# Type Directors Club

The Type Directors Club (TDC) is an international organization devoted to typography and type design, founded in 1946 in New York City. TDC believes that type drives culture, and that culture drives type—and is dedicated to cataloging, showcasing, and exhibiting typography worldwide.
Founding member Milton Zudek described the club's goals at their first exhibit opening in 1947:
   We simply want to make more and more advertising people aware of the importance of the agency typographer. We want them to realize that the selection of type for an advertisement demands a sixth sense that goes beyond the basic knowledge of typefaces—that it demands, in effect, the same kind of artistic sense that people have learned to associate with Art Directors, but are still learning to associate with Type Directors.” Speaking that same night, Paul Lang, a member of the Art Directors Club remarked, “When I began, artists were called layout men, renderers or finishers. When we insisted upon being called art directors, the advertising execs would say, ‘Call yourselves anything you like, but give us what we want.’ By the same token, if type directors keep calling themselves just that, they will, in time, be recognized for what they actually do contribute.”

## Timeline

1943: The club was started as an unofficial gathering in 1943. Founding member Milton Zudeck described the club’s goals: “We simply want to make more and more advertising people aware of the important of the agency typographer. We want them to realize that the selection of type for an advertisement demands a sixth sense that goes beyond the basic knowledge of typefaces.”
1946: The Type Directors Club organization was formed by several leading NY art directors, including Aaron Burns, Louis Dorfsman and Milton Zudeck.
1960: The TDC was composed of men for many years until 1960 when they recruited its first woman member, designer Beatrice Warde. Today, the Beatrice Warde Scholarship stands to commemorate Beatrice Warde and all her contributions to the field of typography and to the TDC.
1967: The TDC medal is the organization's most prestigious award dedicated to the artful craft of type and typography. As of 2022 there have been 34 medalists. in 1967 the first TDC medal was awarded to Hermann Zapf.
1987: The TDC’s first international conference Type 1987 was held in Manhattan, giving participants the opportunity to gather with “stars” from outside the US like Adrian Frutiger and Neville Brody.
2018: As part of a rebranding led by Debbie Millman, the TDC adopted the Type Drives Culture conference slogan. The same year, the club held the first Ascenders competition, aimed to promote the hottest designers under 35; and created a BIPOC scholarship, which was later renamed the Ade Hogue Scholarship.
2022: The TDC merged with The One Club
2022: Upon the TDC’s reopening, Ksenya Samarskaya was appointed as TDC Managing Director with a mission to make it more open, diverse, and culturally engaging. TDC hosted Ezhishin, the first conference about Native North American typography.

## Conferences

In 1955 the first TDC competition was held to recognize outstanding work in the profession. The TDC’s first international conference, Type 1987 was held in Manhattan, giving participants the opportunity to gather with “stars” from outside the US like Adrian Frutiger and Neville Brody. in 2018, as part of a rebranding led by Debbie Millman, the TDC adopted the “Type Drives Culture” conference slogan which remains at the heart of the TDCs annual conference.
The most recent Type Drives Culture 22 conference held various sessions with the overarching theme “Type: The Next 75 Years”.

## TDC Medal

The TDC Medal is awarded for significant contributions to typography.
| Year | Recipients |
| 1967 | Hermann Zapf |
| 1968 | R. Hunter Middleton |
| 1971 | Frank Powers |
| 1972 | Robert Leslie |
| 1975 | Edward Rondthaler |
| 1979 | Arnold Bank |
| 1982 | Georg Trump |
| 1983 | Paul Standard |
| 1984 | Paul Rand, Herb Lubalin (posthumously) |
| 1985 | Aaron Burns |
| 1986 | Bradbury Thompson |
| 1987 | Adrian Frutiger |
| 1989 | Ed Benguiat |
| 1991 | Gene Federico |
| 1995 | Lou Dorfsman |
| 1997 | Rolling Stone magazine, Matthew Carter |
| 1998 | Freeman Craw |
| 2000 | Günther Gerhard Lange, Colin Brignall |
| 2003 | Martin Solomon |
| 2006 | Paula Scher |
| 2011 | Mike Parker, Erik Spiekermann |
| 2013 | Gerrit Noordzij |
| 2014 | David Berlow |
| 2015 | Louise Fili |
| 2016 | Zuzana Licko and Rudy VanderLans of Emigre |
| 2017 | Gerard Unger |
| 2018 | Fiona Ross |
| 2019 | Wim Crouwel |
| 2020 | Rubén Fontana |
| 2022 | Akira Kobayashi (typographer) |

