Juan Villanueva Typeface design has long been shaped by Western aesthetic ideals, reinforcing cultural hegemony and marginalizing non-European visual traditions. This talk explores how Latin American designers are dismantling these dominant frameworks by reclaiming cultural narratives through type design, education, and community-driven initiatives. By integrating indigenous languages, regional iconography, and historical visual traditions, they are not only preserving cultural heritage but also demonstrating that a more inclusive, pluriversal approach to typography is possible.
Through the lens of decolonial theory and case studies of influential Latin American designers and collectives, this presentation examines the role of type as a tool for resistance and self-expression. It highlights how designers are challenging the erasure of indigenous and local typographic traditions while also redefining contemporary type education. The talk will address the intersection of typography and identity, questioning who gets to define design standards and how type design serves as a vehicle for cultural resistance, storytelling, and empowerment.
By bridging traditional and contemporary methods of type design and pedagogy, this talk advocates for a typographic landscape that moves beyond Eurocentric norms. It calls for a more equitable and diverse approach to type, amplifying historically marginalized voices, and reshaping the future of typography on a global scale.