Digital Sights Digital Sights

One of the digital sights we see all around us on a daily basis is words! We are exposed to hundreds of typefaces every day by the simple act of reading the world that surrounds us. Phones, computers, tablets, TVs, books, documents, street signs, posters, menus and the list goes on of examples of platforms that show us text every day.

Typefaces are important to convey a variety of messages and stories but also to make sure the written word is continuously adapted to its various modern usage.

Despite its importance, it seems that Typeface design in the Middle-East is in a bit of a crisis. While the design world is extremely rich and constantly evolving, Typeface design is falling behind. Why? and is the situation getting better?

To answer these questions and more, I was joined on the phone by one of the few type designers for Arabic alphabet, Azza Alameddine (twitter: @3azalam)
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Show hosted by Sawssan Kaddoura (insta: @sawssankreates)
Follow us: www.fb.com/digitalsights

Intro music: Thomas VX - Outcast

Augmented Reality often reminds us of Pokemon Go or Instagram stories. It is the addition of virtual elements to the real world. But, beyond the commercial gimmicks and trends, AR has a great creative potential for artists. Painters, graffiti artists, print artists, poets and even publishers have used it in their work. But, the potential also comes with its technical challenges, which is making many artists still hesitant to explore the medium.

To learn more about AR, I talked with Louis Rastelli, co-founder of Archive Montreal, the organisation behind Distroboto, which recently started selling Print Augmented in their art vending machines. Print Augmented is a series of print art that includes AR in them, these pieces were created during a series of AR-focused workshops that Archive Montreal organized with several Montreal and Quebec-based artists.

Interview by Sawssan Kaddoura (insta: @sawssankreates)
Follow us: www.fb.com/digitalsights

Intro music: Outcast by THOMAS VX

One of the digital sights you might have seen lately is what is known as the Extinction logo. You've seen it printed on posters, protest banners, shared online and even projected on buildings. The logo surpassed the digital world and is now being drawn on the walls in cities around the world.

The logo, created in 2011, seems to have been gaining momentum only recently and is quickly becoming the symbol of the environmentalist movement, reminding us of previous logos, like the Peace logo or the Anarchy logo.

To delve more into what makes a logo transform into a symbol of a movement and what makes the Extinction logo a good candidate for that transition, I had with me on the phone from Seattle, Journalist Jane C. Hu. Jane Recently wrote an article called The story behind the Extinction Rebellion symbol at climate protests.

Interview by Sawssan Kaddoura (insta: @sawssankreates)
Follow us: www.fb.com/digitalsights

Intro music: Outcast by THOMAS VX

Projection Mapping is often associated with big scale aesthetics projected on buildings, but beyond the effects, PM can be a medium for artistic exploration and conceptual experimentation, and a tool to create projects revolving around social justice issues, community building and storytelling.

In this 2-parts interview, we take a closer look at Projection Mapping. In part 1, I talked with Thien Vu Dang, founder and artistic director of MAPP_MTL, about MAPP_MTL’s new micro-mapping exhibit taking place at the Never Apart gallery. Thien gave us an introduction on Projection Mapping and gave us a tour of the exhibit.

In the second part, Thien joined me at CKUT’s studio along with Saulo Madrid, responsible for the curatorial and strategic development of MAPP_MTL’s festival, to have a more in-depth discussion about Projection mapping.

Show hosted by Sawssan Kaddoura (insta: @sawssankreates)
Follow us: www.fb.com/digitalsights

Intro/outro music: Thomas VX - Outcast