Call for Entries: Slanted Magazine #46—Cairo

We are excited to announce an open call for submissions for Slanted Magazine #46–Cairo, dedicated to exploring the vibrant and diverse design scene in Cairo and across Egypt. The issue will highlight the work of creatives from Cairo, other Egyptian cities, and those based abroad, showcasing a range of contemporary design practices and perspectives that shape the cultural landscape of Egypt today.

From graphic design, typography, and visual communication to architecture, digital design, and product design, we are looking for exceptional work that reflects the dynamic creative energy of the region. Whether it’s innovative branding projects, experimental design practices, or impactful visual storytelling, we want to see the work that is driving the conversation in Egypt’s design community. We encourage submissions from both emerging and established designers.

Graphic designers, illustrators, journalists, authors, and artists are encouraged to submit their work along with a statement or quote explaining their work. Text submissions in form of essays and articles about cultural and creative topics dedicated to Egypt/Cairo are also welcome. Please send an email with your idea to [email protected].

After the submission deadline, all contributions will be carefully reviewed and curated. If your work is selected, we will reach out to you. Please bear with us as we take the time to thoroughly evaluate each submission and make a thoughtful decision. If your work is selected, you will receive a discount code by email to order a copy at its release.

📅 Submission Deadline: Sunday, 12.01.2025
📅 Editorial Trip Cairo: 22.—28.02.2025
📅 Publication: End of October 2025

Very much looking forward to your submissions!

Submit your work here.

© Arabic Lettering: Amr Bakr

KAIRO Catering – Branding

Kairo Catering is a branding project based in Kuwait, inspired by the vibrant essence of Cairo streets. The design combines a soft, fluffy aesthetic with retro vibes that evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth. It features professional Arabic calligraphy, skillfully integrating popular Egyptian quotes in a playful and creative manner. The branding strikes a balance between tradition and modernity, capturing the lively spirit of Cairo while delivering a fresh, approachable identity.

Cairo In Green

Cairo in Green is a poster designed as a heartfelt tribute to the city of Cairo. Inspired by the aerial view of its landscape, the creator was struck by the overwhelming presence of red bricks, a sight they found unappealing. This inspired the use of bold Arabic typography to envision a greener, cleaner Cairo. The poster also serves as a symbolic award, honoring those who work to transform the city into a vibrant and sustainable space, free from the dominance of red bricks.

Hacking Design

An exploratory approach to design in relation to technology. Focusing on three aspects “Distortion, creation and configuration”. Using different media and tools to achieve these three aspects. The book will be exploring new techniques disciplines and have fun with it. This project will highlight research, process results and personal insights in an organic manner that intertwines within each other.

from Books to Rocks

Alongside the Elbe river, Rana started a research journey during her residency at Kunstlerhaus Lauenburg on rocks and nature. A journey which lead her to explore many mediums for research including: audio, moving image, still image, drawing and writing, as tools for documentation and exploration.
This research project is simply a reflection of her design and art practice and her speculative methodology towards art and design.

Lametta 2024

Lametta turns lucky 13! Once again, the entire Tollhaus will be transformed into a glittering oasis, offering plenty of space for exhibitors, artists, gastronomy, and, of course, visitors. More room to browse, discover, enjoy, experience, and shop in a relaxed atmosphere.

Lametta has always been about intentional browsing, marveling, and mindful purchasing. Instead of mass-produced goods and long shopping trips, visitors will find unique creations crafted with love and care by artists and designers dedicated to sustainable value and attention to detail.

This year, around 80 exhibitors will present their one-of-a-kind, handmade products at their individual booths or at the small yet exquisite Paletti Market, now in its third edition.

Fans of the Lametta Surprise Bags—and those new to the tradition—can look forward to snagging one of these limited-edition treasures, featuring fresh, handcrafted designs. The contents remain a secret, but rest assured: these are true bags of wonders guaranteed to bring smiles and delight!

