Lettering artists can devise new styles and broaden creative skills, simply by observing examples found in their everyday surroundings —from neon signs and car emblems, to album covers and book jackets. This simple yet effective technique for generating new work is achieved by expanding on clues found in existing letterforms. Examining patterns in familiar specimens, participants will learn how to identify and decode the basic systems underlying all well-made lettering. Students will then adapt those elements to their hand-drawn logos and wordmarks. Not only does this approach provide a method for retracing the decision-making of other artists, but it gives letterers a fresh perspective on their own work.

Detailed presentations, instructional drawing demonstrations, skill-building exercises, and one-on-one discussions will further assist workshop attendees as they gain a practical understanding for producing inspired lettering in a variety of design settings.