Francesca Forte

Francesca Forte is an architect and graphic designer teaching Lettering at ABABO, Trentino Art Academy TNNA in Trento, the International School of Graphics in Venice, and the Academy of Arts and New Technologies in Rome. Since 2019, she has maintained a dual career combining freelance design work with academic instruction, specializing in typeface development and visual communication systems.

Her educational background includes:

• Architecture degree from IUAV University of Venice
• Art Direction specialization at Istituto Superiore di Comunicazione
• Design of Services and Network Communication at Domus Academy
• Master's degrees in Type Design and Lettering Design at M. Flor Academy Berlin

Her research focuses on the intersection of historical writing systems and contemporary visual communication, with particular emphasis on typographic anatomy, character spacing, and analog-to-digital lettering workflows. She investigates how calligraphic traditions inform modern comic book typography, especially in title design, onomatopoeia presentation, and narrative text integration within constrained visual spaces.

Her award-winning professional work demonstrates exceptional skill in:

• 2023 European Design Awards Gold Prize for Publications/Calendar design
• 2021-22 label and packaging design for "Le forme dell'aceto"
• 2018 Most Popular House Urlaubs Architektur for "La Mugletta"

At ABABO, she mentors students in developing original lettering systems for comic book narratives through structured exercises progressing from basic calligraphy to final digital projects. Her teaching integrates historical analysis with practical application, though no research grants are documented. She continues advancing her craft through direct study with international calligraphy masters, maintaining active engagement with both analog techniques and digital implementation workflows.