Typography and typeface design: Learn all about it at Type@Paris Summer 2015

Type@Paris Summer 2015 will be an unprecedented opportunity to learn about contemporary digital typography from a Gallic perspective. It’s about time.

– Paul Shaw, Blue Pencil

As most of you will know, there’s more to typeface design than ‘playing around with fonts’. The art of typography requires a lot of knowledge and practice, so for the first time in Europe designers will have the opportunity to learn type design during five intensive weeks at Type@Paris Summer 2015, a programme that welcomes international designers.

What you can expect

From traditional calligraphy techniques to modern software practices, trainees will be given the references and perspective to understand the needed key structure of letterforms as a necessary foundation to design contemporary typefaces designs and styles. This program will take place in Paris between 15 June 2015 and 17 July 2015, which includes a total of 160 hours of practice with professional instructors.

The instructors are renowned professionals such as Jean françois Porchez, Mathieu Réguer and Malou Verlomme. Founder of Typofonderie, type director of ZeCraft, Jean François Porchez’s expertise covers both the design of bespoke typefaces, logotypes and typographic consultancy. He is honorary President of the Association Typographique Internationale (between 2004 and 2007 he was President of ATypI) and frequent speaker at conferences all over the world. Since 2012, he is the programme director for typographic design master at ECV (France). He taught type design at Type@Cooper, Cooper Union (United States), at the MA typeface design at the Reading University (United Kingdom) and at Ensad (France). He also contributes regularly to international publications and was awarded the Prix Charles Peignot in 1998 and numerous prizes for his typefaces.

Weekly guest critics

Weekly guest critics will be invited to review the work of the participants. They will talk about their work during evening lectures organised every week, which will also include other distinguished guests (stay tuned for more information). The confirmed famous typographers are Nadine Chahine, Jeremy Tankard, Henrik Kubel, Lucas de Groot and Erik Spiekermann, in what promises to be a unique opportunity for the participants to meet and exchange knowledge with these talents.

How to apply

This programme targets experienced graphic designers, typographers, web designers, design school typography teachers and even freshly graduated design trainees from all over the world. The application period is now closed but if you want to explore more you can do so at the Type@Paris Summer 2015 website. Also stay tuned for more typography inspiration, news and resources at Creative Connection.