Teaching is tool of self-reflection, contextualizing, clarifying and verbalizing ideas and approaches. Over the past decade, I have been giving lectures, teaching short workshops up to full semesters at universities, private institutions,  conferences in Europe and the USA. Since 2016 I have been running my own Typographic Printing Program with more than 100 participants from (so far) 22 different countries. In 2021, my educational video series «The Dafi Kühne Printing Show™» won a Swiss Design award in the category mediation. Get in contact if you would want to book me for a talk or workshop.

7-23-2023

8-5-2023
Typographic Printing Program, Session IV: → Full Typographic Body Workout in Switzerland
2-week workshop

Train your mind for total typographic fitness! Full Typographic Body Workout in Switzerland with Dafi Kühne is an all-round intense 2-week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design enthusiasts.

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

6-25-2023

7-8-2023
Typographic Printing Program, Session III: → Full Typographic Body Workout in Switzerland
2-week workshop

Train your mind for total typographic fitness! Full Typographic Body Workout in Switzerland with Dafi Kühne is an all-round intense 2-week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design enthusiasts.

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

6-17-2023
1-day workshop at Museum für Druckkunst, Leipzig, Germany: → Buchdruck Experimente
Workshop
5-12-2023
Opening lecture for Leipziger Typotage, Leipzig, Germany: → Buchdruckplakate?
Talk
5-3-2023
Public lecture at Cooper Union, NYC, USA: → Dafi Kühne: Letterpress Posters?
Conversation

Dafi Kühne is a poster designer and letterpress printer from Switzerland. His typographic posters are visually mesmerizing and fascinating in brilliance and printing quality. But do printed posters in times digital displays in urban spaces still make sense at all? And why should posters be produced at great expense using the antiquated letterpress printing process, when digital printing devices can deliver high-quality reproductions at a ridiculous price?

In the words of Dafi Kuhne, letterpress printing can only live on if the design is at the heart of the process and makes the connection to the present. In a conversation with Poster House Curator Angelina Lippert, Dafi Kühne is showing his work, sharing his approach to Swiss Typography, and giving insight into his fascinating production processes.

The event is co-presented by the Herb Lubalin Study Center, Poster House, and the Counsulate General of Switzerland in New York.

5-2-2023
1-evening workshop at The Arm, Brooklyn, NYC, USA: → The Dafi Kühne Printing Road Show™ #2
Workshop

This new series of hands-on workshops with Dafi will explore experimental printing techniques featured in his web series The Dafi Kühne Printing Show™.

In these first two installments at The Arm, Dafi will be demonstrating two techniques per evening which will then be explored by the participants through the production of prints. Students can sign up for one session or both as the techniques covered will be different in the two classes. All needed materials will be provided. Participants will take home any prints, cast type and materials made in the class. A discounted rate is available to those who would like to take both classes.

4-25-2023
1-evening workshop at The Arm, Brooklyn, NYC, USA: → The Dafi Kühne Printing Road Show™ #1
Workshop

This new series of hands-on workshops with Dafi will explore experimental printing techniques featured in his web series The Dafi Kühne Printing Show™.

In these first two installments at The Arm, Dafi will be demonstrating two techniques per evening which will then be explored by the participants through the production of prints. Students can sign up for one session or both as the techniques covered will be different in the two classes. All needed materials will be provided. Participants will take home any prints, cast type and materials made in the class. A discounted rate is available to those who would like to take both classes.

4-21-2023
Workshop: → Precision Makeready, Partners in Print
2 hour online workshop

Online lecture with Partners in Print.

After two hours with Dafi Kühne, live from his studio in Switzerland, even experienced letterpress printers will gain a new understanding of the mechanics of their cylinder press. Stop guessing and learn how to approach makeready—the process of preparing your press to print well—with intention. Once you understand the rules, you too can work with unorthodox materials in utterly original ways!

