Michal Sahar
Visual Communication
Established Designer Award
"Early on, I realized that typography is an indispensable tool through which I can formulate a personal, communicative, and value-added voice. In 2001, I co-founded the type foundry 'Hagilda' with the aspiration to enhance the quality of contemporary Hebrew typography and enrich the inventory of Hebrew and bilingual typefaces. My growth in that field was through hands-on exploration and research, an evolution of acquiring theoretical and cultural fundamentals, as well as gaining professional skills."
Michal Sahar is an international award winning type designer, book designer, branding designer in the fields of culture and the arts, and a senior design lecturer at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. Her multidisciplinary activity allows her to adopt a view of the Visual Communication field that can be described as external and internal at the same time. Sahar specializes in developing multi-lingual type systems (Hebrew, Latin, and Arabic) and expands the boundaries of contemporary typography. Her work has a significant influence on the professional, artistic, and pedagogical discourse in the field
The jury panel’s decision:
"The Edmond de Rothschild Design Award is granted to Michal Sahar, a monumental presence in the local design field, particularly in typography, for her exceptional and comprehensive work. Her diverse body of work spans the development of typographic innovations to their practical application in branding design.
Michal Sahar lays the foundation for the next generation of visual communication in Israel. In our multilingual environment, there is a genuine need for typefaces that address both existing and evolving demands. The many typefaces she has designed have become canonical and widely used across all media. Among her impressive and extensive catalog are several multilingual typefaces that have sparked a genuine revolution. Sahar has created multilingual typefaces that have become cultural cornerstones through groundbreaking, meticulous, and uncompromising work. These typefaces have achieved widespread success and are present across all aspects of life in Israel. Sahar's impact is amplified as she creates professional tools for numerous designers, raising the bar for local typographic design quality. Sahar's design processes are marked by boldness and a relentless pursuit of precise and innovative solutions. Her work involves extensive stages of examination and refinement, ensuring that the final product is perfectly suited for broad use. Her design philosophy places future users at the center, reflecting her belief that design is a living and evolving endeavor.
Sahar has articulated a visual vocabulary and syntax that serve as a stable foundation for the work of many designers, thereby fostering the future development of visual culture. In recognition of her influence and outstanding contributions as a designer, the committee has awarded Michal Sahar the 2024 Edmond de Rothschild Award for Visual Communication Design in the Established Designer category".
Michal Sahar is an international award winning type designer, book designer, branding designer in the fields of culture and the arts, and a senior design lecturer at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. Her multidisciplinary activity allows her to adopt a view of the Visual Communication field that can be described as external and internal at the same time. Sahar specializes in developing multi-lingual type systems (Hebrew, Latin, and Arabic) and expands the boundaries of contemporary typography. Her work has a significant influence on the professional, artistic, and pedagogical discourse in the field
The jury panel’s decision:
"The Edmond de Rothschild Design Award is granted to Michal Sahar, a monumental presence in the local design field, particularly in typography, for her exceptional and comprehensive work. Her diverse body of work spans the development of typographic innovations to their practical application in branding design.
Michal Sahar lays the foundation for the next generation of visual communication in Israel. In our multilingual environment, there is a genuine need for typefaces that address both existing and evolving demands. The many typefaces she has designed have become canonical and widely used across all media. Among her impressive and extensive catalog are several multilingual typefaces that have sparked a genuine revolution. Sahar has created multilingual typefaces that have become cultural cornerstones through groundbreaking, meticulous, and uncompromising work. These typefaces have achieved widespread success and are present across all aspects of life in Israel. Sahar's impact is amplified as she creates professional tools for numerous designers, raising the bar for local typographic design quality. Sahar's design processes are marked by boldness and a relentless pursuit of precise and innovative solutions. Her work involves extensive stages of examination and refinement, ensuring that the final product is perfectly suited for broad use. Her design philosophy places future users at the center, reflecting her belief that design is a living and evolving endeavor.
Sahar has articulated a visual vocabulary and syntax that serve as a stable foundation for the work of many designers, thereby fostering the future development of visual culture. In recognition of her influence and outstanding contributions as a designer, the committee has awarded Michal Sahar the 2024 Edmond de Rothschild Award for Visual Communication Design in the Established Designer category".