Class Overview
Reimagine the alphabet! We think of letters as symbols—but they are also shapes with a life of their own. This class is a chance for designers, artists, and anyone with an interest in experimenting, to take a walk on the wild side of type design.
In this experimental workshop, students will create an original display typeface. If you were ever interested in type design but found yourself intimidated by all of the rules, this class is for you! Instead of poring over historical models, we will focus on generating new ideas and overcoming creative blocks to create letters for powerful, expressive contemporary typography.
Learn how to draw exciting new shapes using an assortment of conventional and improvised materials and create a typeface using Glyphs (or the font editor of your choice). Would you like to use clay, crochet, stones, graffiti, or graphite? The sky is the limit! Experiments and mistakes are welcome creative methods in this class.
Students will use both analog and digital media and, in doing so, develop their sense of creative direction. Class time is dedicated to working on your project with individualized feedback, supplemented by occasional lectures, technical demonstrations, and group critique. By the end of the class, you will have a working display typeface of your own invention, as well as an experimental workflow that you can use for future font creation.
Students will be encouraged to spend up to 10 hours on homework outside of class time. Typefaces and lettering take a lot of time, but time flies when experimenting, drawing, and editing!
See also: Type Design Basics and other Graphic Design or art classes.
Learning Objectives
- Create your own original letterforms
- Learn to draw letters with experimental media of your choosing
- Digitize and refine your original design
- Become familiar with a digital type design workflow
- Develop practical tools to overcome creative blocks
- Develop strategies for creative direction
Who Might Enjoy This Class?
- Anyone who wants to develop their own custom font
- Graphic designers, illustrators, lettering artists, type designers
- Artists, crafters, creatives, architects, engineers, and anyone who would like to step outside their artistic comfort zone
- No prerequisites, but basic graphic design/typography knowledge is recommended
Class Details
Spring 2026
- When : Wednesday, Apr 08 to Jun 10 ; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Location : SC0BE , SC - BE - G Design Lab -BE5148 , 1701 Broadway Seattle WA 98022
- Fee : $359
