Dinamo Variable Font Design Workshop ↗

A variable font is a single font that acts as many: all variations of width, weight, slant, and other attributes contain in a single font file. One of the leaders in creation of such fonts is the Swiss studio Dinamo.

In the workshop, the founders of Dinamo will talk about how to create variable fonts. In a 2-half-day workshop, we will explore VariableFont technology and develop typeface concepts and design starting points from analog to digital to variable. The participants will get familiar with VariableFont technology and learn how to use it to create new typeface designs. As an end product, participants will end up with new VariableFont designs that can cover a complete range of different qualities within the developed design space.

On the first day of the workshop, we will work and design by hand with paper, pens, and scissors. Everybody will collect and document the multiple qualities of this thing visually, and present and discuss the developments. On the second day, the participants will re-work and finessing the results from Day 1 in digital ways. Based on the manual designs from Day One participants will develop a VariableFont concept with its own characteristic design space, offering to fluidly change its appearance between defined extremes.

In the workshop, we wait for Graphic Designers, Type Lovers, and Typedesigners and total beginners who are interested in type design. You will need a laptop with GlyphsApp or a comparable type design editor installed; Paper, Scissors, and Pens.

The workshop is held with the support of Adobe. Adobe provides software packages with simple but powerful instruments for users of all levels which help them to constantly improve their skills and bring to life the most ambitious ideas.