The Possible Book – Exploring the Dialogue of Type

From 12 to 14 November 2026, Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel will host the symposium “Dialog der Schrift – Das mögliche Buch”. Bringing together contributors from the fields of art, typography, literature, philosophy and the performing arts, the event explores the possibilities of the book as an artistic, cultural and intellectual medium.

At the heart of the symposium is the project The Library of Possible Books, which approaches the book as more than a traditional carrier of text. It opens up a space for experimentation, creative exchange and new ways of thinking about the relationship between language, typography, form and content. The symposium invites participants to consider how books can be imagined, designed and understood beyond established conventions.

The programme features an interdisciplinary group of twelve speakers and contributors. Among them are philosopher Hannes Böhringer, radio play director Iris Drögekamp, artist Jennifer Eckert, poet Oswald Egger, typographer and book designer Friedrich Forssman, typographer Jian Haake, theatre director Daniel Karasek, philosopher and theatre scholar Petra Maria Meyer, typographer Anika Mohr, artist Jürgen Partenheimer, literary scholar, translator and essayist Theresia Prammer, and typographer Christine Salmen. Their diverse perspectives create the foundation for a multifaceted dialogue on the book and its potential.

The opening on 12 November at 6 pm features welcoming addresses by Arne Zerbst, Annette le Fort and André Heers, followed by the launch of The Library of Possible Books I / II, published by Verlag für moderne Kunst in Vienna, alongside a preview of the third volume.

The symposium is organised by the Typography and Book Design department at Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design, under the direction of Annette le Fort and André Heers. The wider project also includes the exhibition The Library of Possible Books, curated by Sven Christian Schuch, which presents approximately 500 experimental books and book objects created by students since 2010.

Over three days, the symposium will bring together diverse approaches to typography, artistic practice and literary thought. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the book not as a fixed format, but as an evolving medium shaped by imagination, experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dialog der Schrift – Das mögliche Buch
12–14 November 2026

sp ce | Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design
Andreas-Gayk-Straße 7–11
24103 Kiel, Germany

Opening and book launch
12 November 2026 at 6 pm