Type Directors Club

Type Directors Club
AbbreviationTDC
Founded1946 (1946)
TypeProfessional association
Location
Area served
Global
Key people
Executive Director: Carol Wahler, Program Manager: Griffin McCabe[1]
Websitetdc.org

The Type Directors Club (TDC) is an international organization devoted to typography and type design, founded in 1946 in New York City. TDC believes that type drives culture, and that culture drives type—and is dedicated to cataloging, showcasing, and exhibiting typography worldwide.

Founding member Milton Zudek described the club's goals at their first exhibit opening in 1947:

We simply want to make more and more advertising people aware of the importance of the agency typographer. We want them to realize that the selection of type for an advertisement demands a sixth sense that goes beyond the basic knowledge of typefaces—that it demands, in effect, the same kind of artistic sense that people have learned to associate with Art Directors, but are still learning to associate with Type Directors.” Speaking that same night, Paul Lang, a member of the Art Directors Club remarked, “When I began, artists were called layout men, renderers or finishers. When we insisted upon being called art directors, the advertising execs would say, ‘Call yourselves anything you like, but give us what we want.’ By the same token, if type directors keep calling themselves just that, they will, in time, be recognized for what they actually do contribute.”[2]


Timeline

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1943: The club was started as an unofficial gathering in 1943. Founding member Milton Zudeck described the club’s goals: “We simply want to make more and more advertising people aware of the important of the agency typographer. We want them to realize that the selection of type for an advertisement demands a sixth sense that goes beyond the basic knowledge of typefaces.”[3]

1946: The Type Directors Club organization was formed by several leading NY art directors, including Aaron Burns, Louis Dorfsman and Milton Zudeck.[4]

1960: The TDC was composed of men for many years until 1960 when they recruited its first woman member, designer Beatrice Warde. Today, the Beatrice Warde Scholarship stands to commemorate Beatrice Warde and all her contributions to the field of typography and to the TDC.[5]

1967: The TDC medal is the organization's most prestigious award dedicated to the artful craft of type and typography. As of 2022 there have been 34 medalists. in 1967 the first TDC medal was awarded to Hermann Zapf.[6]

1987: The TDC’s first international conference Type 1987 was held in Manhattan, giving participants the opportunity to gather with “stars” from outside the US like Adrian Frutiger and Neville Brody.[7]

2018: As part of a rebranding led by Debbie Millman, the TDC adopted the Type Drives Culture conference slogan. The same year, the club held the first Ascenders competition, aimed to promote the hottest designers under 35; and created a BIPOC scholarship, which was later renamed the Ade Hogue Scholarship.[8]

2022: The TDC merged with The One Club[9]

2022: Upon the TDC’s reopening, Ksenya Samarskaya was appointed as TDC Managing Director with a mission to make it more open, diverse, and culturally engaging. TDC hosted Ezhishin, the first conference about Native North American typography.[10][11]


Conferences

[edit]

In 1955 the first TDC competition was held to recognize outstanding work in the profession. The TDC’s first international conference, Type 1987 was held in Manhattan, giving participants the opportunity to gather with “stars” from outside the US like Adrian Frutiger and Neville Brody. in 2018, as part of a rebranding led by Debbie Millman, the TDC adopted the “Type Drives Culture” conference slogan which remains at the heart of the TDCs annual conference.[12]

The most recent Type Drives Culture 22 conference held various sessions with the overarching theme “Type: The Next 75 Years”.[13][14]


TDC Medal

[edit]

The TDC Medal is awarded for significant contributions to typography.

Year Recipients[15]
1967 Hermann Zapf
1968 R. Hunter Middleton
1971 Frank Powers
1972 Robert Leslie
1975 Edward Rondthaler
1979 Arnold Bank
1982 Georg Trump
1983 Paul Standard
1984 Paul Rand, Herb Lubalin (posthumously)
1985 Aaron Burns
1986 Bradbury Thompson
1987 Adrian Frutiger
1989 Ed Benguiat
1991 Gene Federico
1995 Lou Dorfsman
1997 Rolling Stone magazine, Matthew Carter
1998 Freeman Craw
2000 Günther Gerhard Lange, Colin Brignall
2003 Martin Solomon
2006 Paula Scher
2011 Mike Parker, Erik Spiekermann
2013 Gerrit Noordzij
2014 David Berlow
2015 Louise Fili
2016 Zuzana Licko and Rudy VanderLans of Emigre
2017 Gerard Unger
2018 Fiona Ross
2019 Wim Crouwel
2020 Rubén Fontana
2022 Akira Kobayashi (typographer)[16]


Competitions

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Since the 1950s the TDC has been holding yearly type competitions: one for the use of type and the letterform in design and the other, typeface design. The winners are reproduced in the Typography Annual, as well as displayed in seven exhibits that travel worldwide. In addition to celebrating outstanding achievements, the typography competitions and resulting annuals serve as important historical records of typographic trends, and are an invaluable resource for both designers and scholars.[3]

Typography

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Previously known as Communication Design, the Typography competition is the extension of the original competition started in the 1950s.

