Well, it is a bit late, but as promised here is the unveiling of the brand new, built from scratch, TypeCon.com. We went all out on this one and there are going to be a few bumps in the road. This new system (we hope) will allow us to serve up rich content easily. It has a much more flexible system which in the future will allow us to get the site up much earlier in the coming years. At the same time, TypeCon.com will slowly become more of a destination on the ‘off season’ of TypeCon.

Play around and let us know what you think of the new structure, the UI and the slick new tools. We will be rolling out updated designs and new features and feedback is welcome! Let us know at webmaster@typecon.com

Check out the basic overview of TypeCon2008 activities - we hope it will assist you in making your travel plans.

Tuesday, July 15
Optional Tours and Super Special Evening Event (it’s a surprise!)

Wednesday, July 16
Optional Workshops, Tours, and Super Special Evening Event at the Karpeles featuring Stefan Sagmeister

Thursday, July 17
Optional Workshops, Tours, Type Education Forum, and Opening Night Extravaganza at UB with NLXL

Friday-Sunday, July 18-20
TypeCon2008 Main Program and Special Events
Friday Night Evening Event at the Albright-Knox featuring Erik Spiekermann
Saturday Night Mega Massive Party at the Hyatt
Sunday Night Closing Event at the pastoral Roycroft campus

If you’re planning on taking morning workshops, you’ll need to be in town the night before. As usual, TypeCon2008 will include a full day of programming on Sunday and a very special Sunday night wind-down.

Full schedule details coming soon!

BOOK YOUR ROOM AT THE HYATT REGENCY NOW!

TypeCon2008 Attendee Rate: $124/night $109/night (plus tax)

Discount rate available until June 18, 2008, or until our room block is full, whichever comes first.

The TypeCon2008 conference hotel and headquarters is the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo. The center of activity for TypeCon2008, the Hyatt is in a terrific central location near to the main workshop venue, dining, and nightlife.

The Buffalo Hyatt Regency has just installed the wonderful Grand Beds we enjoyed so much in Boston. The Hyatt has plenty of space for us, an inviting restaurant and lounge in the atrium, an award-winning steakhouse on the premises, fitness center, and many other amenities.

The Hyatt Regency is offering TypeCon2008 attendees an incredible rate on rooms! Instead of the $124 per night rate previously announced, we have negotiated a super deal for TypeCon2008 attendees - just $109 (plus taxes) per night for single/double rooms. This is an amazing deal in Buffalo during the height of summer, and the hotel will be completely sold out during TypeCon2008.

Book your room ASAP - the special TypeCon2008 attendee rate is available until June 18, 2008, or until our room block fills, whichever comes first. We always fill our room block fast, and demand is higher than ever this year. Book now to avoid disappointment.

To book online with your credit card, please visit this link:

http://buffalo.hyatt.com

Enter your travel dates in the “Find Rooms and Rates” section, and enter G-SOTA in the field calling for Group/Corporate #.

To book by phone, call the Hyatt Reservations Department at 1-800-233-1234 and mention TypeCon and Group Code G-SOTA.

Hyatt Regency Buffalo
Two Fountain Plaza,
Buffalo, New York 14202
Tel: +1 716 856 1234
Fax: +1 716 852 6157

Google Map of the Hyatt Regency Buffalo location

TypeCon2008 is just around the corner! SOTA will be back in Buffalo next month to meet with local crew and others interested in helping to develop the TypeCon2008 program and extracurricular activities.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
North Hall
220 North Street (at Elmwood)
Buffalo, NY 14201

Google Map to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

All type lovers are encouraged to join us for this fun and informative brainstorming meeting. Tasty treats will be served to help fuel your creative juices.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend, but please RSVP so we know to expect you.

Email: richard at p22.com and info at typesociety.org

If you can’t make it to this meeting but would like to participate, please email us at info at typesociety.org. Spread the word to your type-loving friends - everyone is welcome in building the best TypeCon ever!

NEW EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE!

We’re still tweaking the new website and registration system, which means registration is launching later than anticipated. Because of that, we’re extending the early registration deadlines so you’ll have plenty of time to register at the lowest possible rate!

