Letterform Archive
@letterformarchive.org
A nonprofit center for inspiration, education, publishing, and community in lettering, typography, and graphic design. We post items from our collection of over 100,000 objects. Visit, take a class, buy a book: https://letterformarchive.org
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
Our new meishuzi collection reflects a period of significant cultural change in China, and provides an uncommon source of inspiration for contemporary lettering artists and type designers.
letterformarchive.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:26 AM
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
Reposted by Letterform Archive
I really enjoyed reading about Sylvie Vodáková's designs for this Czech poetry series. It's just the sort of design i really love — a common design sensibility to pull the whole series together, yet each volume has its own distinct character.
letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 31, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I really enjoyed reading about Sylvie Vodáková's designs for this Czech poetry series. It's just the sort of design i really love — a common design sensibility to pull the whole series together, yet each volume has its own distinct character.
letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
On January 1, we lost a master of the ambigram (words expertly drawn so they read the same when turned upside down). In 2022, John Langdon donated his primary archive to us.
#JohnLangdon #Ambigrams #Lettering
#JohnLangdon #Ambigrams #Lettering
January 4, 2026 at 5:40 PM
On January 1, we lost a master of the ambigram (words expertly drawn so they read the same when turned upside down). In 2022, John Langdon donated his primary archive to us.
#JohnLangdon #Ambigrams #Lettering
#JohnLangdon #Ambigrams #Lettering
Reposted by Letterform Archive
Gorgeous work from a book designer I had always wondered about; delighted to see this contribution to graphic design and #bookhistory! Tanya George, Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie (@letterformarchive.org; #skystorians): letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Gorgeous work from a book designer I had always wondered about; delighted to see this contribution to graphic design and #bookhistory! Tanya George, Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie (@letterformarchive.org; #skystorians): letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
Reposted by Letterform Archive
I love this approach to cover design for a series, with typography staying relatively constant (but never boring) and the image and pattern surrounding it changing riotously: letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I love this approach to cover design for a series, with typography staying relatively constant (but never boring) and the image and pattern surrounding it changing riotously: letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
Reposted by Letterform Archive
Two new workshops in early 2026:
Intro to modern type design: Jan 29
10 weeks, Design your first font.
letterformarchive.org/shop/introdu... @letterformarchive
Experimental Letterforms: Feb 3
5 weeks, thinking outside of type.
www.typeelectives.com/courses/expe... @typeelectives
Intro to modern type design: Jan 29
10 weeks, Design your first font.
letterformarchive.org/shop/introdu... @letterformarchive
Experimental Letterforms: Feb 3
5 weeks, thinking outside of type.
www.typeelectives.com/courses/expe... @typeelectives
December 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Two new workshops in early 2026:
Intro to modern type design: Jan 29
10 weeks, Design your first font.
letterformarchive.org/shop/introdu... @letterformarchive
Experimental Letterforms: Feb 3
5 weeks, thinking outside of type.
www.typeelectives.com/courses/expe... @typeelectives
Intro to modern type design: Jan 29
10 weeks, Design your first font.
letterformarchive.org/shop/introdu... @letterformarchive
Experimental Letterforms: Feb 3
5 weeks, thinking outside of type.
www.typeelectives.com/courses/expe... @typeelectives
Thank you @ebbooksellers.bsky.social for stocking our stationery!
December 25, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Thank you @ebbooksellers.bsky.social for stocking our stationery!
Reposted by Letterform Archive
Give yourself or someone you love the best #Xmas gift this year: Membership of @letterformarchive.org
I love this approach to cover design for a series, with typography staying relatively constant (but never boring) and the image and pattern surrounding it changing riotously: letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Give yourself or someone you love the best #Xmas gift this year: Membership of @letterformarchive.org
Marget Larsen, Joseph Magnin holiday box, 1963.
One of two gift boxes in our collection from the hip San Francisco mid-century department store, Joseph Magnin.
#MargetLarsen #JosephMagnin #Typography #Packaging #Ampersand #MidcenturyModern #VintageChristmas
One of two gift boxes in our collection from the hip San Francisco mid-century department store, Joseph Magnin.
#MargetLarsen #JosephMagnin #Typography #Packaging #Ampersand #MidcenturyModern #VintageChristmas
December 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Marget Larsen, Joseph Magnin holiday box, 1963.
One of two gift boxes in our collection from the hip San Francisco mid-century department store, Joseph Magnin.
#MargetLarsen #JosephMagnin #Typography #Packaging #Ampersand #MidcenturyModern #VintageChristmas
One of two gift boxes in our collection from the hip San Francisco mid-century department store, Joseph Magnin.
