Do you love typography? Have you ever thought about pursuing, or have you even dabbled in, typeface design? Then you might consider going back to school to further your knowledge and expand your career possibilities.
Two schools offer advanced degrees in typography and type design: the University of Reading, in the UK; and the Royal Academy of Art, in the Hague, the Netherlands. While there might be other schools that currently have, or are in the process of developing, programs in typography, these two are the oldest and best known.
The University of Reading offers advanced degrees in Typography & Graphic Communication, as well as in Typeface Design. Their approach is a combination of practice, theory and history, with a distinguished staff that is complemented by visiting professionals and academics.
Program Director Gerry Leonidas says of the Typeface Design program, “The MA program at Reading is based on the idea of immersing a small group of highly motivated students in a very intensive environment that brings them in intimate contact with the totality of typeface design: the history and material sources, the thinking and discourse in the field, and the demands of designing complete text typefaces for a range of scripts. It is difficult and challenging, but students are rewarded with a depth of knowledge and range of skills that are impossible to develop through self-study, let alone within just one year.”