What is Typography?
Typography is the art of arranging letters. Originally it was understood to be particular to movable metal type, but now it includes digital type, especially in terms of desktop publishing. It also has a further connotation, in the sense of designing or drawing typefaces.
Why be Concerned with Type?
Typefaces are the clothes we dress our words with. They are the wardrobe that helps to make those words fit in or stand out. They provide colour, style, and feeling to the messages we are delivering.
Whether we are aware of it or not, type is everywhere we look, and sadly, much of it is not beautiful, let alone legible. This is why we are concerned.
Why a Type Club?
The main reason we began this organization is that there really hasn’t been an organization for “Typography” in Canada — at least, nothing that has endured the test of time. There are many good organizations that promote the Graphic and Advertising Arts, but none dealing specifically with type. Our aim was to correct that, not to compete with the other organizations, but to work with them in the specific context of offering a better wardrobe for the words around us. As such, we established The Type Club in the late summer of 1999.
Our Mission Statement: To Promote Good Typography.
Our initial idea was that the formation of the Club would encourage quality and innovation among practitioners, and so far, it appears that we have had an influence. Since our inception we have worked with many of the major design schools in Toronto, a number of Graphic and Advertising groups, and various publications to help promote events of a typographic nature in the city and much further abroad.
There are many people and businesses involved with type, and our aim has always been to give all the members of our community both a voice and a meeting place to discuss their fields. Our Membership includes typeface designers, teachers, graphic designers, art directors, printers, ad executives and students. Our aim has always been to bring everyone together under the umbrella of good, clean and attractive typography. We aren’t here to preach, but to guide.
We are the Type Club of Toronto and We Promote Good Typography!
Come visit us and see what we do.