No Lametta event is complete without its cultural program. Always fresh, different, and surprising, the program offers entertainment for the whole family. Some activities will take place outdoors in the picturesque Tollhaus courtyard, which will also host part of the food and beverage offerings. Mulled wine and non-alcoholic punch are a must, along with a variety of hot and cold drinks and delicious food. Bonfires, cozy seating areas, and quieter spots for chatting round out the festive experience. Lametta will be open on December 6th and 7th, 2024. Admission is €5 and covers both days. Children under 16 enjoy free entry.

We’ll be there too, with our own booth and a selection of our products—come by and say hi! We’d love to see you!

Lametta 2024

Where?
Kulturzentrum Tollhaus, Karlsruhe

When?
December 6th, 2024, 3pm to 10pm
December 7th, 2024, 12pm to 8pm

Images by Michael Hartmeier

Further information here.

Dystopia: Humans vs. God

Dystopia is an editorial project exploring how humans misuse power and push beyond their limits, questioning the consequences of assuming roles beyond their nature. The book includes six chapters, including “Humans vs. Gods”, which the poster is about, a chapter that delves into real-life crises and human limitations.

Art of Khayameya Publication: “Beauty in What is Hidden”

Khayamiya, an ancient Cairo-born craft that once adorned tents and pavilions, now faces the brink of extinction. Yet, its dedicated craftsmen persevere, weaving intricate beauty and hope for its revival. “Beauty in What is Hidden” delves into this artistry, featuring French folds with poetic verses co-written with artisans and handmade covers crafted with the tent’s fabric, dak. It invites viewers to see through the craft, unveiling channeled years of practice, experience, and dedication.

A Flight of Longing

Inspired by the iconic folk song ‘Yama Hamamy Sarah’ this handcrafted Khayameya celebrates Egyptian traditional folklore. Titled “Flight of Longing”, this piece dives into the depths of longing and tradition echoing through generations. Central to the design is the silhouette of the Borg Hammam, standing steadfast as a bridge connecting the past to the present, where the song of a single pigeon whispers tales of resilience, nostalgia, and the eternal dance of the human heart.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT POSTCARDS VOL.01

This postcard collection, explores the intersection of culture and food. Each postcard mimics a recipe card, featuring instructions for preparing dishes. The focus is on Tteokbokki, a Korean dish of cylindrical rice cakes in a sweet chili glaze. This project delves into both the physical and design aspects of cultural cuisine, offering a unique perspective on the connection between food and creativity.

EMBEDDED DEPENDENCES

This publication, born Branding Design course, evolved into a three-volume series exploring agriculture and the environment through storytelling. Each volume, 1.historical narratives, 2.challenges, and 3.acknowledgments, connect chronologically through symbolic colors: red for narrative allure, brown for depth, blue for calm, and green for closure. Combining photography and text, it blends editorial and artistic elements, questioning the balance between aesthetics and functionality.

مذكرات عيني وخط سكاكر / Mozakerat Aini & Khaat Sakaker

This project is a chaotic personal memoir captured through six moments, using postcard frames and symbolic elements to evoke emotions reflecting each scene. Tied to the Khaat Sakaker typeface, a blend of Arabic calligraphy and personal heritage. They collectively explore themes of vulnerability, family, and grief. Khaat Sakaker serves as both a tribute to home and a reflection of identity, blending sophistication and sentimentality

Readymag as Type Playground

Readymag, a no-code tool for creating outstanding websites, started with love for digital zines and typography. Here’s how you can make its typography features work for your goals.

Choose

Pick a font from Readymag’s vast free library of fonts, or upload your custom one.

Tweak 

Customize it with Advanced Typography: ligatures, stylistic sets, tabular figures, fractions, and small caps. Go even more flexible in the boldness and proportions with the Variable Fonts option.

Example: Pivot Grotesk website gallantly uses a custom cursor, Shots—frame-by-frame animation linked to scroll—and object animation to convey the concepts behind the font.

Lay out & Animate

Reinforce your typographic solutions with a unique layout—no limitations here—and add no-code animations.

Example: The “Welcome” project landing relies on just a few fonts, but their size, position, and transparency change as you go, which makes the page as dynamic as a movie. 