Type Design

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The Type Directors Club Type Design Awards are given annually for excellence in typeface design. The award is generally viewed as being the most prestigious in the field.

Type Design Winners by Year

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Year Winner[17]
2000 Arcana Manuscript, Biblon, Blue Island, Cholla Slab, FF Clifford, Costa, Erica Sans, Homemade, Bitstream Kis Cyrillic, Klin, Mexica, Mirra, Diwan Mishafi, Myriad Pro Greek, Nani, Profile, Silentium Pro, Linotype Syntax[18]
2001 ITC Aspera, Basilica, Linotype Conrad, Eplica, Hierarchy, Litteratra, Manuscript, Maya, Preissig, Really, Terminator, Warnock Pro, Zentra
2002 Text: Dreamer DD, Pradell, Whitman; Display: Alphatier, Azuza, Dearest, Globetrotter, ITC Jeepers, Keester, Media Core 3, Woodley Park;

Type System: Brioso Pro, Federal, Rialto, Siemens

2003 Text: Arabic Typesetting, Carlin Script, Gentium, Laurentian; Display: Falafil, ITC Keefbats, Sakkal Seta Pro; Type System: Fontana ND, FF Strada, FTF Morgan, Full Moon Suite, Press Family, Suite, Sauna, ITC Tactile
2004 Text: Ardbeg, Argot, Maiola, Nyala, MS Uighur; Display: Brunn, Buttress, Sava Pro; Type System: Amira, Amplitude, FF Angkoon, Expo Sans, Farnham, Houston, Noam, FF Unit, Zocalo
2005 Text: Fabiol, Minuscule; Display: Bello, Bublik, Bunker, Dolce, Ed Gothic, Ed Script, Elementis, Pirouette, DB SantiPap, Scheck, Shipflat, Shoutenkaku / Shoutenmaru; Type System: FF Absara, Auto, Calibri, Rumba; Ornament: Super-Veloz
2006 Text: Aniene, Adobe Arabic, Calouste, Quixote; Display: Darka, Hogariet, Rayuela Chocolate 2.0, P22 Sweepy; Type System: Frutiger Next Greek, Garamond Premier Pro, Piclig, Relato Sans, Vista Sans; Ornament: FF Headz
2007 Text: Corundum Text, Greta Text, Untitled, EMT Lorena, Midan, Olga, Tisa; Type System: Arno Pro, Beorcana, Fakir, Nassim, Palatino Sans and Palatino Sans Informal, Quiosco, Xtra Sans; Display: Flexion, Manicotti, Peanut, Subtil; Ornament: Gregoria
2008 Text: Al Rajhi, Fondo, Marat, OTS Ethiopic, Palatino Arabic, Vodafone Hindi, Tiina; Type System: Anselm, Gloriola Standard and Display, National, Presidencia; Display: Blaktur, Burgues Script, Fresco Arabic, Logo Jr Black, Mommie, Sable, Slant, Swing, Ventura; Ornament: Restraint
2009 Text: Adios Script, Montague Script, Alda, Copte Scripte; Display: Klimax Bold, Nebulon, Optica Normal, Orbe
2010 Ingeborg, Deliscript, Kazuraki, Urbana Lnd, Joos, Espinosa Nova, Lavigne Display, ITC Legacy Square Serif Pro, Retiro, Narziss, Rieven, Fugu, Ysobel, Rum Black, Aisha, DecoType Nastaliq
2011 Brandon Grotesque, Eames Century Modern, Aero, Palatino Sans Arabic, Tundra, Amalta, Thuraya Regular, Shift, Supria Sans, FF Suhmo, News, Daisy, Matrona, Tabati, Nori, Eventide, Enzian, Elegy, Poem, Eames Poster Numerals
