The Museum is open 11:00 – 19:00
Cinema is closed now
The Museum is open 11:00 – 19:00
Cinema is closed now
Meeting
Exhibition of award-winning projects from the 71st Type Directors Club Annual Competition
LOCATION
Auditorium
LANGUAGE
Polish
ADMISSION
Free thanks to a partnership with Audi
Photo by Marcin Nalepa
Until recently, Carol Wahler—and since 2025, Joe Newton—the former director and current chief operating officer of the New York-based Type Directors Club—have prepared eight huge black packages each year containing the winning designs from the TDC Annual Competition. It is the most prestigious typography competition in the world, running continuously for 80 years. The winning projects not only receive a certificate of typographic excellence but—by becoming part of the so-called traveling exhibitions—also have a real impact on the culture of visual communication around the world. The packages are sent to France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Spain, while one remains in the United States.
Since 2014, thanks to the efforts of Prof. Ewa Satalecka—dean of the New Media Arts Department at PJATK in Warsaw—one of the packages has been addressed to Poland and sent to the TDC Archive. It is a unique collection in Central Europe. Opening the package is always accompanied by excitement and delight at its contents. Then comes the time for methodical work: curating the collection and preparing the exhibition.
The exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art brings together over 150 award-winning projects from the 71st edition of the TDC competition (known as TDC71) in three categories: visual communication, typeface design, and lettering. We will present posters, publications, magazines, small-format prints, and packaging designs. Visitors will be able to hold each item in their hands and examine it closely. We have also prepared an interactive table where visitors can experience how handwriting is taught in schools across more than 40 countries (the Primarium project by TypeTogether). Each project is accompanied by a label presenting the project’s context and helping visitors understand the solution proposed by the designers. QR codes link to additional video materials related to the project.
Photo by Marcin Nalepa
The exhibition opening is scheduled for April 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. and will be accompanied by a series of lectures and a panel discussion.
Dr. Monika Marek-Łucka (PJATK), curator of the TDC Archive, will discuss the history of the TDC and the competition. Marian Misiak and Pola Małaczewska from Three Dots Type/Slanted will present the post-competition publication Typography 46, outlining the entire design process. Meanwhile, a group of typography specialists will take the stage—Prof. Ewa Satalecka (PJATK Warsaw), Prof. Mateusz Machalski (ASP Warsaw), Dr. Ania Wieluńska (ASP Warsaw), Dr. Ada Pawlikowska (ASP Gdańsk), Dr. Joanna Tyborowska (ASP Kraków), Dr. Monika Marek-Łucka (PJATK Warsaw), Marian Misiak, and Pola Małaczewska—who will jointly comment on the award-winning projects and discuss contemporary typographic challenges.
The exhibition is open on April 18–19, 2026, in the Auditorium of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw. The event is curated by Dr. Monika Marek-Łucka.
April 18, 2026 / 4:00 PM
Exhibition opening.
April 18, 2026 / 4:30 PM
Lecture
Type Directors Club – history, competition, and 80 years of typographic excellence
Dr. Monika Marek-Łucka, curator of the TDC Archive
April 18, 2026 / 5:00 PM
Presentation
“Typography 46” as an example of collective design — Case study
Marian Misiak, Pola Małaczewska (Three Dots Type/Slanted)
April 18, 2026 / 5:30 PM
Panel Discussion
Prof. Ewa Satalecka (PJATK Warsaw), Prof. Mateusz Machalski (Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw), Dr. Ania Wieluńska (Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw), Dr. Ada Pawlikowska (Academy of Fine Arts Gdańsk), Dr. Joanna Tyborowska (Academy of Fine Arts Kraków), Dr. Monika Marek-Łucka (PJATK Warsaw), Marian Misiak (Three Dots Type/Slanted), Pola Małaczewska (Three Dots Type/Slanted)