You’ve all been very patient, and we’re happy to announce that TypeCon2004 registration has officially started. The new online system is quick and easy to use, with no PayPal hassles like last year.
The TypeCon website has been updated with lots of info, and there’ll be news posted frequently until the conference and beyond. Over 60 speakers, 20 hands-on workshops, a huge international exhibition of type and design, special events every single night, psychedelia, crystal goblets, antique type specimens, the Typophile Film Festival, sushi, Mexican typography, political posters, Renaissance handwriting, letters on tiny screens, Underware telling us to Shut Up and Listen! And isn’t that what a type conference is really all about?
TypeCon2004 will be held July 21-25 in San Francisco. The sixth annual TypeCon is presented by The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA), in association with the San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB) and the California College of the Arts (CCA).
You have until June 9 to take advantage of early bird admission. But hurry if you’re taking workshops, because some of them are going to fill up super fast. Early registration is $132 pro/$80 student for SOTA members, and $165/$100 for non-members. Cheap and good. Optional workshops are $50 per half-day session and $100 for each full-day session, plus materials fees, if any.
Come early, stay late. There’s stuff going on all week. All the cool kids are doing it. See you in San Francisco!
See also: TypeCon2004 — Supersized
I signed up today… My first type conference! I hope it’s worth it, because I’m going to miss Saturday and Sunday due to a ridiculous scheduling mix-up.
Jesse, I daresay you won’t regret it; imho it is very much worth it! My first type conference was last year’s TypeCon, and I had a great time and met some truly wonderful people. TypeCon is well worth it.
i’ve never been to a type conference before, so i am wondering if anybody can recommend this one. i’m not a typography specialist, just a graphic design student who loves type. i am thinking about specializing after i graduate in a couple of years. do you think that this would be a good conference to attend for someone with strong interest but no expertise? it’s a long way for me to go alone (i’m from toronto), but it sounds really exciting, especially the workshops… i am just worried about getting intimidated by people who’ve been in the field for a long time. can anybody tell me what it’s like there? or give me any advice?
Jesse, sorry you have to miss Sat/Sun, but you will have a great time the other days.
Sheila, the one comment we hear time and time again is how relaxed and friendly the vibe at TypeCon is. No intimidation factor here – everyone from first-year students to “design stars” comes, and everybody has a great time and learns right alongside each other no matter what their level of expertise. There will be quite a few Toronto folks in attendance, too. Come check it out – I’m sure you will have a great experience.
I agree with Tamye, Sheila; you should go if you can. It’s where you can begin to acquire your expertise, and it will help you decide if you really want to specialize in type in the future.
As for meeting people, I found that most of the time, if I recognized someone’s name from this site, I could walk up to them and say hi and get along fine.
And if anyone snubs you, then you know not to buy their typefaces.
tamye and dyana –
thank you so much for your encouraging words and advice. i am just worried because, aside from a couple of introductory type courses (one of which i’m enrolled in right now), my background is pretty limited. i guess it’s a good sign that i follow this blog and read books and that type is my favourite class at school, but i just get nervous that everybody there is going to be far more advanced than me and wonder, “what is *she* doing here?”
maybe if i can make arrangements with some of the other toronto people who are going, or arrange to meet people there, it wouldn’t be so bad. do you know where i could get in touch with other people who are planning on attending?
thank you both so much for all your help, and for making this accessible to me.
Sheila, I understand your nervousness, but there’s no need to fear. There will be people at the conference with even less experience than you have. As long as you are interested in type, you will enjoy the program.
I highly recommend taking one or more of the optional pre-conference workshops on Wednesday/Thursday. Workshops are a great way to work with a small group of TypeCon attendees in an intimate setting (classes are less than 18 people each). You can make connections in a workshop that will carry you through the rest of the conference, and beyond.
Over at our other favorite hangout, Typophile, there are a couple of threads in the forums about who’s going, what’s happening, etc. These forums are a good place for more in-depth discussion, arranging meetings, hooking up with roommates at the hotel, etc.
TypeCon2004 Registration thread
TypeCon Talk thread
There are a couple of other threads in General Discussions over there. Also check out the TypeCon2003 website, which as lots of links to photo pages, reviews, and other discussion from last year’s event in Minneapolis.
tamye- let me congratulate you for one of the best organized application forms i’ve ever seen! talk about easy to move through and to understand – very well done.
and sheila [or any other design student] – the best thing that you could do as a student is to attend conferences. nobody will question your presence [and if they do, dyana and i will deal with ’em out back] and people will truly be encouraged by such an interested student.
believe in yourself and your education and please do attend typecon – it’s the best conference in north america and nearly the best in the world [!]
I’m from Toronto.
Feel free to say hello or look me up when you get there.
I’ll be staying at the Nikko.
> �what is *she* doing here?�
Sheila, that’s virtually impossible.
See you there!
hhp
> I�ll be staying at the Nikko.
Or would that be the Nicko?
Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be here all week!
Web site looks awesome!
I may be staying with family, but would also be happy to split a room with anyone who wants to save a few bucks. I am reasonably quiet, reasonably clean & don’t snore.
> i follow this blog and read books and… type is my favourite class at school…
Sheila, it sounds like you are interested in type! What better place to be than at a conference with other people who share that interest?
:-)
I have to say that TypeCon is a very friendly conference… Don’t pass it up if you have the chance to go… And there were students at last year’s; you won’t be the first student to attend!
Joshua,
I happen to be looking for someone to split a room and save a few bucks!
I am planning to be there a full week, so if you are staying for the 5 days of the conference that could work out nicely.
I, too, am reasonably quiet and reasonably clean… however, at times I have been known to snore. 2 out of 3…
:-/
Dearest Typographicans, a quick reminder: TypeCon2004 early registration ends Wed., June 9. Beginning June 10, regular conference pricing will be in effect. The FontLab workshop on Wed., July 21, is full, but, thanks to our friends Ted Harrison and Adam Twardoch, we were able to add a second session on Thursday. Ken Barber’s Locking Down Lockups workshop is full, and the Education Forum is nearing capacity. 19 workshops remain, but many are filling up. Rooms at the Nikko are going fast… get a move on and register if you’re coming to TypeCon!