Enjoy your smooth design

Take a moment to appreciate how your creative solutions in typography and animation help you hit your mark.

readymag.com

Sweetness in this City مذاقٌ حلوٌ في المدينةِ

Last winter in Berlin felt heavy, with tensions rising after the ban on pro-Palestinian protests and a growing sense of division. In this atmosphere, I began noticing everyday objects with a sense of nostalgia, as if they carried new meaning. This inspired my zine, themed “Home,” a collection of objects that tell personal stories. Like a mini museum of memories, it explores how thoughtful curation makes the mundane significant, inviting others to reflect on their own ties to “Home.”

Werkschau Magazine 2024 Mannheim

This year, the Faculty of Design at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences hosted a birthday party for design itself, which turns 100 years old—or at least in the city of Mannheim. From November 8th to 10th, Veruschka Götz, a dedicated typographer and professor of design, organized the faculty’s tenth annual Werkschau at the Mannheim Kunstverein.

Accompanying the event, a six-person team of students cataloged the works in the exhibition magazine, which was released as the 29th edition of the self-managed komma magazine series.

Spanning 152 pages under the theme “RGB and Freaking Out,” the publication offers insights into courses, highlights the best bachelor’s and master’s thesis projects in communication design, and looks to the future. The idea of “freaking out” doesn’t just symbolize the 100-year celebration but can also be taken literally—breaking out of the grid. Typography plays a subtle role in this rebellion, causing disruptions without losing clarity in its design.

The magazine’s standout feature is affectionately called the “chunky plastic spiral,” along with colorful chapter dividers that segment the content. The cover begins in symbolic solid black, transitions to vibrant colors inside, and concludes with a white back cover. As part of the launch event, several covers were spray-painted with red, blue, and green paint, forming a collective artwork. Throughout the rest of the exhibition, visitors were invited to take creative control, customizing their own copies as they pleased.

But one question remains—what’s with all the horses? Horses, often seen as wild animals, symbolize freedom. They’re known to kick back when something doesn’t sit right with them. This spirit is something we should carry forward after the challenges of the past century. Every generation of designers must face their own set of adversaries—be it Hitler, AI, or the ongoing attempts to financially starve our craft. So go wild, little horses! Let’s kick back and make our mark.

The team includes: Ann-Sophie Breitung, Tessa Breuer, Sarah Ciccarese, Luisa Forberger, Jona Missal, Nyaz Schmitt

Blossom in my imagination

This book is a heartfelt conversation with Laila Al-Husseini, the author’s late grandmother, who lived through displacement and carried her Palestinian identity across Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, and Amman. Using ChatGPT, the author reimagines the dialogue they never had, uncovering her emotions, challenges, and connection to her roots. *Blossom in My Imagination* reflects the essence of the homeland through a blend of roots and aspirations, connecting her story to Palestine’s enduring spirit.

This Is What We Found Our Fathers Upon

Egyptians tend to follow their traditional values unequivocally, as they provide a sense of belonging and keep them grounded in their roots and identity. These traditions stem from various origins, serving as a guide in daily life and influencing how Egyptians judge situations and those around them. At times, followed without logical reasoning, it’s worth questioning why we conform to these traditions, examining their hold on us, and reflecting on their consequences for ourselves and others.

Aby Fawk Al Shagara/أبي فوق الشجرة

This movie poster was created for a university course where we explored a different design technique and film genre each week. For this particular poster, the assignment was to incorporate geometric shapes. The film featured the renowned song “Do’o Al Shamasy”, which is about umbrellas on the beach. To reflect this theme, I used paper cutouts to form the shapes of umbrellas, blending the song’s imagery with the geometric style required for the project.

Verein für die Schwarze Kunst

The Verein für die Schwarze Kunst (Association for the Black Arts), established in 2013, is dedicated to preserving traditional letterpress printing and typesetting. Over the past six years, it has awarded scholarships for an eight-week program where young individuals learn these crafts at nearly 30 workshops across Europe. To date, the association has invested € 35,000, with workshops volunteering their time. It also seeks to have letterpress printing recognized as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

To mark the 111th anniversary of poet Christian Morgenstern’s death on March 31st, 2025, the association is producing a handcrafted book featuring his works. This project is a collaboration with Johannes Follmer of Homburg Paper Mill, the MDE – Master Bookbinders International, and various bookbinders. Morgenstern, renowned for his “Galgenlieder,” is highly regarded in typographic circles, making this a fitting tribute.

