Lettering artists can devise new styles and broaden creative skills, simply by observing examples found in their everyday surroundings —from neon signs and car emblems, to album covers and book jackets. This simple yet effective technique for generating new work is achieved by expanding on clues found in existing letterforms. Examining patterns in familiar specimens, participants will learn how to identify and decode the basic systems underlying all well-made lettering. Students will then adapt those elements to their hand-drawn logos and wordmarks. Not only does this approach provide a method for retracing the decision-making of other artists, but it gives letterers a fresh perspective on their own work.

Detailed presentations, instructional drawing demonstrations, skill-building exercises, and one-on-one discussions will further assist workshop attendees as they gain a practical understanding for producing inspired lettering in a variety of design settings.

Required Materials

• No.2 pencils (conventional or mechanical)
• pencil sharpener (if applicable)
• eraser
• pad of tracing paper (9″×12″ pad is recommended)
• pad of quadrille 4×4 grid/graph paper (9″×12″ pad is recommended)
• 12 inch ruler
• Sharpie® Fine and Extra Fine markers
• white-out correction fluid pen
• computer with Zoom app installed
• reliable internet connection

Classes and workshops will take place over Zoom. A link to join will be emailed to enrolled students a day or two before the first session. In some cases, a link will also be sent to join a Slack group in support of file sharing and communication with the instructor and classmates.

Ken Barber is a letterer, typeface designer, author, and instructor. He blames Don Martin comics, Santa Cruz skateboard graphics, and speed metal logos for his obsession with letterforms. For over 25 years Ken has designed distinctive logos for global brands, and produced award-winning fonts. As COO at House Industries, Ken is the Director of Typeface Design and the studio’s lettering artist. His work is part of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Ken has also been honored by the New York Type Directors Club, Association Typographique Internationale, and Design Museum London. He teaches at The Cooper Union, and is the author of three books. His most recent publication, House Industries Lettering Manual, was released on August 25, 2020.