Early registration – through April 28 May 19
SOTA members: $235 pro/$125 student | Non-members: $275 pro/$150 student

Regular registration – April 29 May 20 through June 16
SOTA members: $275 pro/$145 student | Non-members: $320 pro/$165 student

Late/walk-up registration – after June 16
SOTA members: $320 pro/$165 student | Non-members: $375 pro/$185 student

Optional pre-conference workshops
Wednesday-Thursday, July 16-17 - 9:00 am-5:30 pm
$50 per half-day session | $100 per full-day session (plus materials/lab fees, if any)

Type and Design Education Forum
Thursday, July 17 - 10:00 am-5:30 pm
$100 for the full session, including your choice of breakout

We’ll post here and in the TypeCon email newsletter when registration goes live.

TypeCon2008: Punkt
July 15–20, 2008
Buffalo, New York
 
The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) will present its third Type and Design Education Forum as part of TypeCon2008. This special program will be held on Thursday, July 17, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo. The forum will be devoted to addressing issues faced by type educators and the institutions they represent. The program will feature presentations in conjunction with breakout sessions dedicated to the open exchange of ideas and experiences.
 
We are looking for presenters in the following areas:
 
Assignment Presentations
15-minute presentations of effective and stimulating assignments that generate a passion for type:
- Basic skill sets/foundations of type/typography
- Basic lettering/letterform design
- Type history/typographic history
- Experimentation with type
 
 We are looking for facilitators for:
 
Breakout Sessions
There will be a general session consisting of small breakout discussions. We are looking for people to facilitate discussions on the following topics:
- Curriculum development for junior/community colleges
- Curriculum development for schools with 1–2 type classes
- Curriculum development for design programs with 3–4 type classes
- Curriculum development for liberal arts programs with 3–4 type classes
- Teaching type/typography basics
- Teaching letterform design
- Font selection: how to teach students to do font explorations, and make appropriate choices
- Strategies for more effective critiques
- Teaching calligraphy as a means to developing an appreciation of letterforms
- Experimentation in typography
- Type in motion
- Interactive/web type
- Multi-lingual typography

Submissions
Proposals should contain your biography/resume/CV, your area(s) of interest/specialty, a description of your proposed presentation and/or breakout session, and a statement about why you’d like to participate. Please include a speaking reference if you have not previously presented at a TypeCon event.
 
Please send all submissions to Ilene Strizver, SOTA Education Committee chair, at education [at] typecon.com. Deadline for submissions is February 15, 2008.
 
TypeCon2008 is the annual conference of SOTA, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, study, and support of type design, typography, and the related arts. For information about TypeCon, visit http://www.typecon.com. For more information about SOTA, please visit the website at http://www.typesociety.org.
 

TypeCon2008: Punkt
July 15-20, 2008
Hyatt Regency Downtown
Buffalo, New York

The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) is now accepting programming proposals for its tenth annual conference. TypeCon2008 will be held July 15-20 in Buffalo, New York. We are partnering with many local and international organizations in presenting TypeCon2008, and look forward to offering a variety of affordable program designed for type makers and type users from all walks of life.

We are currently reviewing proposals for contemporary and historical presentations and panel discussions, as well as focused hands-on workshops in both the digital and non-digital realms. Topics at TypeCon cover a broad range of interests, including typography, type design, font production, graphic design, new media, printing history, calligraphy and hand lettering, the book arts, advertising, type in motion, literacy, type sales and marketing, legal issues, type and design education, and other related areas.

Standard programming formats are as follows:

Full-length Presentation - 40 minutes, including time for audience Q+A

Type in 20 Presentation - 20 minutes, including time for audience Q+A (if any)

Type and Design Education Forum - a separate call will be issued with full details on programming types

Panel Discussion - a minimum of 3 panelists that represent a range of experience and expertise in a given topic. An experienced moderator is required for all panels. A moderator may also serve as a panelist where appropriate. Panel discussions range from 45-60 minutes, depending on the topic.

Full-day workshop - 7 hours (with break for lunch at midday)

Half-day workshop - 3.5 hours (no break)

The main program of presentations and panels will run Friday-Sunday, July 18-20. Pre-conference workshops will take place Wednesday-Thursday, July 16-17, with tours running throughout the week.

You may submit multiple proposals.

