The launch event promises an engaging evening of discussions, presentations, and community building. Festivities will kick off with an introductory address by design historian and educator Teal Triggs, who also authored the book’s foreword. Following the introduction, book designer Tereza Bettinardi will deliver a special talk detailing the complex and innovative process of bringing together 120 different typefaces into a single, cohesive volume without sacrificing aesthetic integrity.
The evening will also feature an informal, friendly panel discussion curated to explore the core themes of the publication. Moderated by designer Anoushka Khandwala, the panel will include prominent industry figures Alessia Mazzarella, Catherine Dixon, Elena Veguillas, Eleni Beveratou, Maria Paganopoulou, Naïma Ben Ayed, Sahar Afshar, and Sophia Tai. Attendees can look forward to a relaxed and insightful evening of conversations centered around feminist approaches to type, contemporary design practices, and the ongoing push for inclusivity within the visual arts.
The launch event will take place at Artwords Bookshop, located at 2–4 Clarence Road in London, on Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to secure their spots through the event’s dedicated registration page.
Beyond its role as a launch event, the publication of Alphabettes Soup represents a major achievement for the design community, synthesizing years of critical dialogue, advocacy, and collaborative effort. The book has been brought to life through the dedication of a core editorial and production team, including editor Amy Papaelias, coordinator Nina Paim, copy editor Caren Litherland, and book designer Tereza Bettinardi, alongside the publishers at Bikini Books and the countless contributors whose work shapes its pages.
Conceived as much more than a traditional anthology, Alphabettes Soup functions simultaneously as a functional type specimen. The volume showcases over 120 distinct typefaces, all designed exclusively by women and non-binary individuals. This deliberate design choice serves a dual purpose: celebrating the exceptional typographic craftsmanship of historically underrepresented creators while actively providing a platform for their work in professional and academic spheres.
Within its 384 pages, the book features more than 55 original articles, essays, and interviews. These contributions dive deep into the multifaceted relationships between type design, cultural expression, language, business practices, and emerging technologies. Additionally, the publication incorporates interviews with members of the Alphabettes community, rich visual histories, and reflective essays documenting past and ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering equity within the design industry.
The overarching mission of Alphabettes Soup is to challenge and reshape the dominant, often exclusionary narratives that have historically defined type history and contemporary practice. By highlighting diverse perspectives and centering the labor, ingenuity, and artistry of women and non-binary designers, the publication seeks to inspire future generations of creatives to build their own decentralized, supportive, and inclusive design communities.
As the design world continues to grapple with questions of representation, equity, and accessibility, the release of Alphabettes Soup offers both a critical historical record and a practical toolkit for change. Copies of the book can be ordered directly through Bikini Books, while further background on the project and the history of the Alphabettes network can be explored on the official Alphabettes website.