#MargetLarsen #JosephMagnin #Typography #Packaging #Ampersand #MidcenturyModern #VintageChristmas
We believe in digitization for global access to our collection, and will continually add to our Online Archive.
But here are some great reasons why very little of the world’s archival material is digitized.
And: some things need to be seen in person. It can be transformative!
But here are some great reasons why very little of the world’s archival material is digitized.
And: some things need to be seen in person. It can be transformative!
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
Why Do Historians Still Have To Go To Archives?
Why do historians go to archives? Hasn’t everything already been digitized?
contingentmagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:14 AM
We believe in digitization for global access to our collection, and will continually add to our Online Archive.
But here are some great reasons why very little of the world’s archival material is digitized.
And: some things need to be seen in person. It can be transformative!
But here are some great reasons why very little of the world’s archival material is digitized.
And: some things need to be seen in person. It can be transformative!
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie. Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry. A new blog post by Tanya George. letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 21, 2025 at 2:22 AM
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie. Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry. A new blog post by Tanya George. letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
Reposted by Letterform Archive
A lovely article by Sabiha Basrai on @letterformarchive.org on decentering the Latin letter in type design:
letterformarchive.org/news/de-cent...
letterformarchive.org/news/de-cent...
Type History Toolkit, Part 2: De-Centering the Latin Letter in Design Education
Sabiha Basrai recommends globally expansive approaches to studying typography.
letterformarchive.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A lovely article by Sabiha Basrai on @letterformarchive.org on decentering the Latin letter in type design:
letterformarchive.org/news/de-cent...
letterformarchive.org/news/de-cent...
Tezzo Suzuki Calendars have arrived from Japan! Order now to get yours before 2026. letterformarchive.org/shop/tezzo-s...
#TezzoSuzuki #Calendars #Lettering #Typography #Numbers
#TezzoSuzuki #Calendars #Lettering #Typography #Numbers
December 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Tezzo Suzuki Calendars have arrived from Japan! Order now to get yours before 2026. letterformarchive.org/shop/tezzo-s...
#TezzoSuzuki #Calendars #Lettering #Typography #Numbers
#TezzoSuzuki #Calendars #Lettering #Typography #Numbers
Tezzo Suzuki calendars are on their way to the Archive! This year features 228 new numeral designs. reorder now to get yours by the end of the year. letterformarchive.org/shop/tezzo-s...
Tezzo Suzuki Calendar 26 (2026)
A nonprofit center for inspiration, education, and community in the graphic arts.
letterformarchive.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Tezzo Suzuki calendars are on their way to the Archive! This year features 228 new numeral designs. reorder now to get yours by the end of the year. letterformarchive.org/shop/tezzo-s...
Vera Evstafieva, Cyrillic calligraphy, Cambridgeshire, 2021
Gift of @infonta.bsky.social.
#calligraphy #VeraEvstafieva #lettering #typography #graphicdesign #script #handlettering
Gift of @infonta.bsky.social.
#calligraphy #VeraEvstafieva #lettering #typography #graphicdesign #script #handlettering
December 10, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Vera Evstafieva, Cyrillic calligraphy, Cambridgeshire, 2021
Gift of @infonta.bsky.social.
#calligraphy #VeraEvstafieva #lettering #typography #graphicdesign #script #handlettering
Gift of @infonta.bsky.social.
#calligraphy #VeraEvstafieva #lettering #typography #graphicdesign #script #handlettering
Starts in 4 hours! We’ve got some doozies in this one.
Our annual Rare Book Sale is back on December 6! Register to get a reminder, and a link to our online sale, with early access for Letterform Archive members. letterformarchive.org/shop/rare-bo...
Rare Book Sale 2025
Bring a bit of the Archive home with you at our annual book and ephemera sale – both onsite and online!
letterformarchive.org
December 6, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Starts in 4 hours! We’ve got some doozies in this one.
Our annual Rare Book Sale is back on December 6! Register to get a reminder, and a link to our online sale, with early access for Letterform Archive members. letterformarchive.org/shop/rare-bo...
Rare Book Sale 2025
Bring a bit of the Archive home with you at our annual book and ephemera sale – both onsite and online!
letterformarchive.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Our annual Rare Book Sale is back on December 6! Register to get a reminder, and a link to our online sale, with early access for Letterform Archive members. letterformarchive.org/shop/rare-bo...
Reposted by Letterform Archive
Last night’s opening reception of “Piet Zwart: Brand Architect” was a great beginning for a great exhibition at @letterformarchive.org. Well worth a visit!