Friday, April 21, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT
[Check your time zone!]
3-18-2023
1-day workshop at Museum für Druckkunst, Leipzig, Germany: → Buchdruck Experimente
Workshop
8-21-2022
1-day workshop at Klingspor Museum, Offenbach, Germany: → Systematische Druckexperimente
Workshop
8-20-2022
Public lecture at Klingspor Museum Offenbach, Germany: → Buchdruck, 50 Jahre nach dem Buchdruck
Talk

https://www.klingspor-museum.de/

7-24-2022

8-6-2022
Typographic Printing Program, Session IV: → Full Typographic Printing Detox in Switzerland
Workshop

Full Typographic Printing Detox in Näfels, Switzerland

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

6-26-2022

7-9-2022
Typographic Printing Program, Session III: → Full Typographic Printing Detox in Switzerland
Workshop

Full Typographic Printing Detox in Näfels, Switzerland

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

5-28-2022
Workshop: → Tipoteca Italiana
One-day letterpress workshop and evening lecture

One-day workshop at Tipoteca, in Cornuda Italy. Check out the program online.

4-8-2022
Workshop: → Precision Makeready, Partners in Print
2 hour online workshop

Online lecture with Partners in Print.

3-31-2022
Talk: → Designblicke: Dafi Kühne
Online evening talk at MK&G, Hamburg

Free online lecture, (in German) at MK&G Hamburg

1-11-2022

1-16-2022
Typographic Printing Program, Session II: → Typographic Intoxication
Workshop

Typographic Intoxication

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

1-4-2022

1-9-2022
Typographic Printing Program, Session I: → Letterpress Research & Experimentation Lab
Workshop

Letterpress Research & Experimentation Lab

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

1-4-2022

1-9-2022
Typographic Printing Program, Session I: → Letterpress Research & Experimentation Lab
Workshop

Letterpress Research & Experimentation Lab in Pasadena, CA

«Typographic Printing Program» with Dafi Kühne is a series of intense workshop sessions in in Pasadena CA and  Näfels, Switzerland. See: www.typographic-printing-program.com

12-8-2021

4-9-2022
Exhibtion: → Baby Ink Twice
at HMCT in Pasadena, CA

Solo exhibition with my posters at HMCT in Pasadena, CA!

Borrowing its title from Dafi’s studio in Näfels, Switzerland, «Baby Ink Twice» showcases a selection of commissioned and self-initiated posters from the HMCT Archive.

To visit the HMCT South Campus Gallery in person, please contact Director Susan Malmstrom to make an appointment.

9-15-2021
Workshop: → Hands-on type
ESAD, Superior School of Arts and Design, Porto, Portugal

One-day workshop at ESAD, Superior School of Arts and Design, Porto, Portugal

7-25-2021

8-7-2021
Workshop: → TSP 2021
Typographic Summer Program, Session II

«Typographic«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense international 2-week summer intense workshop in Switzerland for design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

7-19-2021

7-24-2021
Workshop: → Sommer Ateliers
Public summer classes at F+F, Zürich, Switzerland

Sign up now!

https://ffzh.ch/

6-27-2021

7-10-2021
Workshop: → TSP 2021
Typographic Summer Program, Session I

«Typographic«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense international 2-week summer intense workshop in Switzerland for design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

3-9-2021
Online-Lecture: → Type Tuesday / Eye Magazine
Free online short lecture & conversation
What are the challenges facing young people joining the creative industries at this strange time? What’s the relevance of an analog processes and practices in a mostly digital environment?
Short presentation and a conversation this Tuesday at Type Tuesday: What now? What next? Conversation together with Studio BLUP, Malika Favre and Jeremy Leslie (MagCulture). Organized by Eye Magazine and in support of the St. Bride Library.

 

Sign up for Type Tuesday on 9 March here – all proceeds go to St. Bride.

11-19-2020
Workshop: → Plantin-Moretus Museum, Antwerp
One-day workshop, letterpress chipboard experiments
11-18-2020
Talk: → Plantin-Moretus Museum, Antwerp
Talking about my poster work. Books and posters available! 
10-29-2020

5-30-2020
Conference Talk: → Creative Paper Conference
Plakatschaffen im Buchdruck

Talk at the Creative Paper Conference in Munich.

