Join us for a 6–week course to explore the intricate connection of type, culture, and technology in this in-person workshop series in NYC. Led by five instructors from Duty Free and Space Type, this course creates a space for authentic questioning, hands-on exploration, and meaningful experimentation. The class size will be limited to 10 students.

Together, we’ll examine the complexities of our contemporary technological landscape, starting by grounding ourselves in a redefinition of what ‘technology’ means to us. We will collectively create a pixel font as we trace modular aesthetics as an art form with roots in indigenous culture. As the course progresses, we'll dive deeper into the computational craft of drawing letterforms, experimenting with tools such as p5.js, Polycam, and Blender. Each week will be situated in a new theme and contextualized by curated readings and critical making tutorials. Together, we will discuss themes such as labor, queerness, memory, and the body. We will use these themes as a basis to inspire our technical explorations in modular typography, parametric fonts, 3D capture, type in motion and zine making. In this immersive course, we acknowledge that type and technology don't exist in a vacuum—they're woven into the fabric of our cultural landscape, with all its nuances. The workshop aims to cultivate active collaboration among participants, and the outcomes of each module will serve as foundational material for subsequent sessions. To wrap up our collective experience, we'll create a collaborative publication, capturing our collective work and reflections on this cultural narrative.

This workshop will cover an encompassing view that goes beyond the usual boundaries, creating an open environment where we can create, learn, and flourish while keeping our headspace in a critical context.

Audience and Format

This workshop is formatted into six weekly sessions, each led by different instructors, taking place in person in downtown NYC (250 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013). Each session places a strong emphasis on the cultural and collaborative dimensions of the topic. The workshop aims to cultivate active collaboration among participants, and the outcomes of each module will serve as foundational material for subsequent sessions. The workshop series draws inspiration from the exquisite corpse method—a collaborative assembly of words or images.

This course welcomes individuals of all skill levels, including folks with no prior coding/programming experience, who are interested in technology and its cultural context. The content is especially beneficial for those seeking to challenge their perceptions of technology in society and culture.

Participants are encouraged to read assigned texts before each weekly class and actively engage in collaboration by sharing their thoughts and reflections in the classroom. Aside from reading, the course is designed so that there are no mandatory assignments outside the classroom, but we ask that participants come to class ready to fully engage in the material and discussion with the class.

Goals

• Become an active (not passive!) participant in the ever changing contemporary technology landscape
• Understanding and familiarity around the concept of generative design through computation
• A holistic framework of viewing design from an intersectional lens
• Engage in critical discussions around type, technology and cultural context

Learning Outcomes

• Basics of Glyphs App
• Understanding of basic programming concepts
• Introduction to p5.js and other javascript/creative coding libraries
• Introduction to 3D scanning and mesh editing basics
• Introduction to Figma and designing for digital and physical publication

Material Requirements

• An hour to dedicate for weekly readings prior to class
• A laptop/portable computer with a modern browser installed (Mac recommended for 1st week although not necessary) and a function webcam
• Note-taking materials

Scholarship Information

Scholarship seats are available for this course. Please check out more details on the scholarship page. This scholarship is open to all Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, with priority given to those who have limited resources or access to educational opportunities.