Typography (Lettering)

My obsession with typography was an accident. The first lettering class I ever had was taught by Dick Bird at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. The first assignment was to paint the California Swash style with a brush. I was left handed. Dick Bird knew that I would not be able to pull the brush from left to right like a right-hander. He told me to try my best, take the C grade and run. I refused to comply and eventually figured out how to draw brush lettering with my left hand. I got an A.

ArtCenter College of Design, in Pasadena, California, honed my lettering skills and an interest in typography bloomed. In the 1970's, decorative type was largely frowned on in high design circles. Typography had been largely stripped of superfluous decoration and Helvetica was to blame. I take some credit in overthrowing that way of thinking.

Seven years after graduating I was asked by the venerable Midge Quinell, Foundation Department chair at ArtCenter, if I would consider teaching a lettering class. What began as one class per semester in 1987 grew to a full-time appointment that lasted for 34 years. Lettering evolved to Letterforms and eventually Typography until I retired from ArtCenter in 2021. I currently teach typography as adjunct professor at Brigham Young University Idaho - just one class; I consider it my day at the "Country Club".