During this 10-week online course, which meets on Thursday evenings from October 1–December 10 (no class on November 26), students will create their own original typefaces as they gain an understanding of the methodologies and software used to produce high-quality digital type.
The primary goal of this workshop is to show you how to systematically think about type and to help you successfully make a font. The course will focus on techniques and best practices for designing and spacing type, introducing you to the conceptual foundations of type design, including proofing and testing work. You will work in Glyphs App throughout the week and upload homework before each meeting for review. Throughout the workshop you will learn various lessons about type, history, sketching, and get weekly feedback on your type projects.
This course is suitable for designers just starting to think about type and for designers with some type design experience, hoping to develop their skills and processes. Some experience with drawing Bézier curves (in Adobe Illustrator, for instance) and with typography is recommended but not required. This is a great course for anyone interested in applying to the Type West Postgraduate Certificate Program in Type Design.
A free temporary license for Glyphs App will be made available to all participants. The class is capped at fifteen students to allow for more one-on-one instruction.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to design latin typefaces from start to finish
- Understand the history of type that shapes our fonts today
- Develop an eye for letter shapes and spacing
- Make your first working typeface through instruction/homework/critiques
Required Materials
- Computer running MacOS 10.11 or later
- Access to design software (Adobe Illustrator and InDesign or equivalent)
- Bold black markers (Sharpies or equivalent fine point bold markers)
- Chisel tip markers (Sharpies or equivalent)
- Correction pens (White out, Presto or equivalent)
- Pencil, Ruler, Marker Paper (Canson XL or equivalent)
Diversity and Equity Scholarship
Diversity and Equity are important to all of us at Letterform Archive, and we are committed to increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups within the type and design communities.
We are offering one BIPOC/Equity scholarship seat in this workshop.
To apply for this scholarship, please complete and submit to us the short form linked here at least a week prior to the start of the workshop.