Grab a spoon and get ready for some major updates from the typography community
. Alphabettes Soup: Feminist Approaches to Type, a comprehensive new publication exploring the intersection of gender, design, and typography, has officially transitioned from concept to reality.
On April 1, the 400-page, 2.4-pound volume was officially printed and bound at Gráfica Maiaduoro in Portugal. For the creative team behind the project, seeing the physical book roll off the press marked the culmination of extensive collaborative effort. Traveling to sunny Porto to witness the printing firsthand, the team held the very first finished copy alongside family, celebrating a tangible milestone for a project dedicated to reshaping how we think about type and design history through a feminist lens.
Following the printing in Portugal, the book celebrated its soft launch on Thursday, April 2, at the headquarters of Bikini Books. Drawing a crowd of over forty attendees, the opening event featured book sales, author and contributor signatures, and an enthusiastic atmosphere as supporters gathered to share the publication with the world for the very first time. Hand-drawn signage created by children welcomed visitors to the space, setting an inclusive and community-driven tone for the launch of a book that challenges traditional design narratives.
A Global Rollout and Upcoming Festival Debuts
While the initial soft launch in Porto offered an intimate celebration, Alphabettes Soup is now embarking on an extensive international rollout. The publication’s official major launch is scheduled for the prestigious Typographics Festival in New York City, taking place from June 26 to June 27. The festival appearance will feature talks by key contributors, including Amy Papaelias, alongside physical copies of the book available for purchase at the event’s dedicated book fair.
For readers eager to secure a copy before the summer festival circuit peaks, the book is currently available for purchase online through Draw Down Books. Additionally, a series of international events, lectures, and symposiums have been organized across multiple cities, giving readers and design enthusiasts worldwide the opportunity to engage with the book, its designer, and its contributors in person.
The international event schedule features several notable stops across North America and Europe:
- Portland, Oregon: On Tuesday, May 12, the Portland State University Graphic Design (PSUGD) Matthias Kemeny Lecture Series will feature a presentation by Tereza Bettinardi, the designer of Alphabettes Soup. Physical copies of the book will be made available for purchase through the Volumes Design Library.
- Brussels, Belgium: On May 26, contributors to the book will participate in the "Without A Center, With Many" symposium, organized by Garine Gokceyan. Hosted as part of ongoing academic and creative research seminars, attendance for the symposium is free, though advance registration is required.
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands: On May 27, PrintRoom will host an event featuring Nina Paim, alongside a virtual appearance by Amy Papaelias. The gathering will spotlight several voices from the Alphabettes Soup publication, with further details to be announced by local organizers.
- ATypI Stanford: Running from May 27 to May 30, the annual ATypI conference will feature physical copies of the book distributed and sold through the Letterform Archive.
- Berlin, Germany: On June 12, the A-Z Presents Countersession #8 will bring together Nina Paim and various Alphabettes Soup contributors for a public discussion and community gathering, with additional program details forthcoming.
- New York City: Concluding the initial spring and summer tour, the Typographics Festival on June 26 and 27 will serve as the official festival launch, featuring Amy Papaelias and fellow contributors alongside book fair vendors.
Community Involvement and Future Events
As the publication tour continues to expand, the organizers have expressed an open invitation for additional institutions, independent bookshops, and design spaces to participate in the rollout. Organizations and community spaces interested in hosting local book launches, discussions, or collaborative events centered around Alphabettes Soup are encouraged to reach out directly to the editorial team to coordinate future gatherings.