In order to consider your proposal, we will need the following:
- presentation/workshop/tour title
- a concise one-paragraph description of your topic (up to 100 words)
- complete supporting materials for review - visuals, theses, articles, abstracts - the more details you provide, the better
- your biography (100 words maximum)
- speaking references (if you have not previously presented at TypeCon)
- a print quality headshot in TIFF or JPEG format - must be a minimum of 300 dpi at 2 inches wide
- any other material that supports your proposal

Please use PDF, RTF, or ASCII files for text. Compress all files in a single ZIP archive labeled with your name (example: TC08_LastNameFirstName). If your ZIP archive is larger than 20 mbs, please send a link for downloading instead of transmitting through email.

Email proposals to info [at] typesociety.org by February 15, 2008. The programming committee will review all proposals for possible inclusion in the conference schedule.

SOTA‘s going back to Buffalo next week to meet with local crew and others interested in helping to develop the TypeCon2008 program and extracurricular activities.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
6:30pm - 9:00pm
Old Editions Book Shop & Cafe
74 East Huron Street
Buffalo, NY

Directions to TypeCon2008 Planning Meeting

All type lovers are encouraged to join us for this fun and informative brainstorming meeting. Coffee and dessert will be served to help fuel your creative juices.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend, but please RSVP so we know how much caffeine and sugar to have on hand. Email: richard at p22.com and info at typesociety.org

If you can‘t make it to this meeting but would like to participate, please email us at info at typesociety.org. Spread the word to your type-loving friends - everyone is welcome in building the best TypeCon ever!

The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) is pleased to announce that another inspiring and informative education forum is in the works for TypeCon2008. This unique event is devoted to addressing the pressing needs of design educators.

Building on the foundation laid during SOTA’s 2006 and 2007 events in Boston and Seattle, this forum will engage participants in examining the important issues facing type educators and the institutions they represent. Participants will address general and individual concerns as part of an inquiry into the current status of typographic education and the best way to take it forward.

This exciting day of focused programming will include:

• New presentations on curriculum development in diverse program formats
• New assignment presentations on numerous aspects of teaching type, from history and fundamentals to experimental typography and letterform design
• Breakout sessions designed to give educators a chance to network in small groups, promoting the open exchange of ideas and experiences on specific topics
• A panel discussion featuring noted design educators

Join us on Thursday, July 17, 2008, for this stimulating event created just for type and design educators. The registration fee for the forum is $100, which includes the general sessions plus a choice of breakouts. A call for proposals for presentations and panelists will be posted soon on the TypeCon website at http://www.typecon.com. For more information, email education@typecon.com.

TypeCon2007 Seattle Type and Design Education Forum Testimonials

I loved the education forum and found both the topics and the elbow-rubbing of fellow educators immensely valuable. I can’t think of the last time when I had access to so many people who were all involved with typography in one way or the other.
– Emilie Burnham, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, Washington

It was an excellent experience. Great to be in a roomful of people who are passionate about some of the same stuff as I am. Everyone I met was pleased to discuss their typographic experience, interests and concerns, and to contribute to other people’s greater understanding.
– Miriam MacPhail, University Canada West, Victoria, British Columbia

The Education Forum was great! I can’t begin to quantify that. Great presentations, great to meet other design instructors.
– Wayne Williams, School of Communications, Edmonton, Alberta

This event was excellent! Really well organized, with fabulous speakers.
– Teri Kahan, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, California

Wonderful people, great ideas and a willingness to share.
– Cary Staples, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

It was like a drink of water after a long walk through the desert.
– Emily Luce, University of Lethbridge, Alberta

TypeCon moves to Buffalo, New York in July 2008, a perfect time of year for beautiful weather and plenty of additional events worth exploring including Niagara region wine tours, architecture tours, free outdoor concerts, and, of course, Niagara Falls. For events and attractions to plan your trip around, visit the Buffalo Niagara CVB site. For a glimpse of some of the typographic landscape of Buffalo, visit the BuffaloType flickr group. Registration will begin in the spring of 2008 and hotel rates are lower than the past few years, so make your plans to book soon! Inexpensive flights are always available into Buffalo Niagara International Airport on several airlines or via Toronto airport for even more options for international travelers.

The call for proposals for conference presentations and workshops will be announced shortly. We look forward to seeing you in Buffalo.