Theme: Glyphs of Belonging
Submissions are now open for the second edition of FiftyFifty, a traveling typographic exhibition that showcases the work of college students from around the world.
Founded as a global platform for emerging voices in typography, FiftyFifty brings together students from different cultures and writing systems through a shared exhibition format. The project creates a collective typographic space where diverse scripts and design approaches can be seen side by side.
Following the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, which premiered during the ATypI conference in Brisbane and later traveled to international design venues, FiftyFifty returns in 2026 with a new theme: Glyphs of Belonging.
In typography, belonging is structural. A glyph belongs when it aligns and holds space within a system through proportion, rhythm, and balance. For this edition, students are invited to design one glyph from their own writing system, exploring how its form creates alignment, tension, or harmony while reflecting a connection to their language, culture, or homeland.
Participants are asked to design a 50 × 50 cm black-and-white poster featuring a single glyph created through manual or digital calligraphy, typography, or lettering. Each poster must contain one glyph only and must be submitted as a high-resolution PDF. Submissions must be original and unpublished. Additional glyphs require a separate submission form.
Selected works will form a global grid of glyphs representing diverse writing systems and typographic traditions. The exhibition will travel internationally in 2026 and will be presented alongside ATypI 2026 conferences and partner institutions. Selected posters will also be published in the official exhibition catalog and promoted across international design platforms.
The exhibition will be presented during ATypI Stanford (May 27–30, 2026) and ATypI Sharjah (October 28–31, 2026), bringing together students, educators, designers, and researchers from across the global typography community.
Submission Deadline
9 April 2026
Students interested in participating can submit their work through the official submission form. FiftyFifty aims to create a shared typographic field where scripts from around the world stand together, each glyph carrying the story of its language, culture, and belonging.
If you would like to host the exhibition at your university, contact Professor Nada Abdallah at nada@atypi.org