Introduction to Modern Type Design In-Person Workshop

During this 10-week in-person workshop (Wednesdays from June 12 through August 21. No class on July 3), you'll learn what it takes to create your own original typefaces and gain an understanding of the methodologies and software used to produce high-quality digital type.

While focusing on the techniques and best practices for designing and spacing type, Kel will introduce you to the conceptual foundations of type design, including proofing and testing work. Throughout the workshop you'll learn various lessons about type, history, sketching, and get weekly feedback on your projects.

This workshop is suitable for designers starting to think about type and for designers with some type design experience, hoping to improve upon their skills and processes. Some experience with drawing Bézier curves (in Adobe Illustrator, for instance) and with typography is recommended but not required.

If you are interested in joining Type West, our yearlong certificate program in type design, taking this workshop is a great way to build your type design portfolio for its competitive application process. Additionally, by joining this in-person workshop you'll have the added advantage of studying at Letterform Archive in San Francisco, with in-person research access to our inspirational collection of type and lettering specimens.

All participants will receive a free temporary license for the Glyphs App. The number of participants is capped at 12 to allow for individual instruction.

• 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)

 is a freelance type designer and lettering artist who gets an equal amount of inspiration from mid-century advertising and Bay Area graffiti. He graduated from the Type@Cooper West program in 2018, was the teaching assistant for Type West in 2019, and worked at Monotype. Kel is one of the co-teachers in the year-long Type West at Letterform Archive certificate program.

You can find him in the East Bay drawing and photographing letters and you can find his typefaces Oaks and Gnar on Future Fonts. You can also follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Letterform Archive, 2325 3rd Street, San Francisco, United States