Type Over Time: The TDC Turns 70
How do you sample over seven decades of type history in just one day? You can attend Type Over Time—a one day celebration of 70 years of the Type Directors Club.
Back in 1946, the United States of America only had 48 states, Frank Sinatra released his first full-length album, William Addison Dwiggins was at the pinnacle of his career, and one year’s tuition to Harvard was only $420. It’s also the year that the Type Directors Club was born. We’ve come a long way since then.
In the last 70 years, the world of typography has seen several major revolutions in technology, wild economic swings, and an incredible evolution of styles. On Friday, March 10th, to celebrate its Platinum Anniversary, the TDC will host a day of type talks at the School of Visual Arts in New York City with 10 designers who can give testament to this enormous amount of change.
The event, sponsored by the School of Visual Arts, Monotype, Adobe Typekit, and House Industries, will feature speakers including TDC Medalists Ed Benguiat, Louise Fili, Paula Scher, and Erik Spiekermann, former TDC presidents Allan Haley and Charles Nix, and Greg Gazdowicz, Elizabeth Carey Smith, Jessica Svendsen, and Zipeng Zhu.
““The focus of the TDC from its beginning has been education about type, with the goal of making the design and use of type more thoughtful, beautiful, and responsive to society,” states Carol Whaler, current president of the TDC.”
“Although we cannot adequately present seventy years of achievements in one day, Type Over Time will provide an opportunity to think about how typographic professions have changed in the last 70 years, and how the TDC has been a part of those developments.”
This one day mini-conference is not one to miss. “Two past presidents of the TDC who are professionally active and helped build the Club will speak about TDC Medalists who are no longer with us, as well as their own careers,” says Whaler. Debbie Millman will be there to interview Ed Benguiat, and there will be a cocktail reception at the SVA Theater to round out the day.
““Whether print or digital, we still need type, and the TDC looks forward to many more years of being a part of the community that supports and celebrates typography.”
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Type Over Time has type history squarely in its view, but it also has an eye on what’s to come. “The TDC is not only about history though, so the day ends with a panel of young type designers and graphic designers who will share their thoughts on how the TDC will remain relevant. Whether print or digital, we still need type, and the TDC looks forward to many more years of being a part of the community that supports and celebrates typography.”
Grab your tickets to Type Over Time on the TDC website, and sit back for what will surely be a whirlwind of insight and inspiration.
