Curating and leading a virtual festival where design, language, and communication meet experimental and innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual realities, creative coding, physical computing, and innovative use of traditional craft. Our inaugural 2022 event sold out 1300 tickets in under 40 days, becoming the largest typography event worldwide. We’ve received glowing reviews across Eye Magazine, IDEA Japan, It’s Nice That, PAGE, PRINT, and Typeroom.
A design research entity focused on climate, land, and regenerative architecture. Research, marketing, and communications services for aligned clients—where we’ve dramatically increased their social media reach and following, and propelled their works to be featured across Spaces, Dwell, and AD Spain.
Leading a cohort of designers in typographic consultation, type design and production, logo refinement, and providing Cyrillic expertise. Working to increase language support and typographic representation worldwide. Select clients include Adidas, Airbnb, Apple, Best Made Co., Chobani, Depanneur, Design MW, Font Bureau, Fox, Google, Intel, Matthew Carter, Michael Kors, MCKL, Microsoft, Monotype, Pentagram, Trollbäck + Co., Uber, Warner Bros., WeWork, Young Professionals, and YouTube.
Serving as a lead conduit between the Association Typographique Internationale and the United States typographic community. Curating the annual Tech Talks summit.
Responsible for heralding TDC's brand and vision; overseeing the TDC’s Type Design, Lettering, and Typography competitions, the Ascenders Awards, as well as the annual Type Drives Culture conference; managing marketing, operations, and partnerships. In my tenure, I’ve internationalized and expanded the main TDC competitions, and re-launched the Ascenders Awards, receiving record-breaking entries in both. Negotiated partnerships and launched joint industry initiatives (ATypI, Poster House, Readymag, You Creative Media, Google, Monotype), including the first-ever Native North American type conference, a Latin American type conference, the TDC Type Kiosk, a series of exhibitions highlighting women and nonbinary designers, and local events across the Americas. In response, TDC received glowing international press (incl. Creative Review, PRINT, IDEA Japan, Hyperallergic), with articles up 247%; social media engagement up 40-fold, and profit up 70% on the prior year.
Led small, nimble teams of multi-faceted creatives to address brand narratives, positioning solutions, visual communication, and digital products. Select clients include Adobe, Airbnb, amfAR, Archer Hotel, Bacardi, Bookforum, Caraa, Core77, Document, Fararh Sit, Harbour.Space University, IDEO, Inspira Villages, Joan Creative, Light + Ladder, McCann Worldgroup, Snoop Dogg, and Sweethaus. Self-initiatives include Galvanized Jets (type proofer), Real Names Online, Traffic–Tide (supper club), and whrw.hn (Twitter for events).
Climate change and land research. Real estate management, design, and implementation. Education research. Interior design for private clients.
Designed and built out a loft, produced and styled events as well as photoshoots with top photographers (Michael Collins, Nicole Franzen, Aiala Hernando, Collin Hughes, James and Karla Murray, Tadeu Magalhães, Brooke Holm). Negotiated contracts, and managed PR outreach. Select clients included American Airlines, Ann Inc., Anthropologie, Casper, Fader (Miguel Cover), Gigi Hadid, KITH, Canvas Japan (Rola), Teresa Helbig, Perfect Parties (by Linnea Johansson), Someone (by Lauren Lee McCarthy), and VSCO. The space was featured in magazines including Architecture Now, Archive, Canvas, Creative Blog, Design Sponge, El Pais, Elle South Africa, EST Australia, Harpers Bazaar, Habitus Living, Loro, Slate, Studio Sweet Studio, and W Magazine.
Setting the direction for design conversations via lectures and events.
Drawing of Latin, Cyrillic and Greek typography. Minority script and unicode research.
Nose-to-tail type design for Latin, including drawing, spacing, kerning, and production processes. Research in screen typography for web and broadcast. Select clients include Martha Stewart, Tiffany & Co. and Wall Street Journal. We were honorees for the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards twice during my tenure.
