In 2023, I had the honor of contributing to the prestigious Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition, organized by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice. My task was to add personalized calligraphy for the award certificates presented to the competition winners.

The project presented several unique challenges. The certificates were printed on premium paper stock in a custom Pantone color, which required finding not only the right calligraphic style but also the right technical approach to ensure good results. I tested several nibs and ink combinations before settling on a set of styles that could be used.

Because the winners came from many countries, I had to design names in multiple languages – often with complex character combinations or unfamiliar diacritics. This required careful planning and custom pencil sketches of some names before actual ink work.

The client ultimately chose a light, modernized italic script for its formal yet approachable aesthetic. Due to the structure of the competition, some of the winners’ names were only confirmed shortly before the award ceremony. This meant I had to complete some of the final calligraphy on-site and under time pressure, with no room for error.

In total, I produced dozens of certificates across multiple competition categories, each one designed and written by hand. It was a demanding yet rewarding experience that required careful planning and precise execution.

Most names shown are mockups created to protect recipient privacy, except for one image featuring a publicly known quartet.