Typographics Conference (in-person) ticket holders can have a 10% discount on this workshop. Write to type@cooper.edu for the promo-code to take advantage of this offer before you pay.

Developing a Latin typeface is generally a long and linear process. A designer creates the original design, then, one after the other, can develop the glyph set, fine-tune the shapes, and repeat the same process again and again for each source of each variation axis.

Fontra comes with a solution that allows real-time collaboration and multi-source editing. In this workshop, participants will learn how to easily create a variable font with multiple axes while maintaining consistent design, and how to do so through teamwork.

Goals and benefits:

Draw a Latin variable font with multiple axes within one day!

Participants will:

• Try out the new font-editing platform Fontra.
• Experience real-time collaborative team work on a single project, which could potentially be adapted to their own practice.
• Enhance team spirit.
• Acquire type design skills (depending on the initial level of the participant’s type design expertise).

Structure:

• Introduction to Fontra and demo.
• Brainstorming to define a common design.
• Everyone will randomly draw few letters on Fontra.
• Several workshops will be assigned at this stage. Some designers will focus on fine-tuning, others on expanding the glyph set, and some on adding new variation axes to the font. Real-time interaction on the project will facilitate these workshops. Participants can switch between workshops at any time to experience each step.
• Introduction about variable components.
• Python scripting demo on Fontra.
• Gathering the result, review and discussions.

Prerequisites:

Participants are expected to have some basic knowledge of type design and previous experience with another font-editing software like Glyphs or RoboFont.

Supply List:

• Bring your own laptop (Mac or Windows) with internet connection
• pen / pencil and paper for drafting and notes