2012 Hipster Script, Chiavari, Balkan, La República, DecoType Ruq‘ah, Sutturah, Mr. Porter, Rekja, Greta Arabic, Harriet, Smidgen, Vibro, FF Mister K Informal
2013 Athena Ruby, JAF Bernini Sans, Karol, The Brill Family, Tegaki, Blanco, Vinter, Days and Nights, FF Chartwell, Baldufa, Iskra, Erotica, Agmena™, Jocham
2014 Sori, Metro Nova, Odesta, Azer, Pizza Press, Columbia Titling, Amplify, Chimera, Mislab, Duplicate Ionic, FF Quixo, Argentina, Ogg, Lalola, DecoType Nastaleeq Press, Venecia, Medusa, Flirt Script, MZhiHei Ultra Bold, Cloud Mountain Type, FREE, Bungee, Marcel Script, Chapitre Regular
2015 GT Sectra, Woodkit, Brando, Domaine Sans, Valter, Inei Mincho, Love Script, M Gentle Bold (正纖蘭體), Signo, A23D, Bustan Bold, Lale, Mohtaraf, Gibbs, Input, Proto Grotesk, Haltrix, Hollie Script Pro, Minotaur, Big Moore, GE Inspira Sans and Serif, M Ellan Light (幼雅蘭體)
2016 BC Mikser, Mornic, Tremolo, Bressay, Acanto Regia, Infini, Froben Antiqua, Zico, Bustani, Greta Arabic, The Spirit of Cursive Script, Greta Sans Hebrew, Bixa
2017 Salvaje, Lingering Fonts, Nordvest, Qandu, Bely, Sharp Grotesk, Qingyu Lishu, PILOT, Graebenbach, Lalezar, Laica, Rando, Renault Carname, Stratos, Eva
2018 Mirza, Lamon, IBM Plex, Source Han Serif, Noort, Origen, Teddy, Palago, Harrison Serif Pro, Read Greek Condensed, Koning, Vazeh, Ray, Artigo Display, Guyot, Oi!, Kinetic, Greta Text Hebrew
2019 Crochet, Rizado Script, New York Serif UI by Apple, Glinko Modern, Jali, Orientation, Ribaasu, Adobe Telugu, Minerale, No Molestar!, Sandwich, Sig, Pyk, Chek Lap sans, Faune, FR kraken slab, Heldane, Hope Sans, Pilat, Gustella, Punta Display, Le murmure.
2020
2021 Arabic Protest, Baryton, Coca-Cola Care, Garaje, Grab Community, Hebrew/Latin Extended, Hong Kong Beiwei Zansyu, Huai, Le Rosart, LiebeHeide Color, Lyon Arabic, Rail Alphabet 2, Retail, SF Symbols 2, Signifier, Super Condensed Devanagari, Vasakronan Serif, Vazeh Classic Quranic
2022 Amaala Arabic, ANEK Indic, Charisma, Englisch, FZ GuoMeiJinDao, FZ QianLongXingShu, Goldich, Greta Armenian, Hanyi yihexianjing, Jinhua Mincho, Klaket, Kristal, Lava Syllabics, Margit, Mithaq, Norbert, November Tamil, Oceanic, Platia, Qing Mocai Lishu, Resonay, RVS Basic, SF Arabic, SF Symbols 3, Shinbakusai Reisho, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, The Epicene Collection, The Mānuka Collection, Uwabami, YouTube Sans Arabic

Lettering

[edit]

Started in 2022.

Ascenders

[edit]

In 2018, the TDC inaugurated Ascenders, a competition to recognize the achievements of designers 35 years of age and younger. In its inaugural year, TDC honored nineteen Ascenders from around the world.

TDC Annual — World’s Best Typography

[edit]

TDC produces a design annual that features award-winning typography. The 2017 publication, The World's Best Type and Typography, was designed by Leftloft of Milan.[19]


