Reading, redefined
Fonts Agata Smok Fonts Agata Smok

Reading, redefined

Imagine, for a moment, that letters blur and shift, that a lowercase “g” might be mistaken for a “q,” that a “B” and an “8” are twins in disguise. Imagine that the simple act of reading a menu, a street sign, a prescription label is a challenge rather than an afterthought. For millions, this isn’t an exercise in imagination—it’s a daily reality. Vision impairment makes reading an obstacle course, where clarity is a luxury. And that’s where Atkinson Hyperlegible comes in, not as decoration, but as a bridge. A font designed not just to be read, but to be understood. A font that refuses to let a letter be mistaken for another.

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A few good things in March
Agata Smok Agata Smok

A few good things in March

In Gent, the sun was kind. I took a detour through Citadel Park, where the air smelled of damp leaves and warming earth, and the trees cast long, dappled shadows across the paths.

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Typography is an invisible art
Fonts Agata Smok Fonts Agata Smok

Typography is an invisible art

Typography is an invisible art. When executed well, it disappears entirely, allowing words to do their work—inform, persuade, comfort, inspire—without distraction. It is the quiet architect behind clarity, the unseen force that guides the reader’s eye and mind through meaning with grace and ease. And yet, despite its omnipresence in our daily lives, typography often remains an afterthought, something we engage with unconsciously rather than intentionally.

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Sharing energy, building community
Navigating design Agata Smok Navigating design Agata Smok

Sharing energy, building community

Recently I’ve been reflecting on the idea of sharing—not just gifts, but also resources. More than just a climate solution, energy sharing fosters community, strengthening the bonds between neighbors. Systemic change, movement building, and resilient communities all start with individuals who commit to working together.

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Bringing energy renovation to life: a designer’s perspective
Navigating design Agata Smok Navigating design Agata Smok

Bringing energy renovation to life: a designer’s perspective

The challenge of designing a visual identity for Citizen-led renovation was one of both precision and flexibility—strict European Commission branding guidelines on one side, the need for something dynamic and engaging on the other. It required a kind of quiet negotiation, finding the balance between structure and creativity, between function and inspiration. Read more about it here.

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Seeing clearly: the quiet power of visual identity
Navigating design Agata Smok Navigating design Agata Smok

Seeing clearly: the quiet power of visual identity

Designing a corporate identity requires a kind of long vision. It needs to serve immediate needs but also leave room to evolve, to adapt to changes we can’t yet predict. That’s no small feat. A cohesive system should thread through everything from letterheads to packaging, from signage to websites. The trick is to create something that feels both structured and alive—recognizable but not rigid. Thoughts on designing visual identity here.

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Drawing clarity: embracing the messy middle through visual facilitation

Drawing clarity: embracing the messy middle through visual facilitation

Psychological safety, as Amy Edmondson describes it, is not about avoiding tough discussions but creating the conditions in which they can happen constructively. Visual facilitation offers that space—a way to hold competing perspectives without letting them dissolve into discord. For those looking to explore this practice, there’s a wealth of wisdom to draw from, put together in a post here.

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The art of clear and impactful EU writing
Navigating design Agata Smok Navigating design Agata Smok

The art of clear and impactful EU writing

For more than seven years, I’ve worked as a graphic designer on various EU-funded projects, fine-tuning dissemination materials to ensure clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness. Through this experience, I’ve gathered key best practices that can help authors navigate the intricate process of creating EU publications. With this post, you’ll find a collection of tools, tips, and reminders to make your writing process efficient and results-driven.

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Smart Cities, stronger futures
Editorial design Agata Smok Editorial design Agata Smok

Smart Cities, stronger futures

Resilience isn’t just a buzzword, not for the cities threading their way through economic instability, natural disasters, and the aftershocks of a global pandemic. For small and mid-sized cities, resilience is survival—an ability to absorb the impact of disruption and emerge not just intact but stronger. But resilience comes at a cost, and for many local governments, securing the funds to fortify infrastructure, invest in renewable energy, or prepare for the unexpected feels like an insurmountable challenge.

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Words on glass, poetry for passersby
Illustration Agata Smok Illustration Agata Smok

Words on glass, poetry for passersby

The library reached out to me with an idea: to transform their window into something more than glass. Facing a bustling street, it was an invitation for passersby to pause. To read. A poem by Siel Verhanneman, Roofvogel, now sprawls across its expanse, etched in careful strokes.

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Poetry in motion
Engaging workshops Agata Smok Engaging workshops Agata Smok

Poetry in motion

On January 11, 2025, I had the pleasure of leading a workshop with an incredible group of enthusiastic volunteers in Rollegem. Together, we brought Helena Deleu’s poetic vision to life, transforming the windows of the Kortrijk Library in Rollegem into luminous canvases for her words as part of the Weesgedichten project.

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Mapping a place of purpose
Infographics Agata Smok Infographics Agata Smok

Mapping a place of purpose

I recently had the pleasure of creating a detailed map of the ENGIE Laborelec site in Linkebeek, near Brussels, Belgium. Completed in December 2024, this project highlights the innovation and sustainability that define ENGIE Laborelec—a leading expertise and research center in electrical power technology.

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Rooted in green
Engaging workshops Agata Smok Engaging workshops Agata Smok

Rooted in green

In April 2024, I had the privilege of joining WAUW Workshops to organise an inspiring day in Kortrijk, Belgium, as part of the Floraliën side event. Normally held in Gent, Floraliën extended its reach to Kortrijk this year, and with it came “Jong Tuin Labo” — a vibrant gathering of young people, blooming ideas, and hands-on workshops.

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Give a little bit.
Editorial design Agata Smok Editorial design Agata Smok

Give a little bit.

In December 2023, we embarked on a heartwarming journey with children aged 4 to 7 to create something truly special. Sparked by the imagination and empathy of the youngest minds from the kindergarten class at Buurtschool V-TEX in Kortrijk, we crafted a book project with a mission: to bring joy to others. Their goal? To make a difference for peers in war zones suffering from post-traumatic stress.

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Small steps. Without plastic.
Editorial design Agata Smok Editorial design Agata Smok

Small steps. Without plastic.

My dear friend Katarzyna Nadia Walczak has been inspiring many with her Instagram profile dedicated to simple, sustainable habits for everyday life. This topic resonates deeply with me, and her words often feel like a soothing melody for the eco-conscious soul.

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