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Arts & Communication Contemporary Greek typeface design

visual profile. This specific trend is observed globally and typeface. The skills of the designer, their education, and
particularly by companies with the capability to invest training are the values that determine the outcome.
in such differentiation. In the limited Greek market, it is Apart from branding, various trends in type design
difficult for companies to bear the high cost of acquiring an have been recognized. Regarding design styles, typefaces
exclusive typeface, and they usually resort to commercial are influenced by and influence the fashion of the era.
solutions. Nevertheless, designers emphasize the need for Today, minimalist forms, geometrically balanced typefaces
collaboration with the client when designing personalized of the grotesque style based on modernist principles,
solutions. Roles are distinct and complementary, and experimental forms, and brutalist models seem to prevail,
information should be shared. The client knows the focusing on impressiveness through individual characters
requirements and should communicate their opinions to rather than the harmony of the whole. However, as in
the designer, trusting in their expertise. Consequently, the any field including type design, trends are ephemeral. It
designer, should understand the requirements and find is preferable for typefaces to achieve a balance between
solutions while also educating the client.
contemporary esthetics and timelessness to withstand the
Overall, the findings in this section reveal that the test of time. Beyond design characteristics, there is a trend
success of a typeface is multifaceted, with parameters today toward global typography, aiming at the development
including widespread use, timelessness, sales figures, and of typefaces that support multiple writing systems other
recognition by the design community. Factors contributing than Latin, emphasizing the promotion of local culture and
to success encompass current trends, effective marketing, the production of large families supporting various weights
and appeal to a broad audience. Design-related elements and styles. With the spreading usage of mobile devices, there
such as consistent quality, functionality, originality, and is pressure for the standardization of typefaces to perform
readability also play significant roles. In addition, typefaces well on small screens and to be more condensed to fit more
supporting multiple scripts and styles are favored in words on the screen. In terms of the professional field of
today’s market. Typography holds a pivotal role in visual design, there is a trend toward more communication among
communication, particularly in corporate identity where designers, easier access to knowledge, more accessible and
it can differentiate and confer a competitive advantage. user-friendly design software, and the production and use
There is a growing global interest in custom typefaces, but of open-source software that allows customizing a typeface
in the Greek market, companies often opt for commercial as desired. At a technological level, the trend is variable
solutions because of cost constraints. However, designers fonts, which create a new design framework, thereby
stress the importance of collaboration with clients to create expanding the design space and offering new possibilities
personalized typeface solutions, emphasizing the need for for adapting typefaces to the specific requirements of
mutual understanding and effective information sharing digital applications and tools. With the further spread of
between both parties. virtual and augmented reality, more demand is expected
for the processing and display of typographic elements in
5.4. New technologies and modern trends in virtual digital environments.
typeface design
The interest in type design is certainly expected to
Modern designers have a plethora of tools at their increase, along with the formation of a more accessible field
disposal to design quality typefaces quickly and effectively. with more opportunities for communication, education,
However, hand-drawn design remains an essential process and research on a global scale. However, many designers
according to most designers interviewed. Whether all or fear that there is a serious risk of alteration of the Greek
some characters are hand-drawn or whether the actual script or even the disappearance of alphabets, with a return
handwriting is captured on paper, the role of hand-drawn to hieroglyphic scripts or purely oral cultures utilizing the
design remains crucial; however, it is usually limited to
the early stages of the design process, where the design capabilities of technology for knowledge transmission
parameters are explored and any problems are addressed. through speech rather than written language.
Digital design takes the lion’s share given that in recent At this point, it is pertinent to refer to education
years, relevant software has evolved significantly in terms and research in the field of typeface design. It has been
of capabilities and automation. By leveraging digital observed that most type designers, if not all, have been
technology, typefaces are produced faster, the complex trained abroad through postgraduate or other specialized
processes involved in design are simplified, and tools are study programs, indicating the lack of academic education
provided for immediate and easy quality control. The in this specific field in Greece, and any efforts to study,
computer is a tool that facilitates the designer, but it does promote, and develop Greek typography rely either on
not guarantee the production of a quality and functional personal investment or private funding. The development

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 9 doi: 10.36922/ac.3133