Introduction to Modern Type Design

During this 10-week online course (meeting on Monday evenings from October 2-December 11—no meeting on November 20), you will create your own original typefaces as you 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 10-week workshop is suitable for anyone just starting to think about type and for designers with some type design experience, hoping to further 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, which will be accepting applications throughout the month of October 2023.

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.

Required Materials

• Computer running Mac OS X 10.10 or higher (to run Glyphs)
• Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
• Canson XL Marker Paper
• Pentel Jumbo Correction Pen (white-out)
• Fine point and chisel tip markers for sketching (Sharpie or similar)

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.