Ismar David (1910–1996) was a prolific calligrapher, type designer, illustrator, architectural designer, educator, and author. From the 1930s until the 1990s, he lived and worked in Berlin, Jerusalem, and New York. His most important work is considered to be the David Hebrew Typeface family. It was the first of its kind when it was issued in 1954, and it remains at the aesthetic and practical pinnacle of contemporary Hebrew type design. Ms. Avni will address the challenges entailed in designing a Hebrew typeface family. How did David tackle these obstacles? Why was this typeface family of paramount importance at the time of its release, and how has it fared in terms of implementation and critical attention over the years? Shani Avni will shed light on David’s fascinating design process and ground-breaking results.

Shani Avni has been the Ismar David Visiting Assistant Curator at the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection since 2020. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, and an MA in Typeface Design from the University of Reading. For her thesis she researched the David Hebrew typeface family and, since receiving her degree, it remains an important element of her research. Avni designs, researches, teaches, consults, writes, and lectures on typography and type design. She perseveres in her efforts to strengthen the connection between the academic and practical spheres by supporting and promoting access to historical information.