Gen Ramírez

Gen Ramírez, a type designer and educator based in Guadalajara, Mexico, co-founded Dual Type, a Mexican-Croatian studio specializing in type design, editorial design, branding, and digital media. His multidisciplinary approach to design has led him to a lifelong exploration of typeform and expression. With a background rooted in traditional lettering, he is dedicated to preserving and promoting this craft both professionally and culturally. He completed certification programs in Type Design at The Cooper Union in San Francisco and New York. He graduated with a master's degree in type design and technology from the TypeMedia program at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Netherlands. His work has been recognized by the Latin American Typography Biennial, Tipos Latinos. In addition to teaching type design and calligraphy, Gen plays a key role in fostering a thriving typographic community in Mexico, organizing the biennial Letrástica conference in Guadalajara.

Andreu Balius Planelles

Andreu Balius is a graphic designer specializing in type design and editorial design. He holds a PhD from the University of Southampton and teaches at the Eina School of Design in Barcelona. He began designing typefaces in the late 1980s. In 1990, he launched Garcia Fonts & Co, an experimental project exploring the expressive possibilities of digital technology. In 2003, he founded Typerepublic, a digital foundry where he publishes his typefaces and creates corporate typography for clients such as Victoria’s Secret, Seat/Volkswagen, Arte TV, the Government of La Rioja, the Barcelona Provincial Council, and Abu Dhabi Ports, among others.

He has given lectures at national and international conferences, as well as workshops at schools and universities. His work has been awarded prizes such as the European Design Award and the “Certificate of Excellence in Type Design” from the TDC. He is a member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale), TDC (Type Directors Club), and ATypI, and is the author of the book Type at Work: Usos de la tipografía en el diseño editorial and numerous articles in specialized publications.

Mario Balcázar

He is a graphic designer with a master's degree in editorial design from Universidad Anáhuac Mexico, and additional studies in design, typography, and publishing at Stanford and Type Cooper. In 1999, he founded ilustresDiseño, a studio specializing in branding, editorial, and advertising design. Eight years later, the studio evolved into MBA Estudio de Diseño, where he has consolidated his work with clients such as Walmart, Petco, Infonavit, and Alsea, expanding his focus to include digital design and information architecture up to the present day.

Currently, he divides his time between MBA Estudio and teaching editorial design, typography, calligraphy, and identity at Universidad Anáhuac. He also specializes in executive management at IPADE and MIT. His passions include lettering, editorial design, branding, photography, and writing, particularly on design and management topics. He is the co-author of the book Gestión del Diseño, published by Universidad Anáhuac, and has contributed to websites such as Foroalfa and Paredro.

Other activities involving the participant:

Invisible Letters: The Typography You Don’t See