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David Březina is a typeface designer, writer, lecturer, and chief type officer at Rosetta Type. He has designed typefaces for a diverse palette of the world’s scripts, but focuses mostly on Gujarati and Latin. David holds a Master’s degree in computer science from Masaryk University in Brno (Czechia) and an MA in Typeface Design and PhD from the University of Reading (UK). His cross-disciplinary PhD thesis studied visual similarity and coherence of characters in typefaces for continuous reading in Latin, Cyrillic, and Devanagari scripts. {:.intro}

Contact

Email: hello@mrbrezina.com
ORCID: 0009-0007-4410-0133

Main projects

• Rosetta Type – a leading type design studio and distributor of high-quality fonts for a growing number of the world’s scripts
• Hyperglot – preview basic characters needed to write in the world’s languages (concept and art-direction).
• Design Regression – a journalette (mini journal) publishing texts that are about design for reading and reading-related research

Typeface design (design)

• Gridlite PE (Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, 2020). Design.
• Handjet (Arabic, Armenian, Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, 2018–20). Design.
• Yrsa & Rasa (Gujarati, Latin, 2016–2021). Art direction, design with Anna Giedryś.
• Skolar Sans PE (Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, 2014–16). Designed with Sláva Jevčinová.
• Adobe Gujarati (2013). Design for Adobe, art-direction Fiona Ross.
• Nirmala UI Gujarati (2012). Design for Microsoft within Tiro Typeworks, art-direction Fiona Ross.
• Skolar Gujarati (2012). Design.
• Skolar PE (Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, 2009–2012). Design.
• Veto Devanagari (2009). Design for Linotype (now Monotype).

Typeface design (art direction)

• Adapter Georgian (2024). Art direction, design by Ana Sanikidze.
• Adapter Tamil (2023). Art direction, design by Aadarsh Rajan.
• Adapter Mono PE (Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, 2022). Art direction, design by Tania Chacana.
• Adapter Hebrew (2020). Art direction, design by Sláva Jevčinová.
• Adapter Arabic (2020). Art direction, design by Borna Izadpanah.
• Adapter PE (Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, 2019). Art direction with William Montrose. Design by William Montrose and Sláva Jevčinová.
• Skolar Sans Arabic (2016). Art direction, designed by Titus Nemeth.
• Skolar Devanagari (2012). Art direction, design by Vaibhav Singh.

Academic articles

• Březina, David & Dyson, Mary. Can we selectively attend to the top halves of letters and ignore the bottom halves?. Design Regression, 2024.
• Dyson, Mary & Březina, David. The sequel to exploring disfluency: Do we remember the visual appearance of words?. Design Regression, 2022.
• Březina, David. Elements of multi-script typography: paragraphs and pixels. Design Regression, 2022.
• Březina, David. Elements of multi-script typography: codes, keys, and word shapes. Design Regression, 2022.
• Březina, David. Elements of multi-script typography: introduction. Design Regression, 2021.
• Dyson, Mary & Březina, David. Exploring disfluency: Are designers too sensitive to harder-to-read typefaces? Design Regression, 2021.
• Březina, David. Review: Character complexity and redundancy in writing systems over human history. Design Regression, 2021.
• Březina, David. Coherence in typeface design: visual similarity of characters in Cyrillic, Devanagari, and Latin. PhD thesis. The University of Reading, 2018. #download #doi
• Boček, Vít & Březina, David. Typography follows linguistics? : on some parallels between the Prague School of Linguistics and Karel Teige’s typographic program. In: Hyphen : a typographic forum, volume 9/15. Institute for the study of Typography and Visual Communication, 2012.
• Březina, David. The evolution of the Gujarati typographic script. Unpublished MA dissertation. The University of Reading, 2007.
• Březina, David. General issues in multi-script typography. Unpublished essay. The University of Reading, 2007.