10-2-2020

10-4-2020
Workshop: → GWA Masterclass
Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam

This two day workshop will get you inspired to design and print typographic posters under the guidance of one of the freshest designers of Europe. Up for some rock and roll? Welcome.

7-26-2020

8-8-2020
Workshop: → TSP 2020
Typographic Summer Program, Session 2

Join the Cult of Type: «Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

6-21-2020

7-4-2020
Workshop: → TSP 2020
CANCELLED; Typographic Summer Program, Session 1

Session 1 of TSP 2020 had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. See you next year: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

5-30-2020
Conference Lecture: → Typomania 2020
CANCELLED!

Conference in Moscow cancelled due to COVID-19. Watch the online presentation instead…

4-12-2020

4-16-2020
Workshop: → Cairo
Poster design and letterpress workshop

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation this workshop with Sporadic Schooling in Cairo had to be cancelled. Sorry.

12-14-2019
Workshop : → Gutenberg Museum, Mainz
Experimentelles Drucken mit Karton

One-day printing workshop at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.

12-13-2019
Talk: → Gutenberg Museum, Mainz
«True Print», Buchdruck Plakate von Dafi Kühne

On Friday, December 13, 7pm at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.

11-5-2019
Book presentation: → Cooper and King Distillery
Talking about my book «True Print», books and posters available!

Come by for a book, a poster and a Cooper and Kings Brandy.

11-4-2019
Student workshop: → University of Louisville, Louisville KY
11-3-2019
Workshop : → Studio Brad Vetter
Chipboard experiments

One full-day workshop at Brad Vetter‘s letterpress workshop. We’ll be working on chipboard experiments for one day!

Contact Brad Vetter through his website to sign up for this workshop!

10-31-2019
Student workshop: → University of Akron, Akron, OH
10-30-2019
Student workshop: → Kent University, Kent OH
10-24-2019

11-6-2019
Poster Exhibition: → University of Akron, Akron, OH

Poster exhibition with more than 40 of my posters! University of Akron Myers School of Art Projects Gallery room 116, Folk Hall, 150 E. Exchange St. Akron, OH 44325. 9 am to 5 pm weekdays.

Public Lecture Thursday, October 31, room 161 Folk Hall 6  to 7:30 pm.

Come by!

10-11-2019

10-12-2019

Von 0 auf 100 conference for the opening of the 100 beste Plakate exhibition in Karlsruhe. My talk is on Friday!

10-1-2019
Workshop with Anna Haas: → Weltformat Lucerne

Teaching an evening workshop at Weltformat Festival in Lucerne.

7-28-2019

8-10-2019
Workshop: → TSP 2019
Typographic Summer Program, Session II

«Typographic«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

6-16-2019

6-29-2019
Workshop: → TSP 2019
Typographic Summer Program, Session I

«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

5-11-2019

5-18-2019
2-24-2019

3-3-2019
Artist-in-Residence: → Art Center
Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography

Residency at the Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography at the Art Center in Pasadena, LA, USA.

12-10-2018

12-20-2018
Workshop: → F+F Zürich
Alternative Processes

2 week workshop ‹Alternative Processess› at F+F Zürich

11-15-2018

11-16-2018
Conference Talk: → Haptiken 2
Talk: True Print – Plakatschaffen im Buchdruck

Conference presentation at the Transformationen des Buchdrucks Conference at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany.

11-3-2018
Presentation: → HWT Wayzgoose
Live: The Dafi Kühne Printing Show™

Live presentation of The Dafi Kühne Printing Show™: Dafi Kühne is sharing his most secret printing recipes while Jim Moran is picking his brain: Casting plastic resin type, making magnetic wood type and indirect letterpress printing are some of Dafi’s secret weapons he uses for his typographic posters. Jim and Dafi will prepare some ‘nouvel cuisine’ dishes! Delicious and crazy!

11-2-2018
Workshop: → HWT Wayzgoose
Friday Workshops: Adhesive Stickers

Teaching two sessions on Friday with the topic ‹Adhesive Stickers› a the 10th Wayzgoose at The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum.

