Feminitipo is a fanzine that highlights three influential women in typography, using their own typefaces to compose the texts. The project was based on Flavia Zimbardi’s article "Mulheres na Tipografia” from Revista Recorte and the book "Inimigas Naturais dos Livros – Uma História Conturbada das Mulheres na Impressão e na Tipografia”.
Although women have played a crucial role in the history of typography, there is still a significant gender disparity in the field. In 2020, only 20% of retail and custom typefaces in Brazil were designed or co-designed by women.
The goal of Feminitipo was to bring visibility to female type designers by showcasing their work in a creative and educational way.
Typography is an essential element of design, yet many female contributions remain overlooked. By using typefaces designed by women to tell their stories, the project creates a direct visual and conceptual connection between the medium and the message.
Research on gender disparity in typography.
Identification of key female type designers.
Selection of articles and books for reference.
Definition of project scope: combining typography, illustration, and historical context.
Selection of three designers and their respective typefaces.
Layout exploration for a fanzine format.
Development of a visual identity aligned with the subject.
Illustration concepts to complement the typographic compositions.
Feminitipo is a printed fanzine that merges illustration and typography, telling the stories of three remarkable female type designers. Each article is set in a typeface created by the respective designer, reinforcing the theme in a tangible and immersive way.
One of the biggest challenges was accessing typefaces—many of them were only available in trial versions, often lacking diacritical marks (accents), which required careful text adaptation.
This project provided key insights into:
Research-driven design, from historical context to visual execution.
Editorial design and typography handling.
Print production workflow, including file preparation and formatting for physical printing.
ALINE REIS SILVA
São Paulo, Brasil