Programme description
The Master Type and Media at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK) is a one-year programme that delves into type design and typography for different contexts including print, screens and interactive media. Unique to the programme is its small size. Students will work intensively in a group of no more than 12 under the guidance of experts and teachers from the KABK and abroad.
Discussions with leading type designers, typographers and graphic designers provide theoretical depth. Excursions to selected research libraries, special collections and conferences (Fontstand International Typography Conference, TypeAmsterdam) ensure engagement with the professional field. The Master programme is also involved in the organisation of the triennial Robothon conference.
Students explore every aspect of letterforms: contrast, rhythm, proportion and weight as well as font technology, digitising and tool development. The programme is constructed to produce expert designers with a thorough knowledge of, and pronounced affinity with, type and typography.
Programme structure
At the beginning of the year students are provided with an individual study space in the Type and Media studio. They can also make use of all the facilities in the academy’s various studios and workshops.
Different aspects of type design are covered in practical and theoretical assignments.
The academic year is divided into two semesters. The first semester has a mid-term review in November and concludes with an evaluation in January. The second semester includes four presentations, to keep track of progress, and is concluded with a final exam in June/July. Successful evaluations of both semesters are required for graduation.
The design of typefaces, like any other creative discipline, is an iterative process. The first semester consists of a series of assignments to train the eye and hand. The focus is on the foundations of letter forms. Drawing: writing letter shapes with different tools, letter carving in stone and making letters based on prescribed parameters with TypeCooker. Spacing: Contrast studies of basic form principles applied to a whole typeface. Coding for parametric design and tool development with Python, Drawbot and Robofont so the designer can learn to control the workflow of the type design process.
There is also a revival assignment consisting of a thesis on the origin and production of a historic typeface and a digital revival. Non-Latin scripts are explored in drawing workshops for Cyrillic, Greek and Arabic.
Courses & ECTS credits 2023-2024
| Courses Semester 1 | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Form Studies | 4 |
| Contrast Research | 4 |
| Revival Research | 4 |
| Letter Carving | 3 |
| Type & Language | 3 |
| Design Theory | 3 |
| Coding | 3 |
| Excursions 1 | 3 |
| Workshop Writing Systems | 3 |
| Presentations | 0 |
| Total study points per semester | 30 |
In the second semester the students work on an individual project according to their personal interest. Skills acquired in the first semester are used to define, design and produce a new typeface. This can be for a specific context, application, medium or script. The projects are conceptually very diverse, for instance type for newspapers, expressive typography, scientific publications or signage systems. The development and research for the typeface is documented and presented with a process book, type specimen, a presentation and a contribution to the group exhibition. The exam work is on show during the Graduation Show.
All the final work is reviewed and evaluated. The student’s first semester assignments are included in the discussions, as well as creative ability, reflection, dedication and the insights the student has gained throughout the programme.
Courses & ECTS credits 2023-2024
| Courses Semester 2 | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Tutoring - Erik van Blokland | 4 |
| Tutoring - Peter Verheul | 4 |
| Tutoring - Paul van der Laan | 4 |
| Typography | 2 |
| Tutoring - Fred Smeijers | 2 |
| Tutoring - various guest tutors | 2 |
| Excursions 2 | 1 |
| Workshops | 1 |
| Final Project, Deliverables | 9 |
| Final Project, Handing in materials | 1 |
| Total study points per semester | 30 |
OER 2023-2024
Education and Examination Regulations
You can find information about the regulations and provisions dealing with the organisation of the programme and the assessments and examinations related to it in the Education and Examination Regulations (in Dutch: Onderwijs- en examenregeling; OER)