Other articles

• Březina, David. Ten years of Rosetta. In: Rosetta Blog, 2021.
• Březina, David. The making of Adapter. In: Rosetta Blog, 2019.
• Březina, David. Yrsa & Rasa released. In: Rosetta Blog, 2016.
• Březina, David. Harmonizing Rasa Gujarati and Yrsa Latin. In: Rosetta Blog, 2016.
• Březina, David. Introducing Yrsa. In: Rosetta Blog, 2015.
• Březina, David. Considerations in multilingual type design. In: Rosetta Blog, 2015.
• Březina, David. Rethinking type experience. In: Rosetta Blog, 2014.
• Březina, David. A Critical Approach To Typefaces. In: Smashing Magazine, 2013.
• Březina, David. Balkan Sans (Typeface review). In: Typographica, 2013.
• Březina, David. TYPO 49. 2012. Guest editor.
• Březina, David. Indian type : An opportunity for real design innovation. (In Czech and English.) In: TYPO 49, 2012.
• Březina, David. Challenges in multilingual type design. In: Codex 2, 2012.
• Březina, David. Celeste. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 41, 2010.
• Březina, David. Tomate & Lavigne Display. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 39, 2010.
• Březina, David. On diacritics. In: I love typography, 2009. Edited by John Boardley. (See also the Russian translation by Vasily V. Melenchuk.)
• Březina, David. Klimax. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 36, 2009.
• Březina, David. Odile & Elido. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 36, 2009.
• Březina, David & Vlachou, Irene. Maiola. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 33, 2008.
• Březina, David. Greta. (Typeface review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 31, 2008.
• Pecina, Martin & Březina, David. Type Anatomy 1.0. (In Czech and English.) In: Typomil, 2008.
• Březina, David. Non-Latin Typefaces.(Exhibition review in Czech and English.) In: TYPO 29, 2007.
• Březina, David. Reflection on practise. Unpublished essay. The University of Reading, 2007.

Lectures

• Elements of multi-script typography: the wayfinding edition. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2024.
• Písmo jako základ vizuálního stylu. (In Czech.) At: Brno Bold, Brno, 2022.
• Dyson, Mary & Březina, David. Questioning the obvious: different ways of seeing. At: ICTVC 8, Thessaloniki, 2022.
• Hyperglot – a database and tools for discovering language support in fonts. At: ICTVC 8, Thessaloniki, 2022.
• Guest lecture about Rosetta and research. At: ANRT/ENSAD, Nancy, France, 2022.
• Guest lecture about Rosetta and research. At: TypeParis Talks, Paris, France, 2022. #recording
• Několik poznámek k modernismu v písmu. (In Czech.) At: VOŠG, Hellichova, Prague, 2021.
• Několik poznámek k modernismu v písmu. (In Czech.) At: SSUD, 2021.
• Dyson, Mary & Březina, David. Challenging design training: do designers suffer more with harder to read typefaces? At: ICTVC 7, Patras, 2019.
• Character similarity and coherence in typeface design. At: ICTVC 7, Patras, 2019.
• Několik poznámek k modernismu v písmu. (In Czech.) At: FaVU (Faculty of Visual Arts) VUT, Brno, 2019.
• Recent projects from Rosetta. (In Czech.) At: FaVU (Faculty of Visual Arts) VUT, Brno, 2018. Also at: Brno Design Days, Brno, 2018.
• Character similarity and coherence in typeface design. At: Graphemics in 21st century: From graphemes to knowledge, Brest, 2018. #recording
• Some of the things I do not know about typefaces. At: Typostammtisch, Berlin, 2017. #summary
• Recent projects from Rosetta. At: Typostammtisch, Berlin, 2017. #summary
• Recent projects from Rosetta. At: Du monde entier au cœur du monde, Paris, 2015.
• Letters of Rosetta: from Brno to Bern. At: TypEast, Bern, 2015.
• Challenges in multilingual type design (II). At: ATypI, Amsterdam, 2013.
• Rethinking type experience. At: Smashing conference, Freiburg im Breisgau, 2013.
• Challenges in Indian type design. At: Association of British Scholars, Vadodara, 2012.
• Challenges in multilingual type design. At: Typography day, Mumbai, 2012. Also at: NID, Ahmedabad, 2012.
• Písmo je na webu to nejdůležitější. (In Czech.) At: WebExpo, Prague, 2011.
• Specifying type consistency. At: TypoTopo talks, Bratislava, 2011. Also at: Central Saint Martins, The University of the Arts London, London, 2012.
• Thinking in typeface design. At: ICTVC 3, Cyprus, 2010.
• General issues in multi-script typography. At: ATypI conference, Saint Petersburg, 2008. Also at: 4th International ConTeXt Meeting, 2010.
• On typeface design. At: University of Ostrava, Ostrava, 2010. Also at: Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań, Cieszyn, 2010.