Year Book Number Designer and Studio[20]
1980 Typography 1 Jack G. Tauss
1981 Typography 2 Jack G. Tauss
1982 Typography 3 Joe Carnase
1983 Typography 4 Richard Moore
1984 Typography 5 Jonson Pedersen, Hinrichs and Shakery Inc.
1985 Typography 6 Olau Leu
1986 Typography 7 Arthur Boden
1987 Typography 8 David Brier
1988 Typography 9 Alan Peckolick
1989 Typography 10 Onofrio Paccione
1990 Typography 11 Larry Yang
1991 Typography 12 Jessica Weber
1992 Typography 13 Daniel Pelavin
1993 Typography 14 Mark van Bronkhorst
1994 Typography 15 Reverb, Los Angeles & Rick Vermeulen
1995 Typography 16 Drenttel Doyle Partners
1996 Typography 17 Michael Vanderbyl, Vanderbyl Design
1997 Typography 18 Bernhardt Fudyma Design Group
1998 Typography 19 L. Richard Poulin, Amy Kwon, Poulin + Morris
1999 Typography 20 Adam Greiss, Carin Goldberg
2000 Typography 21 The ATTIK
2001 Typography 22 Gail Anderson (graphic designer)
2002 Typography 23 Allison Williams
2003 Typography 24 Alexander Isley
2004 Typography 25 Diego Vainesman
2005 Typography 26 Urshula Barbour, Paul Carlos, Pure + Applied
2006 Typography 27 Andy Kner
2007 Typography 28 Number Seventeen (design)
2008 Typography 29 Philippe Apeloig
2009 Typography 30 Werner Design Werks
2010 Typography 31 Paul Sahre
2011 Typography 32 Matteo Bologna, Mucca Design
2012 Typography 33 Paula Scher, Pentagram (design firm)
2013 Typography 34 Chip Kidd
2014 Typography 35 Brian Collins (designer)
2015 Typography 36 J. Abbott Miller, Pentagram (design firm)
2016 Typography 37 Bobby C. Martin Jr., OCD
2017 Typography 38 Leftloft, Milan
2018 Typography 39 Triboro
2019 Typography 40 Hugh Miller, Bond Creative
2020 Typography 41 Anagrama
2021 Typography 42 Juan Carols Pagan, Sunday Afternoon
2022 Typography 43 Tereza Bettinardi


Scholarships

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Beatrice Warde Scholarship

Winners receive a $5,000 USD award as well as a free one-year student membership to the TDC, offering discounts and other opportunities for conferences and events.

Previous winners of the award include Doah Kwon (2022) Ximena Amaya (2021), Tatiana Lopez (2020), Blossom Liu (2019), Anna Skoczeń (2018), Tasnima Tanzim (2017), Ania Wieluńska (2016), and Rebecca Bartola (2015).[21]

Ade Hogue Scholarship

Formerly known as the Superscript scholarship. Previous winners of the award include Ana Robles (2022) and Sakinah Bell (2021)[21]

Ezhishin Scholarship

Started in 2023, the annual $5,000 scholarship, funded by Google, is for Native American and First Nation individuals in the US and Canada, respectively, who exemplify a creative practice that explores typography, type design, or relevant linguistic work. Winners receive a $5,000 USD award as well as a free one-year student membership to the TDC, offering discounts and other opportunities for conferences and events. [22]

Sponsors

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The TDC is sponsored by A to A Studio Solutions, Adobe Typeset, Typeset Design Matters, Designer Journals, Facebook Analog Research Laboratory, Firebelly, Google, Glyphs, Monotype, Morisawa, Pandora, School of Visual Arts, SVA Masters in Banding, Type Network which help to support the following initiatives:

  • TDC Typography Annual
  • Student scholarships
  • Salons in NYC and other US cities
  • Educational workshops
  • TDC Book Night
  • TDC Competition Judges Night
  • New York exhibitions at TDC
  • International exhibitions of competition winners
  • Special events

References

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  1. ^ Heller, Steve (2022-02-02). "TDC is Back in Orbit Again".
  2. ^ "Communication Arts- Type Directors Club Turns 65". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23.
  3. ^ Grant, Angelynn (2 February 2012). "Type Directors Club Turns 65". Communication Arts. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  5. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  6. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  7. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  8. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  9. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  10. ^ Greenberg, Ilana (2022-06-20). "TDC Sets First Confab On Native North American Typography". Graphic Design USA. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  11. ^ "TDC in facts, dates and figures". The Faces Behind Typefaces. Readymag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Type Directors Club announces 'Type Drives Culture 2022' virtual conference March 4-5". January 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Type Directors Club announces 'Type Drives Culture 2022' virtual conference". Bizcommunity.
  14. ^ magazine, adobo (January 24, 2022). "Events: Type Directors Club announces "Type Drives Culture 2022" virtual conference".
  15. ^ "TDC Medal Recipients". Archived from the original on 2012-09-03.
  16. ^ Greenberg, Ilana (September 14, 2022). "Akira Kobayashi To Receive TDC Medal".
  17. ^ "TDC Type Design Winners". Archived from the original on 2012-09-03.
  18. ^ "TDC Winners 2000". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2022-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "Typography 38 – The World's Best Type and Typography". slanted. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  20. ^ "TDC Annual Designer".
  21. ^ a b Magazine, PRINT (December 15, 2020). "Type Tuesday: TDC Announces Scholarship Call for Female-Identifying and BIPOC Students". PRINT Magazine.
  22. ^ "TDC and Google Announce Ezhishin Scholarship For Native North American Students of Typography". TDC. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
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