metropolis m

Werkplaats Typografie presented its end of the year show at De Ateliers in Amsterdam. Founded in 1998 by Karel Martens, this master programme in Graphic Designs enjoys a worldwide reputation. During the two-year program participants are on the one hand stimulated to develop autonomous research, individual experiment and self-initiated projects, while on the other hand they get professional commissions by external clients. Through this combination the tutors construe graphic design as an approach rather than an outcome.

This graduation show, curated by Anisa Zeqo, attempts to interweave the autonomous practice and applied commissions. To do this the exhibition follows the grid-outline of a chessboard. Chess is presented as a metaphor for graphic design practice, in the sense that the applied execution of every move on the board also carries the rich associative nature of each chess piece. Spread over two rooms, one with the exhibition and another one with a bookshop, the students show how their practice of design is informed by colour, sound, technology, drawing, spatial figurations and performance.

Here follows a selection of the works in the show.