Duration

4 half days

When

6 September 2025, 13 September 2025, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:40 PM

Location

Museum Plantin-Moretus or livestream via Zoom

Lecturer(s)

Peter De Roy

Choosing the right typeface is no easy task, especially now that the selection has grown so vast. This short course will help you navigate that choice. We provide you with the terminology to recognize subtle differences and accurately describe letterforms. You will also learn how type has evolved historically, from the 15th century to today. Did you know that the construction of letters and the thick-thin contrast have their roots in calligraphy?

By the end of the course, you will be able to categorize typefaces based on formal and historical characteristics. We equip you with the knowledge to justify your font choices to clients and develop a shared language to communicate with fellow professionals.

This short course takes its name from Robert Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style. This book – with a foreword by Martin Majoor and Frank Blokland – serves as the syllabus for this course component.

Practical Information

This short course is part of the one-year Typography & Book program but can also be taken separately.

It pairs well with Microtypography, which follows right after.

To get the most out of the course, a basic knowledge of InDesign is recommended.

Costs

Registration fee: €380. Tiered discounts apply when combining multiple short courses within the same year.

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