SOTA Catalyst Award
Call for Entries
The Society of Typographic Aficionados is pleased to announce the 11th annual SOTA Catalyst Award. Each year, SOTA recognizes an individual 25 years of age or younger who shows both achievement and future promise in the field of typography. The award brings broad industry exposure to young people creating original works in the fields of typography, type design, lettering, calligraphy, and type history.
We encourage any young person active in these fields, whether a professional or a student, to nominate themselves for the SOTA Catalyst Award by submitting an entry.
The 2020 recipient will be awarded up to $2,000 USD in reimbursement for transportation and lodging expenses to attend the TypeCon2020 conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA from August 12th to 16th, 2020. They will also have their conference registration paid for and be required to give a 20-minute presentation of their work during the main conference program. Recipients should be available to attend the conference from Thursday to Sunday.
The SOTA Catalyst Award is fully-funded by The Society of Typographic Aficionados, an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, study, and support of type, including its history and development, its use in the world of print and digital imagery, its designers, and its admirers.
Judging Committee
Kristine Arth
Kourosh Beigpour
Rachel Elnar
Caren Litherland
Juan Villanueva
Submission Deadline
April 13th, 2020 — Deadline Extended!
Notification of Award
April 27th, 2020
Requirements
You must be 25 years of age or younger on December 31st, 2020.
Applicants must attend TypeCon2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA from August 12th to 16th, 2020, and give a 20-minute presentation of their work on Friday, August 14th.
Entries must be emailed to catalyst@typesociety.org by the submission deadline.
Entries must consist of one multiple-page PDF file that contains the following:
- A title page that includes Applicant’s name, date of birth, email, phone number, and postal address.
- Visual examples of the Applicant’s work in typography. Multiple works preferred. (15 pages maximum) Please note: The Recipient’s conference presentation topic must be centered around the project(s). Both finished and in-progress work are acceptable.
- A presentation summary: Applicant’s brief written description of the work, including its genesis and development. (300 words or less)
- A statement explaining the Applicant’s interest and aspirations in typography. (300 words or less)
Applications will be judged based on both visual examples as well as the Applicant’s interest and aspirations statement.
All four components must be included for entries to be eligible.
Thank you and good luck!