BITS - Bangkok International Typographic Symposium 2010

Posted by: Blue Sanpasiri

BITS (the Bangkok International Typographic Symposium,  30 – 31 October 2010) was the first-ever typographic design conference in Thailand. Typography is still quite mysterious to Thai people in general, even though it has existed for over 170 years, since Western missionaries brought printing machines from Europe to Thailand. Only graphic designers know the art of the letter form. And even among this specialized group, there are only a few Thai designers who make type and create fonts for a living.

The conference’s primary focus was on typographic design and the type-design community. Speakers included notable designers from the USA, France, Germany, Japan, and Thailand. 30 October 2010 keynote speakers:
• Christian Schwartz, Schwartzco Inc., New York - “Plays Well With Others” 
• Rukkit Kuanhawate, Bangkok - “Cut, Drill, and Spray”
• Masayoshi Kodaira, FLAME Inc., Tokyo - “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
• Ekaluck Peanpanawate, Bangkok - “Thai Sans Serif is Here to Stay”

31 October 2010 keynote speakers:
• Jean François Porchez, Typofonderie, Paris - “Typeface Design Mysteries Elucidated”
• Suppakit Chalermlarp, Bangkok - “From Sign Maker to Type Designer” 
• Hubert Jocham, Germany - “The Typographic Logo”
• Pairoj Teeraprapra, Bangkok - “What Makes Thai Thai?”

For two days, attendees (professional designers, educators, and students) learned and shared the art of type between Western and Eastern cultures.

Additional information:
- http://www.facebook.com/bitsmmx
- http://bits.anuthin.org/

BITS was presented by Alliance Française in association with the Japan Foundation and the Goethe-Institut. It was organized by Cadson Demak in association with ThaiGa.

Photo Credits: www.facebook.com/bitsmmx and Blue Sanpasiri

Sarun (Blue) Sanpasiri was a designer at Q North American Headquarters in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He teaches and practices graphic design in Bangkok while listening to Tom Waits.

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