Principles of Typeface Design: A–z and More

This course 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.

It is often difficult to know where to begin when tackling this kind of large-scale design project. The primary goal of this course is for students to learn how to think about type systematically and how to 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, OpenType features, and font production.

Required Materials

• Laptop running Mac OS X 10.6 or higher
• Adobe InDesign
• Black or blue pen
• Paper for sketching, at least 11" x 14" (1st and 2nd classes only)
• Pencil and/or marker for sketching (1st and 2nd classes only)
• A 5mm flat-tipped calligraphy marker

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 design processes. Some experience with drawing Bézier curves (in Adobe Illustrator, for instance) and with typography is recommended but not required. Students will work on their own laptops, which must be running Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. A free temporary license for RoboFont will be made available to all participants.

A workshop offered by Type@Cooper West, a collaboration between Letterform Archive and The Cooper Union Continuing Education Department, and held in the Monotype Classroom at Letterform Archive.