site.btaUPDATED BTA Typeface Delivered by Academy of Art

A custom-made typeface of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) was delivered Friday by the National Art Academy. "It is very beautiful and has the atmosphere of Bulgaria from a time when the disciples of Cyril and Methodius created the letters," BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said as he accepted the typeface at an event in the BTA National Press Club. The typeface will not be revealed until it is officially registered with the Patent Office.

"Today is the Day of St. Ignatius the Godbearer, a day symbolizing new beginnings," Valchev said of the day picked for the announcement of the BTA typeface. 

He explained that the typeface is based on the Cyrillic alphabet, preserving the traditions of the disciples of Cyril and Methodius. "Our main goal is to have a uniform visual style of all printed and digital texts, documents, and materials issued by BTA, including signage in our national press clubs," he noted.

 According to Valchev, few typefaces are registered in Bulgaria and one media outlet has a registered typeface, but its widespread use remains unclear.

"Our greater vision is for this typeface - BTA Typeface - to extend beyond the news agency. After its registration, we will allow everyone interested to use it freely. State institutions, including the Patent Office itself, have already shown interest in adopting a unified typeface designed specifically by Bulgarians for the Cyrillic alphabet," Valchev said. He expressed hope that this initiative could lead to a uniform visual identity for Bulgaria, possibly supported by legislative measures. He added that the typeface’s creators from the National Academy of Arts drew inspiration from pre-Slav inscriptions while integrating modern trends in typography.

Prof. Georgi Yankov, Rector of the National Academy of Arts, emphasized the importance of this development: "Today is a significant day. Years of effort by us, the Academy’s faculty, and those dedicated to the art of typography have finally borne fruit. We are setting a Bulgarian standard in the design of typefaces." Prof. Yankov highlighted that Bulgaria remains the only EU country using Cyrillic letters, making this the perfect opportunity to establish such a standard for correspondence between Bulgaria and other European countries.

Assoc. Prof. Svetlin Balezdrov, a lecturer in Advertising Design at the Academy, introduced the team behind the project. The typeface was created by Prof. Kristina Borisova, Dr. Zhaklina Zhekova, and Nikolay Petrusenko, along with Balezdrov.

"We created an ambitious typeface rooted in the Bulgarian visual identity of Cyrillic, making it functional and clearly associated with the Bulgarian News Agency," said Nikolay Petrusenko.

Valchev detailed BTA's two primary requirements for the typeface: first, to build on the tradition of Cyril and Methodius' disciples and the script used by Bulgarians in the 9th–10th centuries; second, to ensure a high level of uniqueness. "Each uppercase and lowercase letter has distinct features, subtle yet discernible, so the lowercase letters evoke a sense of handwriting," he explained.

Olya Dimitrova, Chair of the Patent Office, praised the initiative: "This innovative solution combines tradition with modern trends, which is truly uplifting for us as Bulgarians. The pursuit of intellectual property protection demonstrates a deep understanding of industrial property systems in Bulgaria."

Dimitrova commended the collaboration and its potential to enhance Bulgaria’s industrial and cultural innovation.