Participants will select source material from old street typography or lettering, signs, façades, hand-painted letters, and other time-worn traces with strong character and history. Rather than refer to the usual contemporary branding and design, the goal is to be inspired by typography shaped by use, context, and age.
Once the source is chosen, participants will analyze each image typographically, defining a list of specific characteristics for each. These lists will act as profiles, identifying the key traits that will later be combined to form a hybrid alphabet.
With these characteristics defined, participants will move into hand-drawn exploration, using sketching techniques to build the initial alphabet. Emphasis will be placed on form, rhythm, and consistency, allowing the personality of the new typeface to emerge through drawing.
In the final phase, participants will translate their hand-drawn work into a digital format, creating a simple initial alphabet that can be used in their own design projects while preserving the character developed during the analog process.
Sign up before January 29th for a 10% discount!
Required Materials
- Sketchbook
- White paper / different sizes
- Pencils from 1B to 6B
- Ruler
- Computer (Mac preferred)
- Tracing paper
- Black markers
- Two (or more) photographs from OLD typefaces on signs, facades, and the like that can be found near their houses. Try to shoot these as straight-on/frontal as possible.
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