Typography book
The ABC of Typography book
The book was honored by the Polish Association of Book Publishers (PTWK), winning in the Textbooks, Educational and Training Materials category of the highly regarded competition "Most Beautiful Polish Books of the Year 2021".
The ABC of Typography, along with other award-winning and noteworthy titles from the 62nd PTWK competition, is currently showcased by Taiwan Design Museum.
"The Most Beautiful Polish Books" in Taiwan
Until March 19, the "The Most Beautiful Polish Books" exhibition is being held at the Not Just Library in the Taiwan Design Museum in Taipei. The event has been organized by the Taiwan Design Research Institute in collaboration with the PTWK and with the support of the Polish Office in Taipei. It is curated by Sasson Kung, an expert in European graphic design, and Jessie Chen, publisher of Circle graphic magazine.
"The Most Beautiful Polish Books" exhibition, photo by PTWK and Taiwan Design Research Institute
The impressive book collection on display is not only "the most beautiful of 2021" but is also the richest to have come to the Library from a single country in recent years. It features a complete set of 43 award-winning and notable titles from the PTWK competition, as well as works by designer Ryszard Bienert, four of which were honored in the "The Best Book Design from all over the World" competition. The 60 volumes showcase the diversity and excellence in editing, visual, and graphic arts in contemporary Polish publishing across subjects such as history, arts, music, theater, movies, and social issues.
Jessie Chen and Sasson Kung
curators of the exhibition
"The Most Beautiful Polish Books" exhibition, photo by PTWK and Taiwan Design Research Institute
The exhibition also features a section dedicated to the "Most Beautiful Book Covers by Stanislaw Lem" contest, organized by the Polish Association of Book Publishers and the Warsaw University Library, to celebrate the 100th birthday of the renowned Polish science-fiction writer.
The Taiwan Design Museum has a history of showcasing international book exhibitions, with previous displays highlighting the beauty of books from countries such as Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Taiwan celebrates Polish culture during Taipei International Book Exhibition
Currently, East Asia has the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Polish culture. For the first time in history, Poland is the Guest of Honor at the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE), which takes place from January 30 to February 5 and is one of the most significant book events in the region. TIBE is expected to attract numerous visitors, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse display of Polish culture, history, and achievements.
In addition to showcasing new books, the fair will feature an exhibition focused on Polish children's illustration, providing a comprehensive overview of the country's contributions to the literary world. The last edition of TIBE in 2019 saw over 700 exhibitors from 52 countries, making it a must-attend event for book lovers and culture enthusiasts alike.