Annette le Fort

Prof. Annette le Fort is a Professor of Communication Design and Book Design at the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel, Germany. She holds a Diplom in Communication Design from the same institution (1997) and has conducted research at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (2002/03). Her career includes founding the design studio 'fliegenpartikel' in 1998 and relocating it internationally (Maastricht/The Hague, Lisbon/Berlin). She has been a visiting scholar at Christian-Albrechts-Universität (Kiel) and Cité des Arts Internationale (Paris).

Her research explores the materiality of language, focusing on voice-writing relationships, palimpsests, and synesthesia. Key projects include Phonetic Skin (sound project), Memory Map series (labeled cartographies), and the Parole publication series. She has curated exhibitions at institutions like MoTA (Ljubljana), Witte de With (Rotterdam), and WH Auden-Haus (Austria).

Her awards include Type Directors Club New York (2018), multiple International Typographic Awards (2014/2011), and DAAD scholarships. She advises on typography for museums and universities worldwide, and her work appears in prominent collections like MoMA and Centre Pompidou.

Education:

• 1997: Diplom in Communication Design, Muthesius Kunsthochschule Kiel
• 1999/01: Guest studies in Philosophy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
• 2002/03: Research Fellowship, Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht

Research Interests: Her practice bridges art and design through investigations of language's material and performative dimensions. Projects like 12 tongues (virtual speech ballet) and Trembling series explore vocal embodiment, while Memory Map projects map urban soundscapes. She interrogates writing as both memory trace and palimpsest, often using diaries, videos, and site-specific installations.

Publications: Over 20 books and journals, including Parole series (2009–2017), ISTD Awards (2011), and Neuland: The Future of German Graphic Design. Her work is featured in Typography journals and museum catalogues.

Grants & Collaborations: Recipient of DAAD, Cité des Arts, and MuseumsQuartier grants. Collaborates with institutions like Errant Bodies Press, Revolver Publishing, and international universities (Freie Universität Berlin, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich). Her studio has designed publications for museums like Ikon Gallery (Birmingham) and Witte de With (Rotterdam).

Labs/Teams: Leads the Parole editorial collective and collaborates with interdisciplinary groups at Muthesius Academy, focusing on experimental typography and sound art.