Facing the World: Towards a Global History of Non-Latin Type Design

Abstract

This essay serves as the entry point into a broader exploration of critical issues in the history of “non-Latin” type design—that is, type design beyond the Latin alphabet. With special emphasis on certain scripts (Arabic, Chinese, Greek, and Devanagari, among others) and regions (South Asia, East Asia, South Africa, and beyond), this special issue brings together practicing designers and scholars, federating rigorous archival work, practice-based insight, and a deep engagement with the global history of the written, designed, and printed word.