10-30-2018
10-29-2018
9-24-2018

9-28-2018
Workshop: → ÉCAL Lausanne
Typographic Letterpress Posters

Letterpress workshop with the Graduate Students at ÉCAL Lausanne.

8-5-2018

8-18-2018
Workshop: → TSP 2018
Typographic Summer Program, Session II

«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

7-19-2018

7-20-2018
Talk: → Letterpress Printing: Past, Present, Future
Final Conference: Letterpress Printing, Leeds, 19-20 July 2018

Featuring key note lectures by Johanna Drucker, Will Hill, and Dafi Kühne, this this two-day conference explores the survival, legacy and relevance of letterpress printing in the digital era.

Leeds Letterpress Conference

6-17-2018

6-30-2018
Workshop: → TSP 2018
Typographic Summer Program, Session I

«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students and professionals. See: www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

4-14-2018

4-15-2018
Workshop: → Resist the Mac
Grafisch Werkcentrum
12-9-2017
Workshop: → Printing Experiments
with ETH Professur Vogt

One day workshop at my studio.

12-4-2017

12-14-2017
11-12-2017
Talk: → True Print
Landesbibliothek Glarus
11-1-2017
Talk: → True Print
VCU Richmond, VA
7-17-2017

7-21-2017
Workshop: → F+F Sommeratelier 2017
Letterpress posters

Public workshop with the topic ‹Designing posters with letterpress technique› for the summerprogram at F+F, Zürich. You can sign up for this workshop until June 6th, 2016.

Public workshop with the topic ‹Designing posters with letterpress technique› for the summer program at F+F, Zürich. You can sign up for this workshop until June 12th, 2017.

https://ffzh.ch

7-10-2017
Talk: → True Print
Gallery Altherr/Weiss Zürich
6-18-2017

7-1-2017
Summerprogram: → TSP 2017
Typographic Summer Program

«Typographic Summer Program» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students. The workshop’s goal is to bridge the gap analog design and production tools and professional contemporary typographic posters.

5-11-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Officina Helvetica
5-3-2017
4-27-2017
Talk: → True Print
Type Directors Club, NYC
4-3-2017

4-5-2017
Workshop: → ABK Stuttgart
3 days
2-22-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Hauptpost St. Gallen

7.30pm at Hauptpost St. Gallen
http://www.hauptpost.ch

2-11-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Gütersloh, Germany

Talk and exhibition opening reception in Gütersloh, Germany.

https://www.holzpixel.de

2-11-2017

5-6-2017
Poster exhibition: → Holzpixel
Gütersloh, Germany
2-8-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Druckwerk, Basel

7pm at Druckwerk Basel
http://www.druckwerk.ch/de

1-28-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Kunsthaus, Glarus
1-23-2017

1-28-2017
Workshop: → F+F Zürich
Typographic Posters

2 week workshop ‹Typographic Posters› at F+F Zürich

1-12-2017
Book presentation: → True Print
Weltformat, Luzern
12-8-2016
Talk: → True Print
Typoclub HKB, Bern
7-6-2016

7-11-2016
Workshop: → F+F Sommeratelier
Letterpress posters

Public workshop with the topic ‹Designing posters with letterpress technique› for the summerprogram at F+F, Zürich. You can sign up for this workshop until June 6th, 2016.

6-20-2016

7-2-2016
Summerprogram: → TSP 2016
Typographic Summer Program

«Typographic Letterpress Poster Workshop» with Dafi Kühne is an intense 2 week summer program in Switzerland for international graphic design students. The workshop’s goal is to bridge the gap analog design and production tools and professional contemporary typographic posters. More information:  www.typographic-summerprogram.ch

5-24-2016
Talk: → It’s not all about letterpress
Wei sraum. Forum für visuelle Gestaltung, Innsbruck, Austria
4-26-2016
Talk: → Landschaft mit Flattersatz #5
Typographische Gesellschaft München, Germany
4-8-2016
Presentation: → Papierkomplizen
With 2 FAG proof presses on site

For the Papierkompizen conference organized by Buchbinderei Burkhardt AG, Fischer Papier AG and Sonderegger AG at Sihlcity in Zürich. We’re going move two of my FAG proof presses for a live demonstration. Yeah, that’s gonna be fun.

