Akuru Collective, in partnership with FARU (Faculty of Architecture Research Unit), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka successfully held ATypI Working Seminar in Colombo on 22–23 March 2019. This single-track, two-day event gave priority to seminars and workshops, rather than more formal lectures with an expectation that all participants engage actively.

The Working Seminar Colombo is the first Working Seminar in 27 years for ATypI, and certainly the first of its kind in the region with an exclusive focus on teaching typography. The main theme for the Working Seminar was the teaching of typography and typeface design in universities, colleges, and self-contained courses in the broader region.

The term ‘Visual communication design’ is replacing graphic design courses and it shows the expanding landscape of communication mediums. Lack of resources and knowledge on fundamentals and basics will only become a much more pressing issue when it comes to teaching type and typography in regional scripts. Further to the knowledge and insights on teaching typography, the event highlighted the importance of regional initiatives, with a focus on building shared open resources and coordinating to organize more regional knowledge exchange programs. A conscious effort to be inclusive and enable local communities is essential, as is making available resources in a manner that these communities can access.

Bringing together people from the region in an intimate environment to focus on a narrow scope is the aim of Working Seminars. The Colombo event was successful in proving this model. The structure of the event and the cap on the participants allowed more personal discussions leading to more fruitful exchanges. The local team and the volunteers got an opportunity to participate in the event, and students participated actively in the workshops. Raising ATypI’s profile in Sri Lanka and the region was a key benefit, and is certain to lead to future local initiatives.

(https://workingseminars.atypi.org/working-seminar-colombo/)