Fast type, slow type is the 5th in an annual series of international design conferences, which until this year have been held at St Bride Institute, Fleet Street, London. In 2006, Birmingham was chosen to host the event to coincide with the Baskerville in the City celebrations and Plus international design expo.

Over the course of three days there will be more than 30 international speakers talking type in all its guises. From the serious to the trivial, the highbrow to the passionate, there will be something to titillate everyone's typographic taste buds. Speakers have been drawn from the UK, Europe, US and as far away as New Zealand.

There are not just things to listen to; there are also things to see. A cacophony of typographic exhibitions will be found across the Custard Factory: two or three-dimensional; indoors, outdoors; on the wall, on the floor, in the water or in the sky. Some require you to stand and stare, others invite you interact.

But if you get tired of all that looking and listening, there will also be the chance to get your hands dirty at workshops that specialise in lettering in stone, leather, paper or metal.

And if you need to let your hair down then you can join in the typo-parties: the first will be hosted by Plus exclusively for delegates to Fast type Slow type; the second, will be held in the precinct of the Custard Factory.

The venue alone is worth a visit. Bird's original custard manufactory, is now home to Birmingham's revolutionary new arts and media quarter which comprises a dynamic community of 500 artists and small creative enterprises. It is a remarkable project with one of the largest and most exciting concentrations of creative activity in Europe, and will be a great location for the event.

And with tickets starting as low as and with 3-day tickets priced as low as £175.00 (£115.00 for concessions) how can you afford to miss out?

www.typevents.com