1-11-2016

1-20-2016
Workshop: → ETH Zürich
Winterschool

10 days workshop for Professur Vogt, ETH Zürich

9-22-2015
Performance: → AGI Open
Steamroller printing

Steamroller printing performance at the AGI-Open congress in Biel/Bienne. Together with 9 students I cut 4 huge linoleum cuts for layouts done for Igor Gurovich, Richard van der Laken, Katsumi Asaba and myself.

9-18-2015
Talk: → Typo Sankt Gallen
Downtempo!

Talk about my working practice at Typo St. Gallen with the topic ‹Downtempo! Letterpress printing in the 21st century›

6-10-2015
Workshop: → Tag der Typographie
Chipboard experiments

For Syndicom «Tag der Typographie» in Lucerne, I’ll be moving one of my FAG proof presses to Lucerne to give a two hour portfolio presentation and hands-on workshop.

5-4-2015

5-15-2015
Workshop: → F+F Zürich
Typographic Posters

2 week workshop ‹Typographic Posters› at F+F Zürich

4-6-2015

7-28-2015
Guest professorship: → HBKSaar
Analog posters

Guest professorship at HBKSaar for a full semester. In this class, we will be organizing a steamroller print workshop. Students not only have to concept and organize the event, but also design and print a poster at the event each.

11-24-2014

11-29-2014
Workshop: → ÉCAL Lausanne
Typographic Letterpress Posters

Typographic letterpress workshop at ÉCAL in Lausanne.

9-26-2014
Performance: → Museum für Gestaltung Zürich / Schaudepot
Steamroller printing

Steamroller printing action for the opening of the brand new ‹Schaudepot› at Toniareal in Zürich.

5-30-2014
Exhibition/Presentation: → One Evening Exhibition
at The Arm Letterpress, Brooklyn, NY

One evening exhibition and short talk at the Arm letterpress studio in Brooklyn, NY. Exhibition in collaboration with the Type Directors Club NY.

11-8-2013
Talk: → HWT Wayzgoose
Presenting my work

Talk about my working practice as a poster designer and letterpress printer at one of the most important letterpress conferences: The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum’s Wayzgoose

11-8-2013
Workshop: → HWT Wayzgoose
Chipboard experiments

Teaching two classes on a day with the topic ‹Why use wood if chipboard is just as good?› at one of the most important letterpress conferences: The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum’s Wayzgoose

8-10-2013

5-10-2014
Designer-in-residence: → Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

One year full time teaching position in the graphic design department at VCU in Richmond, VA

6-28-2013
Talk: → Lunchtime Talk
Mediendesign DHBW Ravensburg
10-22-2012

10-25-2012
Workshop: → F+F Zürich
Typographic Posters

2 week workshop ‹Typographic Posters› at F+F Zürich

6-2-2012
Talk: → Typogravieh lebt!
University of Weimar, Germany

One day typography conference organized by University of Weimar, Germany

4-10-2012

7-5-2016
Guest professorship: → HBKSaar
Typographic posters

Guest professorship at HBKSaar for a full semester under the topic typographic posters with letterpress technique.

10-24-2011

11-3-2011
Exhibition, Workshops & Talk: → Wood Type Evolved
Center For Book And Paper Arts, Columbia College Chicago

For the ‹Wood Type Evolved› exhibition curated by April Sheridan and Nick Sherman at the Center For Book And Paper Arts at Columbia College in Chicago, I held two 3 evening workshops and gave a talk. I also had several posters and alot of printing blocks in the exhibition.

11-19-2010
Talk: → Letterpress Forward Thinking Conference
St. Bride Library, London, UK

One day conference at St. Bride Library in London, UK

11-17-2010
One evening exhibition: → Helvetic Centre
London, UK
10-5-2010
Talk: → AIAP International Graphic Design Week
Bologna, Italy

Lecture about my work as a poster designer and letterpress printmaker