Carl J. Kurtz
Visual Designer

Curriculum Vitae

Carl J. Kurtz — Graphic designer specializing in research-based typography and functional typefaces.

Research Interests

Historical and experimental typography, 19th-century British printing, non-linear writing systems, design theory, political economy of design, and AI’s role in visual authorship.

Education

2023 – Ongoing
MA in Communication Design

MA in Communication Design with a focus on typography at HAW Hamburg

2023
Python for Glyphs Crash Course

One-month Python for Glyphs crash course with Rainer Erich Scheichelbauer

2021
Principles of Typeface Design

Two-month workshop: Principles of Typeface Design with Troy Leinster at The Cooper Union, New York

2018 – 2022
Vocational Training

State-accredited vocational training in Communication Design at Kunstschule Wandsbek, Hamburg

Professional Experience

2020 – Ongoing
Art Direction

Art direction for the Superlative Adventure Club, Hamburg

2018 – Ongoing
Freelance Graphic Design

Freelance graphic design services for various B2B and B2C clients

2019
German Ballroom Dancing Championship

Visual identity for the German National Ballroom Dancing Championship 2019

Publications

2025
St. Martin, the Stencil Type that wasn’t

Type Specimen exploring a typeface feature and speculating on its possible mechanical origins

2025
Zuhause

A collection of product images from the department store OBI am after searching for the German word for “Home”.

2023 – 2024
A Case Study, For example R.,

Group project examining the works of french 19th century printer/artist Jean Alexis Rouchon published by micro-label Pantograph

Teaching

2024
Tutoring

Tutoring in a class by Pierre Pané-Farré and Simon Thiefes

2022
First Typeface Design Experiments

One-day introductory workshop on type design at Kunstschule Wandsbek

Talks and Exhibitions

May 2025
Under Construction — Baustelle für Bücher und Webseiten

Group exhibition Gruppe Motto, Hamburg

2025
Tuer’s Caslon

Talk on current research into 19th-century British typography and Greek boustrophedon writing

May 2024
Alles was wir haben

Alles was wir haben — group exhibition at Jupiter, Hamburg

2024
Rundgang Armgardstraße 2024

Presentation of a theoretical project on the artistic practice of reviving typefaces

Tools & Methods

InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, InCopy, Glyphs 3, fonttools, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, DrawBot, Blender, Cinema 4D