The book will include texts typeset and printed manually using pre-1914 typefaces, complemented by illustrations in traditional techniques. The handmade paper—4,000 sheets in total—is being created at Homburg Paper Mill with contributions from scholarship recipients, alumni, and members. Additional papermaking sessions are planned for 2024. Approximately 10,000 pages will be hand-printed, assembled into five folded sections, and distributed to 20 bookbinders selected by the MDE. Each binder will craft a unique artistic binding for one book, which will be displayed in exhibitions, while additional copies will feature simplified bindings.

This project celebrates the craftsmanship of papermaking, printing, and bookbinding while honoring Morgenstern’s legacy, with its completion planned for March 2025.

The Büchergilde Gutenberg will serve as the exclusive partner for 111 copies of the Prêt-à-porter editions. Proceeds from these sales will be shared among the Association for the Black Arts, the MDE, and Johannes Follmer to support their work and cover paper production costs. At least one exhibition is planned at the Christian Morgenstern Literature Museum in Werder an der Havel, which opened in 2014 for the poet’s 100th anniversary and is part of the “Märkische Dichterstraße” literary route.

Further information here.

Yearbook of Type #7

Building on the success of its predecessors, the Yearbook of Type #7 presents an updated design concept that features new interfaces and fresh features for an enhanced reading experience on 608 (!) pages. With a thematic focus on plants, this edition offers a unique perspective on typography and presents a wide range of new and high-quality fonts, where there is something for every purpose and taste. 

Each typeface is now showcased on three pages and offers a comprehensive overview of its properties and characteristics: A double page spread with an appealing visual sample of the font emphasizes the character of the font. The third page offers a detailed overview of the font and its special features, information on language support, styles, weights and widths, OpenType features, and detailed background information about the designer and the foundry. 

A comprehensive index allows for quick reference, while the online microsite enables easy browsing and direct purchases. The book is accompanied by a freely accessible online microsite, which allows easy browsing and direct purchase of all the fonts presented. 

– Detailed presentation of 180 recent typefaces
– Ample background information
– Index of all 206 type designers and 108 foundries from 29 countries
– Explanation of all OpenType features
– An online microsite that directly links the typefaces to the foundries’ websites (from this edition, as well as editions 3 through 6) 

Presented type foundries: 205TF, AG Typography Institute, AinsiFont, Alex Slobzheninov, Ampersand Type Foundry, Antipixel Type Studio, Apex Type Foundry, Azuliq Type, Bastarda Type, Binnenland, Black[Foundry], Blast Foundry, Blaze Type, Bleifrei Type, Bureau Sebastian Moock, BVH Type, Cadson Demak, Cape Arcona, CRU Brand Consultancy, CSTM Fonts, Darden Studio, Detail Type Foundry, Displaay Type Foundry, DSType Foundry, edition.studio Type Foundry, Fabio Haag Type, Fable, Face2Face, Faire Type, Fatype, Fincker Font Cuisine, Fontwerk, Formula Type, Frere-Jones Type, Friederike Wagner, Frost, Fuenfwerken Design AG, Gradient Type, Hanken Design Co.®, Hoftype, Huy! Fonts, It’s Just Letters, Jeremy Tankard Typography, Kobu™ Foundry, Kontour Type, LA BOLDE VITA, Latinotype, Lazydogs Typefoundry, Le Laïc: Type Foundry, Lian Olsen, Lift Type, Mark van Leeuwen, Monolith, Morisawa.Inc, Mostardesign Type Foundry, NEW LETTERS, nice to type, Nonspace, Nouvelle Noire, Nova Type Foundry, Ntsal, OPS Type, Paratype, Peter Schmidt Group, phosphorus, Playtype, Posterizer KG, Range Left Shop, RazziaType, Retype, Revolver Type, Rosetta Type Foundry, Sacha Rein, Schriftlabor, Sharp Type, Stan Hema, Studio Bollo, Studio Principle, Studio Rene Bieder, sugargliderz, Text Field Office, The Northern Block, Thomas Hirter, tictactype, TIGHTYPE, André Toet, Tour de Force Font Foundry, TYPE FIRM, TypeMates, Typerepublic, TypeTogether, Typogama, Typonym, Typotheque, Ultra Kuhl, Viktor Nübel Type Design, VJ Type, W Type Foundry, Wannatype, WELTKERN® Typefaces, XYZ Type, Zakznak, Zetafonts