Front-end and systems Java development for the national nonprofit dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for people, businesses, and communities in need.
Print, digital, and presentation design in support of sustainable Future Fashion (Givenchy, Maritn Margiela, Stella McCartney, Proenza Schouler, Versace, YSL), Green Roofs (first green roof in NYC), Farm to Table, and waste management initiatives.
Initiated, planned, and managed film festivals (French Film Festival, Erotic Tales), and performance events (Rocky Horror Picture Show), along with monthly screenings. Sold-out repeat events, acquired grant funding, collaborated with the local cinema to expand audiences, received fawning press, and surplussed record revenues.
2023Google Noto Google Afrikan Project
2022Chobani Sans Google Noto
2021BET Sans
2019FX Fearless Sans
2018Adineue (Adidas) Harry Beast Michael Kors Uber Move
2017Intel’s HH
2016Fontastic Beast Fort Justice League Univers
2015Blesk Diote Miller Romany Sabon YouTube
2014Agency Beignets Corsair Interstate
2013Gill Kayo Poster Board Sign Painter
2012AI Software Avenir Next Brush Script Goudy Helvetica Neue Yuanti
2011Exchange Retina
2010Ideal Sans Landmark
2009Sentinel Verlag
2008Sterling
Eye on Design Institution Profiles (Southland Institute) Design Educator Interviews (J Dakota Brown, Kathleen Sleboda, Forest Young, Briar Levit, Carolina Laudon, Isabel Seiffert, Saki Mafundikwa, Elizabeth Carey Smith, Elizabeth White, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, E Roon Kang)
Typographica Interviews (Jaimey Shapey, Forest Young, Carolina Laudon, Neebinnaukzhik Southall)Type Reviews (Nirvana, Karelia, Soyuz Grotesk, Confettis Braille, Kazimir, St. Croce, Huronia)
(Self Published) Presentations (Type: More Questionable Than Ever, Text and Subtext) Process (Light + Ladder, Brutish Beauty, Tabled, Epitaph.RIP, On Calling Cards) Memorial (Alex Calibur)
Type Directors Club Annual TDC63 Judge’s Choice
365Typo Vol. 2 The PersonalWalker’s The Gradient 7 Genders, 7 Typographies
365Typo St. Croce(Self Published) Real Names OnlineHopes & Fears 13 miles of typography on Broadway, from A to Z (Reached #4 on Hacker News)
SVA MFA Design Guest SpeakerInscript ModeratorHello Departures Speaking SeriesSVA History of Typography Guest LecturerTDC Cha Che Chi Latin American Typography MCTDC Best of Show: ModeratorTDC Judges Night: Lettering Moderator
Readymag Do you need design education?Parsons Save some time for questions.TDC Ezhishin Native North American Typography MCATypI Tech Talks ModeratorInscript Experimental Type Festival MCTDC Judges Night: Latin–Cyrillic–Greek Moderator
ATypI All Over ModeratorTDC Judges Night: Typography ModeratorSVA Type Symposium
Ladies Wine & Design Post-pandemic ReawakeningLetterform Archive Typo Trip Around the World
The Design Kids Breaking TypeAIGA/NY Type x Graphic Design: Global TypographyTDC Practicing Type in the Age of ScreensBITS Conference Cyrillic TravelogueTDC Conference More Questionable Than EverTDC Conference Morning PanelFITC Toronto Lifelong LearningAIGA/NY Type x Graphic Design: Craft & Originality
Core77 Conference: Now What? Friendshop WorkshipSchool of Visual Art Guest LecturerTypoLabs Type in the Expanded Field
TISDC Text and Subtext
University at Buffalo Guest Lecturer
Parsons Guest Lecturer
Marywood Guest LecturerKingston University, UK S&P Studio Visit
Bennington College Guest Lecturer
Dorkbot NYC
Objectspace Gallery, NZ AGI: KōreroPoster House, NY USA Advertising Type: Women in Digital Design
MRKT BLMS NFT Flower Market
Across Borders, Spain Invitational
Quemoy International Poster Award for Peace, Taiwan But With Art Comes Empathy30 Days / 30 Covers The Author
P!, NY USA Pangrammer
Northern—Southern, TX USA LETTERS
Storefront of Art and Architecture, NY USA Storefront TV P! Materiel Magazine Classically CorruptA Razor, A Shiny Knife, NY USA Contributed to Michael Cirino's 100-Course Dinner
