Beam is a creative practice specialising in type design. We explore how tools make shapes and how these shapes then function and communicate in a broader context.

BEAM is a collaborative project initiated by Cecilia Del Castillo and Felix Bamforth, after graduating from Typemedia in 2024, when both set out to combine their complementary approaches to type design. Sharing a common interest for the more ornamental side of design, summarized by the idea of “more is more”, they set out to combine design know-how with technical expertise.

Cecilia Del Castillo Daza

Cecilia del Castillo is a Mexican type designer and calligrapher. Her work is deeply connected to her roots and her passion for calligraphy, focusing on exploring the intersections between cultural heritage, craftsmanship, calligraphy, and type design.

She holds a Master's degree from Typemedia, at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (KABK), and earned a diploma with Distinction from TypeParis, in France and from Tipo G, in Barcelona, where she has lived and worked independently as a type designer and calligrapher for the past several years. In 2023 she was recognized as one of the TDC Ascenders by the Type Directors Club in New York.

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Felix Bamforth

Felix is a German Scot who grew up in France. His first encounter with letters came through graffiti as a teenager. A decade later, he returned to design and began studying again, rediscovering a deep passion for drawing—particularly letterforms—as well as an unexpected interest in creative coding.

Influenced by the work of Vera van der Seyp, Hansje van Halem, Ryoji Ikeda, Studio Dumbar, Studio Dia, Yehwan Yen Song, Kiel Danger Mutschelknaus, LettError, and many others, Felix was motivated to learn both how to draw letters and how to code, aiming to find his own voice among these inspiring figures.

During his studies, he had the opportunity to work with Erik Spiekermann and to be mentored by Ulrike Rausch and the designers at SuperType. These experiences eventually led him to apply to the TypeMedia program. There, he was able to deepen his skills in both type design and programming, learning from outstanding tutors and a highly talented group of peers.

Since graduating, Felix has been working as a Font Engineer at Alphabet Type by day, while by night, he and his former classmate Cecilia are actively developing their own design practice.

Thanks

We'd like to say thanks to following people, who have played a role in inspiring us ins small or big ways:
TM teachers: Erik van Blokland, Marja van der Burgh, Paul van der Laan, Peter Verheul, Françoise Berserik, Peter Bilak, Petr van Blokland, Just van Rossum, Fred Smeijers, Céline Hurka, Sanne Beeren, Frank Grießhammer, Minjoo Ham, Ilya Ruderman, Aleksandra Samulenkova, Kristyan Sarkis and Paul Barnes
classmates: Anne-Dauphine Borione, Hanna Boslau, Cecilia del Castillo Daza, Nina Faulhaber, Pauline Fourest, Max Holl, Fabio Pop, Benjamin Rouzaud, Mihael Sandro, Betsy Schuster, Zhenya Spizhovyi & Mint Tantisuwanna.
People who helped make Beam: Rutherford Craze, who has been a huge inspiration and help with creating this website, Joyce Ketterer.
Felix: Andreas Eigendorf, Ulrike Rausch, Martin Wenzel, Erik Spiekermann.