November 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Last night’s opening reception of “Piet Zwart: Brand Architect” was a great beginning for a great exhibition at @letterformarchive.org. Well worth a visit!
See you tonight! letterformarchive.org/shop/piet-zw...
#PietZwart #Typography #Exhibitions #GraphicDesign
#PietZwart #Typography #Exhibitions #GraphicDesign
Piet Zwart: Brand Architect Exhibition Reception
Celebrate the opening of our new exhibition featuring the brilliant Dutch modernist, Piet Zwart.
letterformarchive.org
November 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Letterform Archive
A design hero, Paul Rand, made Christmas cards for his clients & this box set brings together some of the best in faithful reproductions. www.presentandcorrect.com/products/pau...
November 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A design hero, Paul Rand, made Christmas cards for his clients & this box set brings together some of the best in faithful reproductions. www.presentandcorrect.com/products/pau...
Linear-Antiqua ad/specimen, Ludwig & Mayer, Das Plakat, 1912. (Typeface by Richard Ludwig, 1911 fontsinuse.com/typefaces/23...)
Source: iaddb.org?query=search...
Source: iaddb.org?query=search...
November 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Linear-Antiqua ad/specimen, Ludwig & Mayer, Das Plakat, 1912. (Typeface by Richard Ludwig, 1911 fontsinuse.com/typefaces/23...)
Source: iaddb.org?query=search...
Source: iaddb.org?query=search...
Announcing
Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets
Our latest book takes an immersive look inside the large lithographic portfolios that inspired public lettering in Belle Époque France.
#SignPainting #Alphabets #Lettering
letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres...
Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets
Our latest book takes an immersive look inside the large lithographic portfolios that inspired public lettering in Belle Époque France.
#SignPainting #Alphabets #Lettering
letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres...
Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets
A nonprofit center for inspiration, education, and community in the graphic arts.
letterformarchive.org
November 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Announcing
Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets
Our latest book takes an immersive look inside the large lithographic portfolios that inspired public lettering in Belle Époque France.
#SignPainting #Alphabets #Lettering
letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres...
Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets
Our latest book takes an immersive look inside the large lithographic portfolios that inspired public lettering in Belle Époque France.
#SignPainting #Alphabets #Lettering
letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres...
The deadline for Type West is extended to November 14! If you want to learn type design in a deep way without leaving your current job, there’s no better way to do it. letterformarchive.org/education/
#TypeDesign #Typography #DesignEducation #GraphicDesign
#TypeDesign #Typography #DesignEducation #GraphicDesign
Education - Letterform Archive
Education is central to the Archive’s mission. At the core is Type West, a postgraduate certificate program in type design available in-person in San Francisco or online worldwide.
letterformarchive.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The deadline for Type West is extended to November 14! If you want to learn type design in a deep way without leaving your current job, there’s no better way to do it. letterformarchive.org/education/
#TypeDesign #Typography #DesignEducation #GraphicDesign
#TypeDesign #Typography #DesignEducation #GraphicDesign
Reposted by Letterform Archive
Libraries are dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming space where all people are free to access the information they want.
Libraries as Crucibles for Democracy
Libraries are dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming space where all people are free to access the information they want.
buff.ly
October 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Libraries are dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming space where all people are free to access the information they want.
Our final batch of 100 Tens features contributions from this brilliant bundle of designers:
Lucas Sharp
Matthijs Herzberg @herzberg.bsky.social
Nolan Pelletier @nolanpelletier.bsky.social
Craig Frazier
Oded Ezer
Christoph Niemann @christophniemann.bsky.social
Petra Dočekalová
Susan Kare…
Lucas Sharp
Matthijs Herzberg @herzberg.bsky.social
Nolan Pelletier @nolanpelletier.bsky.social
Craig Frazier
Oded Ezer
Christoph Niemann @christophniemann.bsky.social
Petra Dočekalová
Susan Kare…
October 28, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Our final batch of 100 Tens features contributions from this brilliant bundle of designers:
Lucas Sharp
Matthijs Herzberg @herzberg.bsky.social
Nolan Pelletier @nolanpelletier.bsky.social
Craig Frazier
Oded Ezer
Christoph Niemann @christophniemann.bsky.social
Petra Dočekalová
Susan Kare…
Lucas Sharp
Matthijs Herzberg @herzberg.bsky.social
Nolan Pelletier @nolanpelletier.bsky.social
Craig Frazier
Oded Ezer
Christoph Niemann @christophniemann.bsky.social
Petra Dočekalová
Susan Kare…