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Arts & Communication Contemporary Greek typeface design

of the research sector within Greece requires establishing However, this work is not without limitations. The
an integrated system from the outset that encourages information collected for this study primarily relies on
and rewards research, incorporating experience, training the accounts, opinions, and experiences provided by
opportunities, and career pathways for young researchers. the participants during interviews. This method of data
The findings of this section highlight the dual collection may introduce biases or inaccuracies stemming
significance of hand-drawn and digital design processes from the perspectives of the participants, potentially
in typeface creation, with hand-drawn methods crucial affecting the generalizability of the findings. Furthermore,
in the initial stages and digital tools facilitating efficiency the study focused exclusively on 12 Greek typeface
and automation. Design trends lean toward minimalist designers. Future research could aim to include a larger
and experimental forms, thereby emphasizing a balance pool of Greek designers and encompass the international
between contemporary esthetics and timelessness. There typographic community. Specifically, the latter could
is a growing emphasis on global typography, supporting allow exploring the preferences of contemporary foreign
diverse writing systems and cultural identities. However, designers regarding Greek letterforms, thereby facilitating
concerns linger regarding the potential alteration or loss of a comparative analysis with those of Greek designers.
alphabets, exacerbated by the lack of academic education Acknowledgments
in typeface design within Greece. The outlook suggests
increased interest and accessibility in type design globally, We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Greek
but the necessity for integrated systems to promote research typeface designers who participated in this study.
and development within Greece remains paramount.
Funding
6. Conclusion None.
The 12 Greek typeface designers interviewed in this
study have made substantial contributions both Conflict of interest
domestically and internationally. Whether working for The authors declare they have no competing interests.
renowned type foundries or operating independently,
these designers have highlighted remarkable expertise in Author contributions
crafting typefaces tailored for the Greek language. Their Conceptualization: All authors
contributions span from creating original typefaces Writing – original draft: All authors
to expanding existing fonts and offering consultation Writing – review & editing: All authors
services to foreign designers, all while emphasizing
tradition in type design. Although most of these designers Ethics approval and consent to participate
are based in Greece, some work abroad, particularly
in London, gaining exposure to diverse scripts and Permission was obtained from each of the subjects to
clientele. The field of type design is rapidly evolving, with participate in the study.
fonts transitioning into software and designers assuming Consent for publication
roles akin to developers. Collaborations between Greek
designers and foreign entities have played a pivotal The subjects gave consent to publish their data in this study.
role in advancing Greek-type design globally. Moving
forward, challenges such as the need for academic Availability of data
programs in Greece dedicated to typographic design The full data of the study can be found in the thesis
persist, highlighting the importance of preserving and repository of the Hellenic Open University: https://
evolving the Greek script in the digital age. apothesis.eap.gr/archive/item/75909?lang=el
Ultimately, this study’s findings highlight the significant Further disclosure
progress and innovation within Greek typeface design.
Through the dedication and ingenuity of contemporary This paper is based on Panagiota Sakellariou’s MSc thesis,
Greek designers, Greek typography has advanced The Current Landscape of Greek Typographic Design: A Study
significantly and gained international recognition. of the Work and Views of Greek Designers and Academics,
Their collective efforts drive the ongoing evolution and supervised by Elissavet Georgiadou (School of Applied
consolidation of Greek typography globally, emphasizing Arts and Sustainable Design, Postgraduate Programs of
its status as a distinct system with rich individual Study (MSc), Graphic Arts – Multimedia, Hellenic Open
characteristics deserving of appreciation and acclaim. University, Patras, Greece). The thesis can be accessed

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 10 doi: 10.36922/ac.3133