Veronika Burian, a Czech-based type designer, opened the Differing Accents Conference with a lecture entitled 'Oldřich Menhart: Calligrapher, type designer, and craftsman.' Following a short overview of Menhart’s contemporaries, she moved on to a thematic presentation of his versatile work, focusing on typeface design from the most unique and interesting period of Menhart's work between 1930 and 1948.
Stephen Raw's work is expressed in experimental pieces which concentrate on the imagery of text, but at other times delight in the language of poetry. Just as poetry is the result of a writer’s care and consideration, so that process is reflected in the time invested in painting or drawing it. He gave an illustrated talk, 'Language Made Visible', about his work as a textual artist over the last thirty years.