Conquering the extremes: LIQUIFER Systems Group, a design and research firm based in Vienna and Bremen, has been addressing the issue of human life on planet Earth and elsewhere in the universe for two decades. Their work demonstrates how considerate technology-based design solutions and careful use of available resources can enable us to live in space.

LIQUIFER. Living Beyond Earth – Architecture for Extreme Environments is the first book to present the practice’s groundbreaking work. It features 177 color and 62 b/w illustrations and was published by Park Books. It’s the first published book to use the typeface Micronova. The serif typeface is Lexik, likewise by Binnenland.

A ± Z Abwesenheit – Zufall / Absence – Accidental is an artistic research work of Micha Payer and Martin Gabriel.

This monograph by and about the artistic duo Payer Gabriel is an antidisciplinary encyclopedia that literally unfolds its etymological meaning – as a circle of learning in which variable forms of knowledge that mutually inform and reference each other, often in playful ways, circulate.

A ± Z is set entirely in Lexik, featuring the first time use of its Greek extension that was published in 2024. A ± Z has been awarded as one of the Most Beautiful Austrian Books of 2023:

This publication is enchanting. The successful interplay of different types of paper is not only visually impressive, but also invites you to flick through the pages and literally immerse yourself in them thanks to its interesting feel. The skilfully arranged interplay between the text sections and photographs, sometimes as lithographed illustrations on thin-print label paper, surprises and delights book lovers. The ingeniously inverted linen cover alone makes this work stand out.

The bilingual book (German and English) has 246 pages and is illustrated with 74 color plates
It was printed by Gerin in Wolkersdorf on Arena Bulk 90 g and Uniset Supra 80 g papers, and published by De Gruyter in the edition:angewandte series.

First use of Lexik’s Greek extension (added in 2024) in the word εγκυκλοπαίδεια.

Parliament: A photographic index

We live in an age of omnipresent and calculated images; what opportunity do photographers have to approach a historically charged prestigious building without the risk of being instrumentalized? Is it possible that photographs and artistic work in an empty building can say more than that the building is temporarily no longer used for its original purpose?

In a cooperation project of the University of Applied Arts Vienna with the Directorate of the Austrian Parliament, students of the Department of Applied Photography and Time-Based Media had the opportunity to investigate the historic building shortly after the parliament had moved out, and to find answers to these questions.

The result is a photographic investigation about interaction of architecture, art and politics. 782 images from the Austrian parliament building in vacancy, printed in web-fed offset on newsprint.

Authors: Parliament Directorate, Republic of Austria; Pascal Petignat, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Work in progress: unbound sheets before the binding.

Ads for the Swiss Institute Contemporary Art New York.

Swiss Institute is an independent non-profit contemporary art institution dedicated to promoting forward-thinking and experimental art making through innovative exhibitions and programs. It used Regular as their corporate typeface from 2001 to 2006.

Exhibition catalogs for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen, 2006–2010.

These exhibition catalogs for FRAC (Fonds régional d’art contemporain de Lorraine in Metz, France) were designed by Nik Thoenen for temporary art exhibitions in the center.

The FRAC font, a monolinear all caps typeface without curves, was designed by Nik Thoenen in 2003 to create a new signage and thereafter also the corporate design for FRAC. The design of the typeface is based on a 7×7 dot grid inspired by early CAD-fonts, using only capital letters. The lower case letters are laid out with arrows.

Exhibition catalogs for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen, 2008.

Exhibition catalog for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen.

Permanent intervention at the piegon tower with the coordinates, as a public signal of the Fond Régional d’Art Contemporain de Lorraine in Metz (France).

The FRAC font was designed by Nik Thoenen in 2003 to create a new signage and thereafter also the corporate design for the Fonds régional d’art contemporain de Lorraine (FRAC). The design of the typeface is based on a 7×7 dot grid inspired by early CAD-fonts, using only capital letters. The lower case letters are laid out with arrows.

The hand painted typography with the coordinates at the pigeon tower and the listing of all artist names of purchased works are permanent interventions with lime paint and will disappear over time. The signage opposes architecture and the patrimonial aspect of the place.

See also this post with posters designed for FRAC 2003–2011.

Permanent intervention at the piegon tower with the listing of all artist names of purchased works. The inscriptions are applied with lime paint and will disappear over time.

Permanent intervention at the piegon tower with the listing of all artist names of purchased works. The inscriptions are applied with lime paint and will disappear over time.

Exhibition poster for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen, 2008.

FRAC, a monolinear all caps typeface without curves, was designed by Nik Thoenen in 2003, initially for a new signage and later also for the corporate identity of the Fonds régional d’art contemporain de Lorraine (FRAC). It is based on a 7x7 dot grid inspired by early CAD-fonts, using only capital letters. The lower case letters are layouted with arrows.

Exhibition poster for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen, 2010.

Exhibition poster for FRAC Lorraine in Metz, France. Nik Thoenen, 2011.