. PROJECT BRIEF
The starting point of this project is based on historical ornamental / illuminated letters. You’ll have to create a tool which generates or makes shapes without meaning, therefore the application can be really diverse.
Your tool can take any form: a physical object, a digital tool, or even an experimental hybrid that rethinks how type is created.
Before we invent, we must observe. We begin at the Plantin Moretus Museum in Antwerp (Belgium), where we will explore one of the richest collections of typographic artifacts in existence. Through this, we’ll gain insight into the craftsmanship and innovation of the past. In a workshop on illuminated letters, we’ll analyze how historical type designers and scribes enhanced letters with structural, decorative, and functional elements. Some of these additions were purely aesthetic, while others guided the eye, framed content, or even structured entire pages. What if these elements—borders, flourishes, drop caps, modular ornaments—weren’t just decorative, but functional tools in their own?
Invent a new shape tool.
Consider:
1 What can we borrow from the past?
How did historical elements enhance letterforms beyond aesthetics?
Could ornamental details inspire a stencil, a guide, or a modular system?
Could structural elements become alignment or spacing tools?
2 How can we expand the way design is made?
Design today happens primarily on screen—how could your tool enhance, disrupt, or rethink this process?
Could it introduce a new way to construct, refine, or add elements?
Could it bring a tactile or experimental dimension?
3 How will you bring it to life?
Your tool can take any form:
- A physical object (e.g., stencil, ruler, modular grid system).
- A digital tool (e.g., a script, plugin, interactive app).
- A hybrid approach that blends the physical and digital.
The project starts in Antwerp, Belgium with a studio visit to Specht Studio, Plantin Moretus Museum, a visit to an extra designer studio, a typo walk and a workshop!
Coming to Antwerp and participating in the workshop/excursion is mandatory.
Travel expenses are to be paid by the student.
DATES IN ANTWERP: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 April 2025
DATES IN-PERSON CLASSES IN WEIMAR: 28, 29 April 2025 and 2, 3 June 2025
DATES ONLINE CLASSES: 10 June 2025, 17 June 2025, 24 June 2025, 1 July 2025
Benefits: Long Typo Nights with the other typography courses
If you are interested, please send a short letter of motivation (including details of field of studies and academic year) to spechtstudio@gmail.com by April 06.
Die Veranstaltung findet auf Englisch statt. Über die Sprachumschaltflagge (oben rechts) gelangen Sie zur englischsprachigen Beschreibung.
Bitte beachten Sie die entsprechende Studienordnung. |
