c
I am a Swiss/Australian type designer, consultant, author and educator, based in Brisbane, Australia.
After a short career as doctor’s assistant, I followed my passion for the aviation industry by joining Swissair’s prestigious cabin crew corps in 1998. During my career, spanning over 11 years, I travelled across the globe, experiencing different cultures and working in ever changing teams.
In 2010 I followed my Australian partner to Brisbane, where I worked as cabin crew instructor while developing an interest in graphic design. This eventually led to the pursuit of a career as freelance graphic designer while completing a Bachelor of Design Futures with Honours at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art.
Lessons learnt during the completion of my degree directly correspond with an understanding of design as a far-reaching discipline that needs to be practised with care and consideration to identify what lies beneath the surface. Present in all aspects of life, design is a continuous cycle of creation and destruction affecting our very existence in an increasingly threatened habitat. This awareness, combined with a hearty dose of “Swissness”, creative problem solving skills, the application of aesthetic/functional design principles and the concern about the potential impact of my doing, allows me to meet every project with curiosity and enthusiasm.
Despite a strong bias towards typography and aviation related topics I enjoy working on a diverse range of projects, particularly if they have the potential to teach me a thing or two, thus keeping my constant thirst for knowledge satisfied.
Currently I am pursuing a PhD while working as a sessional tutor at the Queensland College of Art. Other projects include the creation of an ebook series for aspiring flight attendants (An Office With A View) and collaborative work (Get Futured) with a strong focus on the creation of a more sustainable future through early education.
In my spare time I enjoy the company of family and friends, reading a good historic novel and travelling.
Publications
Schmid, P., Thompson, W., & Sargent, D. (2024). Back to the future: On the typography of electronic flight deck documentation. Safety Science, 171, 106397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106397
Schmid, P., Carim, C. J., Falla, D., & Sargent, D. (2023). Type does matter! A systematic literature review on typographic considerations in publications on electronic documentation in aviation and medicine. Information Design Journal. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1075/idj.22019.sch
Schmid, P. (2019). An Office With A View—Airline Application. Self-published. More Info
Presentations
Type in-flight—What’s the problem? | Pascale Schmid | ATypI Brisbane 2024 (2024). Access to recording.
Next Time You Fly: Type Behind Closed Cockpit Doors | Pascale Schmid | ATypI All Over 2020. (2022). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZb3kP2aQvw
Exhibitions
2021
Higher Degree Research Group Exhibition, PoP Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
2017
Controlled Chaos—Graduation Exhibition, Griffith University—QCA
2016
Eyes on Goa, Maud Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Photo exhibition following an infield-trip to Goa, India
Other activities
Since 2023
ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) Delegate for Australia
I am an Australian ex-racing greyhound and current Morale Officer.
G’Day, I’m Dr Genji Schmid-Lang, a former high performance athlete.
I obtained my PhD in relaxation methods from the University of Wooffington. My expertise lies in stretching methods as well as sleeping.
As the Morale Officer in the team, I have my nose in everyone’s affairs, ensuring that a high level of creativity is guaranteed through regular breaks and exciting outdoor activities.
Outside my demanding professional life, I enjoy the finer things, such as lounging on my various beds placed strategically throughout my abode and a good play with my favourite plush elephant.