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, MI USA SiegeUppercase Beautiful Bitmaps
Socrates Sculpture Park, NY USA L.I.C., NYC
+Rosebud Magazine 9 LivesMasu, OR NYC Sufferable Fragments Art in Odd Places, NY USA InfixFlux Factory, NY USA Response to Tatlin's Monument to the Third International Conceived in the Mood of Ambivalence Is/Not Magazine ProxemicsDorkFest UK Translatec
Millrace, OR USA Emerging TechnologiesLaverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA Translatec
m283, OR USA RecluseRetread Threads, OR USA NEPOBackdoor Theater, OR USA Max
Portland Building, OR USA Registry of ExistenceLaverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA 8Wilkinson House, OR USA …waking form the houseEric Washburn Gallery, OR USA La Flama
Laverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA William Ryan Laverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA Photography, Collections Animation Explosion, OR USA At SeaLaverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA The Gift Laverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA CON-TXT-UAL
Warehouse, OR USA Elevator
Laverne-Krause Gallery, OR USA en Derivé West Gallery, OR USA Diptych SeriesAnimation Explosion, OR USA Experimental VideoRISD, RI USA Rauschenberg x Cindy Sherman
PNCA, OR USA Analog E-Reader
NOVA Reflections Self and Other Paintings
University of the Arts PSX24 Award
Creative Review Awards Design Judge
Spark Awards Industrial and Brand Judge
D&AD Awards Type Design JudgeTypeWknd Reviewer
Type Directors Club 24TDC Jury Chair
ADC / The One Club 99th Annual Awards Judge
Society of Typographic Aficionados Catalyst AwardCommunication Arts Typography Judge
Taiwan International Student Design CompetitionType Directors Club 20TDC Type Design Judge
NEW INC Dedicated Mentor
Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) MemberThe Unicode® Consortium Member
Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) Board of Directors (2022–2023), USA Country Delegate (2021–2024), Editorial Committee (2021–2022), Strategy Lead (2021–2022) Member (2008–2023)
Queer Design Club Member
100s under 100 MemberLadies Get Paid Original Member
Ladies, Wine, and Design Organizer for Lisbon
Type Directors Club 25TDC Competition Co-Chair (2021–2022), Member and Volunteer (2005–2022)
NYC Loft Tenants Volunteer
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) NY Chapter Board of Directors Secretary (2015–2017), NY and Portland Chapters Member and Volunteer (2003–2017)
Alphabettes Founding Member
RightRides for Women’s Safety Bicycle Volunteer
St. Ann’s Warehouse Volunteer
Bijou Art Cinemas Volunteer
Portland Institute of Contemporary Art Volunteer
Texas State Communication Design Seminar, Social Media, Thesis Review
University of the Arts Design for Understanding, Nonlinear Narratives: the Future of Money, Typography II: Systems, Off-Label: Designed for Interactions (co-taught with Angela Riechers), Walking into the Unknown: Design Research & Inquiry
Minneapolis College of Art & Design Publication Design: A Critical View, Adv. Design Seminar: The Speed of Change, Type+
School of Visual Art Residencies in Typography, Building Brands with Type
Harbour.Space University Typography: Reading and Looking, The Stepping Stones of Type Design, Manufacturing Luck (designed but never taught)
IE School of Architecture & Design Portfolio Review: Pathmaking (co-taught with Igor Bragado)New York University Type and ____
BITS Conference Cyrillic WorkshopThe Design Kids Branding Workshop
Core77 Conference: Now What? Friendshop Workship
Maumaus ISP
Design Dept Designing Businesses
Southland Institute Unlimited Edition with Ramon Tejada and James Goggin
School of Visual Arts M.A. Design Criticism
The Shipman Agency Essay Writing (Alexander Chee)InResidence Truth Tellers
TDC Arabic Lettering (Kristyan Sarki & Wael Morcos)School of Visual Arts Risography
Type@Cooper Lettering (Richard Lipton, Ken Barber)
New York University Russian Grammar & Comp.
