8 November15 December 2022
Online Program

Are you ready to take your type design to the next level? A great idea isn’t enough. A typeface also needs to be well-executed to knock it out of the park. That’s what Practica One is all about — execution, craft, mechanics. No matter where you are in the type design process, we’ll help you give your great idea a professional finish. Join us Fall 2022 and dig deeper into typeface design.

— 6-week type design course
— All sessions are live and online
— Tuition is set on a sliding scale
— Sessions are held in English

Participants who do not have a Glyphs license yet receive an extended trial license and can purchase their own full license at a discount.

Practica One: Mechanics

8 November through 15 December 2022,
Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 p.m. CST (Chicago)

What you’ll learn:

  • Techniques to improve your Bézier curves and add snap to your letters
  • How to make informed decisions about vertical metrics
  • The importance of spacing on the overall quality of your font and how to improve yours
  • How to move more consciously through the type design process
  • The design difference between fonts meant for text vs. display
  • How to make optical corrections and small adjustments that improve the overall color of your font
  • To notice the details without losing sight of the larger system of your typeface
  • How to use proofing as a tool to make your typeface better
  • Ways to boost creativity and find inspiration for future projects

What’s included:

  • Live classes held over Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Lectures, two feedback sessions, and font file reviews
  • Ability to watch lectures again (lectures are live, but recorded)
  • Individual feedback on your typeface
  • One guest lecturer and one guest critique
  • Access to our private Discord community
  • Free trial Glyphs license

Schedule:

  • Nov 8: Course and project introduction, lecture: display vs. text type
  • Nov 10: Lecture: type design workflow, intro to spacing and proofing
  • Nov 15: Review of students’ font files, core topics
  • Nov 17: Lecture: setting up your font file, basic OT features, vertical metrics, etc.
  • Nov 22: Group feedback session with visiting critic Laura Meseguer
  • Nov 24: No class, Thanksgiving in the US
  • Nov 29: Review of students’ font files, core topics
  • Dec 1: Lecture: typical optical adjustments
  • Dec 6: Review of students’ font files, core topics
  • Dec 8: Lecture with Cyrus Highsmith: black strokes and white shape
  • Dec 14—18: Individual feedback sessions (optional)

Our program is now two complementary courses, Practica One and Two, that can be taken back-to-back or separately, totaling 24 weeks in all (with a nice break in between).

Where?

Live Zoom sessions

Who?

Nicole Dotin, Process Type Foundry
Sol Matas, Hungry Type Society

Visiting Instructors:
Cyrus Highsmith, Occupant Fonts
Laura Meseguer, Type-Ø-Tones

For Whom?

Some experience with type design expected. Read more.

How Much?

Starting at USD 390, and one work study position for a person with demonstrated need

Language

English

Prerequisites

Mac with Glyphs preinstalled. Internet connection, a layout program like Affinity Publisher or InDesign. Zoom and Discord accounts (both free).