Workshops

• Guest feedback sessions. At: TypeParis Talks, Paris, France, 2022.
• Návrh logotypu pro neznámý skript. (In Czech.) At: Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, 2019.
• A brief introduction to Python for data visualisation. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2016.
• A brief introduction to Python for type designers. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2015.
• Concepts for originality in typeface design and general feedback. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2013.
• Type design workshop focussed on webfonts. At: Seznam.cz, Brno, 2012.
• Concepts for originality in type design. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2012.
• Type design workshop/feedback. At: Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London, 2012.
• Type design workshops. At: FaVU (Faculty of Visual Arts) VUT, Brno, 2011.
• Type design workflow and running a Type Foundry. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2011.
• Type design workshops. At: FaVU (Faculty of Visual Arts) VUT, Brno, 2009–10.
• O písmu. (In Czech.) At: Pellico5 workshops, Brno, 2010.
• Multilingual typography workshop. At: Sign and typography studio of The Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań, Lanckorona, 2009.
• Type design process & automation. At: The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, The University of Reading, Reading, 2009.
• A brief introduction to Python for FontLab. At: Monotype Imaging, Salfords, 2009.

Interviews, profiles, and other appearances

• Serret, Gina. Q&A David Březina. TypeParis, 22 July 2022.
• Loring Murphy, Zoë. How important is harmony when designing multiscript type systems? An interview with David Březina. Type 01, 18 May 2021.
• Michailidis, Saša. Fenomén: česká typografie včera, dnes a zítra. (In Czech.) ČT Art (Czech TV Art), 9 March 2021. #recording
• Hartmann, Timm, Sascha Thoma and Ben Wittner. Forget your knowledge: Interview with David Březina of Rosetta Type. In: Bi-Scriptual: Typography and Graphic Design with Multiple Script Systems, 2018.
• Pecina, Martin. Nowe Terytoria. In: 2+3D, issue 52, volume III/2014, 2014.
• Middendorp, Jan. Rosetta Type Foundry: Vaibhav Singh, Titus Nemeth, David Březina. In: Creative Characters: The faces behind the fonts, issue 71, 2013.
• Stuttard, Jenny. What is multi-script typography all about. In: Rosetta Blog, 2013.
• Falvey, Christian. Award-winning Czech typographer takes on Gujarati. Radio Praha, 9 June 2012. #recording
• Lutonský, František. Interview for the Czech National News TV. (In Czech.) ČT 24 (Czech TV), 6 April 2012. #recording
• Pathak, Bharat. This Czech is a Gujarati ‘type’. Times of India, 28 March 2012.
• Stocks, Elliot Jay. David Březina. In: 8 Faces, issue 4, 2011.
• Fojtů, Martina. Březina: Vytvářet písma je jako mluvit různými hlasy. (In Czech.) In: Magazine of the Masaryk University, 1 April 2011.

Design awards

• Modern Cyrillic 2019 – art-direction of Adapter
• European Design Awards 2015 – silver for Skolar Sans Latin
• Granshan 2013 – 2nd prize (Indic category) for Skolar Gujarati
• Granshan 2012 – 1st prize (Indic category) for Skolar Devanagari (art-direction only, lead designer was Vaibhav Singh)
• Granshan 2009 – 1st prize (Cyrillic category) for Skolar Cyrillic
• Modern Cyrillic 2009 – special diploma for Skolar Cyrillic
• European Design Awards 2008 – silver for Skolar & Surat (Skolar Gujarati)

Exhibitions

• Granshan exhibition at ATypI Warszaw, 2016 (PL).
• Granshan exhibition in Bangkok, 2013 (DE/TH).
• International Biennial of Graphic design in Brno 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 (CZ).
• Collective type design exhibition at Klingspor-Museum Offenbach, 2010 (D).
• Modern Cyrillic exhibition, ATypI Mexico City, 2009 (RU/MX).
• TypeTogether collective exhibition in Rosario, 2008 (RA), Cieszyn, 2010 (PL), Poznań, 2011 (PL).