Hagen Verleger: Margaret van Eyck – Renaming an Institution, a Case Study
TDC Salon – Thursday, September 27, 2018. NYC

Hagen Verleger gives his insights into “Margaret van Eyck,” an ongoing, collaborative research/art project at the intersection of institutional critique, feminist design intervention, and the politics of (re-)naming, which he initiated in 2017 during his time as artist-in-residence at Van Eyck, a Dutch post-academic institute for fine art, design, and reflection.

Upon arriving at the program in April 2017, Hagen changed the academy’s name and the name of its “labs” by adding a female alternative to each of the all-male namesakes. This spatial design intervention led to an ongoing discussion at the institution and beyond, culminating in the official opening of Margaret van Eyck Academie with a series of presentations, performances, and readings.

This year, Hagen edited and designed a two-volume publication (published by Peradam Press, NYC) documenting Margaret van Eyck that featured a diverse group of artists, writers, and scholars that reflect on the topics within the project.

For this presentation at the Type Directors Club, Hagen will highlight the role that design played in the process, and specifically how typography can serve as a tool to enable and promote change.

Hagen Verleger is an independent graphic designer, editor, and researcher based in Berlin. As a designer, he focuses on typography and book design, working mainly with artists, cultural institutions, and publishing houses. In addition to commissioned work, Hagen’s artistic practice, which often revolves around editing and publishing, is informed by a strong interest in the interrelation of fiction and reality. He is currently working towards a doctorate in the field of philosophy, media studies, and design history.