EsadType (en)

Type Design Workshop

The aim of this workshop is to train students in typeface design using several different approaches, including artistic direction, typography, calligraphy, sign painting and programming. Students undertake several short projects during the first six months and rapidly develop their skills; these are then put into practice whilst working on their personal project for one year. The workshop is led by a permanent teaching staff with guest tutors. 

Personal Project

Students develops a personal project, carried out as if it were in a professional setting, and focusing on issues linked with design and typography. They conduct a documentary research and define the various aspects of their proposal: cultural context, use cases, medias… A dissertation describes the implementation of the different stages of the project.

The main purpose of the program is to study Latin writing and its manifold typographic translations, though several multiscript type systems and families have been designed over recent years.

Typography Culture

This part of the program covers a variety of activities: lectures, conferences, seminars, meetings with designers, visits of collections and the archives of several specialised libraries (École Estienne, Plantin-Moretus Museum, Imprimerie nationale). Students give presentations related to their chosen research theme, thus enriching their field of study.  Students also actively participate in the organisation of typography events at the school, which enables them to meet well-known people in the field (historians and designers).

The course requires full time study. Students benefit from weekly feedback meetings with permanent staff as well as with guests tutors. Classes are organised around courses, sessions, and the personal project.

The final examination is an oral presentation that takes place in front of a jury of international designers and the teaching staff. It includes specimens (print, digital), posters, booklets… and the dissertation.

All projects are exhibited each year in the Esad Gallery and on the website (esadtype.esad-amiens.fr).

The teaching staff
The permanent teaching staff are all bilingual (English, French) and most are internationally recognised professionals.  Some are also members of the Esad research unit De-Sign-E, which conducts research into the history of typography, writing systems, the sign and language. 

Recent distinguished guest jury members include

2024 Kimya Gandhi, Jean-Baptiste Morizot
2023 Lara Captan, Bas Jacobs
2021 Liron Lavi Turkenich, Vaibhav Singh, Sara Soskolne, Mark Thomson
2020 Titus Nemeth, Rathna Ramanathan
2019 Kai Bernau, Amélie Bonet
2018 Veronika Burian, Yoann Minet

Candidates must have a higher education qualification in art and design (DSAA, DNSEP, MASTER), an international diploma (MASTERS level), or equivalent professional experience.  Exceptionally, candidates who have followed another path of study may be considered (please contact us for details).  The course is taught in English. Project supervision and feedback is given in both English or French depending upon the student’s needs. It is strongly recommended that students live in Amiens during their studies. 

Applications are to be sent by email to s.morlighem@esad-amiens.fr before the closing date of Monday 3rd June 2024, inclusive. The staff will decide if there is a need to request further information from a candidate, or indeed to see a candidate as required. The number of places on this course is strictly limited.

Tuition fees:

2024-25: 969€
2025-26: 678€

The following documents must be supplied in digital format (PDF):

· A brief outline of the proposed project (theme, questions to be explored, possible research options)

· A curriculum vitae

· A portfolio (files larger than 4Mo should be sent via a downloading platform)

Director of Esad Amiens
Barbara Dennys

Permanent Staff
Patrick Doan - Lecturer-researcher
Hugues Gentile - Type designer
Hélène Marian - Type designer and sign painter
Sébastien Morlighem  - Coordinator, lecturer-researcher

Visiting Staff
Frederik Berlaen - Type designer and software designer

Further Information & Applications
Sébastien Morlighem
s.morlighem@esad-amiens.fr

École supérieure d’art et de design d’Amiens
40, rue des teinturiers, 80080, Amiens
+ 33 (0)3 22 66 49 90
esad-amiens.fr
esadtype.esad-amiens.fr
mnemosyne.esad-amiens.fr

The Amiens Higher Education School of Art and Design is a public body under the direction of the French Ministry of Culture.  The EsadType Post-Diploma benefits from the support of The Amiens Métropole Region, The Regional Council of The Hauts-de-France and The French Ministry of Culture.