New Museum Night School by Anton Vidokle (Boris Groys, Martha Rosler, Liam Gillick, Maria Lind, Tirdad Zolghadr, Carey Young, Okwui Enwezor, Hu Fang, Zhan Wei, Xu Tan, Paul Chan, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Natascha Sadr Haghighian, Thomas Keenan, Avery Gordon, Walid Raad, Jalal Toufic, Raqs Media Collective, Jan Verwoert)
University of Oregon M.F.A. / B.F.A. Art + Technology (Leon Johnson)
University of Oregon B.F.A. Photography (Dan Powell)
University of Oregon B.S with Film Studies Minor
Rhode Island School of Design Photography, Painting
Pacific Northwest College of Art Sculpture, Painting
George Fox University Mathematics, LiteratureFrye Art Museum Sculpture (Boris Spivak)Portland Community College Photography
Leningrad Secondary Art School Drawing
Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) Inducted
MCAD Faculty Senate Professional Dev. Grant
InResidence Truth Tellers Scholarship
The Shipman Agency Scholarship
Typographica Favorite Typefaces: Blesk
Print Magazine Type Design Honorable Mention
National Design Awards (H&FJ)Museum of Modern Art Permanent Collection (H&FJ)For Print Only Awards for Mio Tokida, Eighties Bangs, and I Ruv Ru
National Design Awards Honoree (H&FJ)
New Museum Night School Project
FutureFarmers Residency Inductee
Disonancias Residency Finalist
Netdiver Portfolios Selection (2004.samarskaya.com)
Ina McClung Scholarship
Staton Scholar Scholarship
University of Oregon Deans List
Regional Arts & Culture Council Installation Grant
Golden Key Honor Society Member
Tournees French Film Festival Grant
National Society for Collegiate Scholars Inductee
IDEA Japan Inscript: An Online Festival of Technology and TypographyDesign by WomenReadyMag Formal design education: Yes or noReadyMag They shape the global visual landscape: Exploring the impact of up-and-coming female type designersPRINT The Daily Heller: Making Typographic Music With a Latin Beat
Eye Access to the futures of typeHyperallergic Ezhishin, the First-Ever Conference on Native North American TypographyPRINT The Daily Heller: Excitement Reigns for the First Native North American Type ConferenceTyperoom Inscript Experimental Type Festival: the moment to join a revolution dawns online IDEA magazine Creating a Space for Typography: TDC’s Transformation and Expansion into the Asia RegionThe Creative Factor Ksenya Samarskaya: Moving Type Out of Advertising and Graphic Design and Into a Bigger Cultural ConversationPRINT The Daily Heller: TDC is Back in Orbit AgainTyperoom TDC awakens: a talk with Ksenya Samarskaya, TDC’s first managing director everCreative Review Ksenya Samarskaya on the future of the Type Directors Club
Design x US Design x Ksenya Samarskaya
Type Directors Club Member of the MonthInterface Lovers Ksenya Samarskaya
Print Subtlety, Contradictions & Women in TypeAnna Savina Newsletter Reading: Typography and CultureLadies, Wine Design Ksenya Samarskaya
Workspiration Ksenya Samarskaya
Nomadic Press Talking Paper Interview Series with Ksenya SamarskayaWorking Not Working Blesk is Best
Communication Arts Doing Things Authentically
The Branding Lab The smarter way to invest in your brand
Digital Emigré Podcast Feature
First Generation Burden Saying Bye for the Last Time Google’s Design Notes Connecting type design to history and cultural identity with Ksenya SamarskayaDesign in the Boardroom Better Future Podcast
Overby Interview: Ksenya Samarskaya