The Yearbook of Type #7 is a must-have for typography enthusiasts—a go-to source for finding the perfect typeface or a spark of inspiration!

Yearbook of Type #7

Plant Edition

Publisher: Slanted Publishers
Creative Direction: Lars Harmsen
Art Direction & Managing Editor: Juliane Lipp
Graphic Design Assistance: Linus Haug, Greta Landmann
Publishing Direction: Lars Harmsen, Julia Kahl
Release: November 2024
Format: 16 × 24 × 4 cm
Volume: 608 pages
Language: English
Printing: Offset with fluorescent spot-colors by Stober Medien
Workmanship: Stiff brochure, thread-stitching by Buchbinderei Spinner
Paper: Magno Matt (inside); SURBALIN ribbed (endpaper), PEYPRINT honan (cover) by peyer graphic
ISBN: 978-3-948440-77-0
Price: € 48.–

Buy Here.

Internship at Slanted Publishers—apply now!

Du liebst Typografie und Editorial Design und möchtest in einem internationalen Verlag arbeiten? Dann bist du bei uns genau richtig! Wir vergeben ein 6-monatiges Pflichtpraktikum im Bereich Redaktion/Grafik ab Ende Februar 2025 und suchen eine(n) engagierte(n) Studierende(n), der/die Lust hat zu erfahren, wie wir arbeiten und für 6 Monate Teil des Slanted-Teams wird.

Wir bieten:

  • Redaktionelle und grafische Mitarbeit am Slanted Magazin, insbesondere Ausgabe #46—Cairo
  • Redaktionelle Mitarbeit am Slanted Blog und den Social Media Channels
  • Einblicke in unsere Verlagstätigkeit (Konzeption, Redaktion, Organisation, Vertrieb, PR etc.)
  • Grafische Mitarbeit an unseren Publikationen
  • Studiofotografie, Bildbearbeitung
  • Verantwortungsvolle, selbstständige Arbeit und unter Anleitung
  • Mögliche Teilnahme an Designkonferenzen im Rahmen unserer Medienpartnerschaften

Das sollte der/die BewerberIn mitbringen:

  • Das Praktikum erfolgt im Rahmen eines studienbegleitenden Pflichtpraktikums an einer deutschen Hochschule (keine Ausnahmen möglich)
  • Abgeschlossenes Grundstudium im Bereich Grafikdesign (o. Ä.)
  • Sichere Anwendungskenntnisse in InDesign und Photoshop
  • Großes Interesse an neuen Strömungen in den Bereichen Typografie, Type Design, Design und Kultur
  • Redaktionelles Interesse
  • Selbstständigkeit, Weitblick, Flexibilität, Kreativität und Ideenreichtum
  • Sehr gute Deutsch- und Englischkenntnisse
  • Organisationstalent und Kommunikationsstärke
  • Gewissenhaftes und genaues Arbeiten

Das Praktikum bei Slanted Publishers findet vom 24.02.–29.08.2024 in Karlsruhe statt und wird vergütet. Bewerber*innen sollten erklären, warum sie ihr Praktikum bei uns machen möchten. Bitte richtet Eure vollständige Bewerbung als aussagefähiges PDF-Portfolio (Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Arbeitsproben) ab sofort bis spätestens 01.12.2024 an Julia Kahl, [email protected]. Die Bewerbungsgespräche finden nach Sichtung aller Bewerbungen statt.

Wir freuen uns sehr auf Eure Bewerbung!