Introduction to Modern Type Design

Students will create their own original typefaces as they explore the methodologies and software used to produce high-quality digital type.

This 10-week course, meeting on Wednesday evenings from October 6th through December 8th, is an introduction to the techniques and processes used in professional type design. 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 course is to show students how to think about type systematically and successfully structure the type design process. The course will focus on techniques and best practices for designing and spacing type, but will also introduce students to the conceptual foundations of type design, Python programming in RoboFont, and the structure of type families.

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.

Students will work on their own laptops, which must run Mac OS X 10.10 or higher. (We recognize that this is a barrier to entry. While we don't have a solution currently, we want to hear from you if you would take this class but cannot because of the laptop requirement.)

A free temporary license for RoboFont will be made available to all participants.

Required Materials

• Laptop running Mac OS X 10.10 or higher
• Adobe InDesign
• Paper for sketching
• Black pen or marker for sketching
• A 5mm or 6mm flat-tipped calligraphy marker
• A brush-tipped marker

Diversity & 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 a week prior to the start of the workshop.

Note: This special online workshop is capped at fifteen students to allow for more one-on-one instruction.