Driven x Design Samarskaya & Partners Studio ProfileBrooklyn Loft Typography & Type Design
Creative Boom Thinking of going freelance in 2025? Here's what you need to knowEYE Magazine Cutting Edge of Type
It’s Nice That Is graphic design becoming more crafty?citylikeyouPRINT The Daily Heller: Revolutionary DigitizationDesign Week Poster House looks to the playful days of 90s digital typeType01 The Type Directors Club (TDC) Are Delivering a Grand Conference on Latin America Culture, Cha Che ChiTyperoom Latin American Type Overload! Cha Che Chi is TDC's most rhythmic typographic virtual conference everIt’s Nice That TDC conference explores “enormous” scope of Latin American typographyProdu TDC Explores Latin American Typography With 'Cha Che Chi' ConferenceDART Cha Che Chi from TDC TodayType Network Voices from Latin AmericaGraffica Type Directors Club celebra la vigorosa escena tipográfica latinoamericanaBranD Hong Kong It’s Nice That Forward Thinking: What can the creative world expect in 2023?Type Trends Lookbook The counterspaces – Typography in the Age of Black Swans
It's Nice That Inside TDC’s Ezhishin, the “first-ever conference dedicated to Native North American typography”Calvert JournalLittle Black Book TDC’s Ksenya Samarskaya Granted Prestigious Membership to Alliance Graphique InternationaleMedia Update Alliance Graphique Internationale welcomes Ksenya Samarskaya as a memberReadymag The ethics of design competitions: how we should judge designTyperoom Breaking barriers for a brave new world: Ksenya Samarskaya on Inscript Experimental Type FestivalTYPEONE Leading Women in Type: A Conversation with Ksenya SamarskayaEye on Design Lucky, Organic, Flexible, Speedy, Totally Crazy: What It’s Like to Run an Independent Type FoundryBizCommunity Ksenya Samarskaya named TDC's first-ever MD Q&AGDUSA Ksenya Samarskaya Is TDC Managing DirectorPAGE Ksenya Samarskaya wird Geschäftsführerin des TDCAd Latina Ariel Bergamo es el nuevo presidente de Initiative Latam y Sergio Sanmiguel se incorporó a Ágora México. Además, Ksenya Samarskaya es la directora general de Type Directors Club.Media Update Type Directors Club welcomes its first managing directorAd Gully Ksenya Samarskaya Joins Type Directors Club As Its First Managing DirectorBiz Community Ksenya Samarskaya becomes the first managing director of Type Directors ClubAdobo Magazine People: Ksenya Samarskaya Joins Type Directors Club As Its First Managing DirectorCampaign Brief The Type Directors Club Appoints Ksenya Samarskaya As Its First Managing DirectorLittle Black Book Ksenya Samarskaya Joins Type Directors Club As Its First Managing DirectorRoast Brief Ksenya Samarskaya Joins Type Directors Club As Its First Managing DirectorAds of Brands Ksenya Samarskaya Joins Type Directors Club As Its First Managing Director
Type.Today TDC Jury Co-Chairs on Inclusiveness and the Future of the CompetitionTypographica Chahine & Samarskaya Cochair TDC’S 25th Type Design CompetitionThis Design Life Let go of the hero archetype with Ksenya SamarskayaUArts News Graphic Design Students Explore New TerritoryPAGE So funktioniert Typo für AR- und VR-AnwendungenArch Daily Material Migration: How Architecture Transforms Between Borders
Communication Arts Exhibit: FX typographic systemBranding in Asia Type Directors Club Announces Launch and Diverse JuriesNguoi Viet Phone Tại Sao Các Hãng Công Nghệ Lớn Thường Sở Hữu Font Chữ Riêng?
