Typographic Artisans Summary

The Typographic Artisans video provided valuable information about what it means to be a typographer, how to succeed as a typographer, and what the difference is between typography, lettering, and designing. In addition to lettering-centric information, this video also provided valuable insights on how to think about day-to-day design work in a diverse field.

Jessica and Erik are two designers who work primarily with typography. What does this mean in terms of day to day work? First, it means a tremendous attention to detail. As each designer stresses, an entire day can be dedicated to perfecting the form of a single letter. On top of this, being a type designer requires a constant expansion of your knowledge of type. As Jessica points out, the more you know about type, the more you can learn about type--from good and bad design. Type design also involves a tremendous  amount of practice and dedication. Erik explains that the use of different styles is important; often, when he completes a project, Erik conjures up many iterations before deciding, based on the visuals in front of him, which is most appropriate for the assignment.

In terms of assignments, typographers play a unique role in the design field. Jessica explains that there are a lot of differences in the daily work of typographers, letterers, and designers. However, there is great benefit to having skills in all three areas. Being a designer with lettering skills makes it easier for you to adjust fonts to fit your needs in specific ways. Further, having typographic abilities allows a designer to create a font specifically suited for a project.

Much of the advice in this video is applicable in the design field beyond the typographic niche. Jessica and Erik both mention the importance of considering what you want to be doing every single day when determining where you fit into the design field. This is important because even similar seeming job titles can differ tremendously in terms of daily work. They also mention the importance of consistent practice. Picking up tools and working on something every day is how one improves! Finally, they stress the importance of the basics in the development process. Knowing the basics and being able to communicate in design terms is imperative to development as a designer.