Introducing Asia’s first part-time, 9-week online type design course:
- Build your typographic knowledge with access to world-class typographic resources
- Design an original typeface in just 9 weeks, after work hours in GMT+8.
- Join a type-passionate community founded by a TDC award-winning designer & educator.
- Level up with optional group coaching and mentoring so you don’t have to journey alone.
- Walk away with with typographic secret sauce skills to WOW your clients and raise your rates.
- Choose from Community, Group Learning or Mentored Programme to suit your commitment level.
Our programme aims to blend historical knowledge with technical expertise while leveraging the power of community to foster learning breakthroughs.
You'll develop new skills, make new connections with those who are just as passionate about typography as you are, most importantly, realise your creative vision with the help and mentorship from those who have walked the same paths before. The 9 week course is broken into 3 phases, each designed to guide you through various aspects of a contemporary type design practice and leave you with tools to continue your type design journey.
Type Design Asia 2025
- When?
Online sessions from mid-April to mid-July, see programme for details.
- Who?
Mark De Winne
- How much?
Three different learning models:
- USD 497: Community
- USD 997: Group Coaching
- USD 1497: Mentoring
- Language
English
- Links
Phase 1: Laying Foundations
1. Mastering Basic Letterform Drawing Techniques:
- Understanding Letterform Anatomy through Calligraphy: Learn the fundamental structures and elements of letterforms by practicing calligraphy.
- Iterative Design Process through Sketching: Develop rapid sketching techniques to efficiently iterate and refine design concepts.
2. Introduction to Glyphs:
- Navigating the Glyphs Interface: Familiarize yourself with the Glyphs software interface and its essential tools.
- Basic Techniques for Drawing and Manipulating Letterforms: Build the foundational skills needed to create and adjust letterforms within Glyphs.
3. Refining Type Design Fundamentals:
- Principles of Letter Spacing: Understand the key principles of letter spacing and how to use proofing sheets to evaluate and adjust spacing.
- Building Typographic Consistency: Develop consistency in your type designs through the use of shared components and recursive motifs.
4. Understanding the Origins of the Alphabet:
- History of Writing Systems: Gain insights into the evolution of writing systems and their transformation into printing.
- Applying Historical Learnings to Contemporary Type Design: Learn how historical knowledge influences modern type design practices.
Phase 2: Building Blocks
5. Basics of Font Production Processes:
- Spacing & Kerning: Learn the techniques for adjusting spacing between individual letter pairs to achieve visual harmony.
- Curve Tension and Point Placement: Optimize curve tension to refine the shapes of your letterforms, avoiding common mistakes in point placement.
- Alignment Zones: Learn how to use alignment zones to enhance on-screen performance of your typeface.
6. Expanding the Character Set:
- Punctuation, Numerals, and Symbols: Draw and align these elements with the typographic DNA of your typeface to ensure consistency.
- Role of Diacritics: Learn the importance of diacritics in diverse language support and common pitfalls to avoid.
- Ligatures, Alternates, and OpenType Features: Understand the creation and implementation of ligatures and alternates, and gain a basic grasp of OpenType features.
7. Building a Unique Typographic Voice:
- Experimenting with Concepts and Styles: Explore different stylistic approaches through the use of stylistic sets.
- Testing and Proofing: Continuously test and proof your designs to ensure they convey a unique typographic voice.
- Refining Typeface DNA: Use feedback from testing to refine and solidify the distinctive characteristics of your typeface.
Phase 3: Finishing Touches
8. Developing Critical Skills for Iterative Design:
- Embracing Iteration: Understand the iterative nature of type design, learning to adapt and grow from each version of your work.
- Problem-Solving Frameworks: Develop strategies for tackling technical and creative challenges in type design.
- Self-Evaluation and Peer Feedback: Build the skills to critically judge your own work through structured self-assessment and group critique sessions.
9. Building Workflow Efficiency and Effectiveness:
- Streamlining the Design Process: Explore strategies and techniques to make your type design workflow more efficient.
- Best Practices for File Management: Learn how to organize files and manage versions effectively.
- Time-Saving Tools and Shortcuts: Integrate tools and shortcuts that optimize productivity and enhance creative output.
10. Showcase & Reflection:
- Articulate Your Journey: Practice explain what sets your type design apart in layman and typographic terms, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned through the process
- Celebrate the Outcome: Design an attractive specimen poster to showcase your typeface and share your final design outcome with the class.