Mashable Why Apple, Google, and other big tech companies create their own fontsSohu Come and meet the beautiful designers who “write”Eye on Design The Eye on Design Guide To Women-designed Contemporary Type Typeroom Typography in VR: a study and compilation methodology online
Freude von Freuden Mapping the rise and fall of one of the most prominent artists’ communities in BrooklynDesign360° no.76 Street Typography (Cover)6 sq ft Graphic designer Ksenya turned a raw Williamsburg loft into an industrial-chic oasisCurbed At Williamsburg’s most famous artists’ loft, big change is comingTypoTalks AR/VR Tidbits from TYPO Labs 2018Communication Arts Editor’s ColumnSohu Design360° no.76 New Issue | Street TextEye on Design Meet Corsair, a Font Perfect for Pirates and Urban OutdorsmenTypograph-her Corsair is a rugged font with a handcrafted touchEye Outlook variable: TYPO Labs unveiled cool tools for both tyros and trailblazers. In the run-up to TYPO Berlin, Jan Middendorp delivers a considered report
Brian Smith Biz Ksenya SamarskayaCommunication ArtsTaste Talks Where Dinner Parties, Culinary Tradition, and Geography MeetProduct Matters Going GrayscaleSoWilliamsburg Residents of One of the Last Artist Loft Buildings in Williamsburg Showed off the Artistry of Their SpacesSoWilliamsburg Historic South Williamsburg Building, 475 Kent, Hosts an Intimate Art FestivalPaz Garden BBVA Behomm, a creative alternative to Airbnb
Adobe Create 10 Women Type DesignersCreative Spaces Women of Graphic DesignHow Design RetinaThe Guardian The choice is yours: artist hacks voting machines for US election-themed showVice Voting Machines Get Hacked into Interactive SculpturesEye on Design New Font Wyeth Adapts the Charm of Old Subway Signage for Modern UsesEye on Design Frere-Jones Finishes Retina, the Font He's Been Designing for 15 YearsArchitectural Digest How to Find a High-Style Vacation RentalTyperoom The typographic dominance of Broadway from A to Z
Felt & Wire AIGA/NY Custom Wrapping PaperIt’s Nice That Start-up Websites: How to Make Yours the BestSquarespace + Typekit Light + LadderFast Company WTF? Welcome To The Wild, Weird World Of Trademarking The AlphabetThe Design Inspiration Styled 80s Business CardPrint True to Type: Typography & Lettering Awards WinnersHarper’s Bazaar Interview: Be My GuestArchitecture Now Behomm
Loro Ksenya Samarskaya’s Williamsburg LoftElle (South Africa) A New Way to StayEl Pais Bienvenido a mi casaSLATE This Home-Swapping Site Offers Access to Artists’ and Designers’ Gorgeous Homes—With One CatchEst Magazine Issue #17 Williamsburg Apartmenthabitusliving Creative House SwapW Magazine Gothamist Man Exposes P-Ness TonightHerald Tribune Mining data to create portraits of people and placesMademoiselle by MOD Inter Exchange of Creative HomesDD Mag BehommSF Girl Home Sweet BehommCasa del Caso The home exchange community for creative peopleLa Chaise Bleue Behomm: Scambio di Case CreativeDiseño Home Share in Gorgeous Designer HomesDesign Addicts Platform Home is where the Creative Lives
For Print Only Hello Ehoes, Eighties BangsVisual Literacy: Learning to See Pia Vivas, Hello EhoesWall Street Journal Hot Food, Hotter Tickets
For Print Only Eighties Bangs. Mio Tokid, I Ruv Ru
Fresher Styles for Web Designers: More Eye Candy from the Underground Dead Skin PressNerve Sex Advice from Movie Extras
Portland Mercury The Registry of ExistenceEugene Weekly Great Cinema: Original, inventive erotic stories Oregon Daily Emerald Bijou heats up with ‘Erotic Tales’
