MODERNITIES AND MODERNIZATION IN NORTH AMERICA — The German Association for American Studies (GAAS) is a non-profit academic organisation. In 2017, its annual conference, Modernities and Modernization in North America, was held in Hannover.

At the invitation of the design studio ItYt, Ilina Catana contributed to the development of the conference’s visual identity. The concept draws on key references from modern art and graphic expressions of the modern period, including photograms and experimental typographic compositions, translating these influences into a contemporary visual language.

The identity combines a grayscale image with a vibrant accent colour and a dynamic typographic system. The title typeface, Aktiv Grotesk by Dalton Maag, offers a wide range of weights and widths, allowing varied letterforms to articulate the conference theme. The poster and programme were produced using offset printing with a spot colour, reinforcing the clarity and material presence of the design.

Art Direction: ItYt, Designers: Kiriakoula Kremantzouli / Melanie Rosenauer / Ilina Catana