42 Typographic Resources for Designers

The Association Typographique Internationale’s (www.atypi.org) annual conference has been gathering typophiles for more than 50 years. Based in Europe, the organization attracts speakers and attendees on a global scale. Here you’ll meet all the big names and hear all the big ideas. You could say that this is where the big things get discussed before they get big.

An equally popular annual conference, filled with equally big ideas, is the North America-based Typecon (www.typecon.com) produced by the Society of Typographic Aficionados (www.typesociety.org). SOTA is also on the cutting edge of the profession and is enormously important as a generator for collaborative efforts and new ideas.

Every year, my organization, Type Camp (www.typecamp.org), runs typographic studios throughout the world for people of all levels in the industry, as well as customized workshops at schools and businesses.

Argentina and Chile have strong typographic histories, but the Latin American typographic scene is more than the singular contribution from individual countries, and Tipos Latinos (www.tiposlatinos.com) is proving this to be true. It’s a collaborative organization with an extensive reach that brings together designers and typographers from North, Central and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela).

The Type Directors Club (www.tdc.org) is one of the more active type associations in the U.S., with numerous gatherings, lectures and popular traveling exhibitions. New York City typographers are fortunate to have such a dynamic and enthusiastic group in their city.

This commentary is only a brief foray into the realm of typographic resources. There are numerous magazines, exhibitions and other publications on the subject. Investigate these resources, whether as a source of inspiration, a search for a new typeface, or an opportunity to read up on the latest technological advances.

You most certainly don’t have to pass a test or win an award in order to join with others who share an interest in typography. You just have to discover the irresistible power of letters and all you can do with them.