## Competitions

Since the 1950s the TDC has been holding yearly type competitions: one for the use of type and the letterform in design and the other, typeface design. The winners are reproduced in the Typography Annual, as well as displayed in seven exhibits that travel worldwide. In addition to celebrating outstanding achievements, the typography competitions and resulting annuals serve as important historical records of typographic trends, and are an invaluable resource for both designers and scholars.[3]

### Typography

Previously known as Communication Design, the Typography competition is the extension of the original competition started in the 1950s.

### Type Design

The Type Directors Club Type Design Awards are given annually for excellence in typeface design. The award is generally viewed as being the most prestigious in the field.

#### Type Design Winners by Year

| Year | Winner |
| 2000 | Arcana Manuscript, Biblon, Blue Island, Cholla Slab, FF Clifford, Costa, Erica Sans, Homemade, Bitstream Kis Cyrillic, Klin, Mexica, Mirra, Diwan Mishafi, Myriad Pro Greek, Nani, Profile, Silentium Pro, Linotype Syntax |
| 2001 | ITC Aspera, Basilica, Linotype Conrad, Eplica, Hierarchy, Litteratra, Manuscript, Maya, Preissig, Really, Terminator, Warnock Pro, Zentra |
| 2002 | Text: Dreamer DD, Pradell, Whitman; Display: Alphatier, Azuza, Dearest, Globetrotter, ITC Jeepers, Keester, Media Core 3, Woodley Park; Type System: Brioso Pro, Federal, Rialto, Siemens |
| 2003 | Text: Arabic Typesetting, Carlin Script, Gentium, Laurentian; Display: Falafil, ITC Keefbats, Sakkal Seta Pro; Type System: Fontana ND, FF Strada, FTF Morgan, Full Moon Suite, Press Family, Suite, Sauna, ITC Tactile |
| 2004 | Text: Ardbeg, Argot, Maiola, Nyala, MS Uighur; Display: Brunn, Buttress, Sava Pro; Type System: Amira, Amplitude, FF Angkoon, Expo Sans, Farnham, Houston, Noam, FF Unit, Zocalo |
| 2005 | Text: Fabiol, Minuscule; Display: Bello, Bublik, Bunker, Dolce, Ed Gothic, Ed Script, Elementis, Pirouette, DB SantiPap, Scheck, Shipflat, Shoutenkaku / Shoutenmaru; Type System: FF Absara, Auto, Calibri, Rumba; Ornament: Super-Veloz |
| 2006 | Text: Aniene, Adobe Arabic, Calouste, Quixote; Display: Darka, Hogariet, Rayuela Chocolate 2.0, P22 Sweepy; Type System: Frutiger Next Greek, Garamond Premier Pro, Piclig, Relato Sans, Vista Sans; Ornament: FF Headz |
| 2007 | Text: Corundum Text, Greta Text, Untitled, EMT Lorena, Midan, Olga, Tisa; Type System: Arno Pro, Beorcana, Fakir, Nassim, Palatino Sans and Palatino Sans Informal, Quiosco, Xtra Sans; Display: Flexion, Manicotti, Peanut, Subtil; Ornament: Gregoria |
| 2008 | Text: Al Rajhi, Fondo, Marat, OTS Ethiopic, Palatino Arabic, Vodafone Hindi, Tiina; Type System: Anselm, Gloriola Standard and Display, National, Presidencia; Display: Blaktur, Burgues Script, Fresco Arabic, Logo Jr Black, Mommie, Sable, Slant, Swing, Ventura; Ornament: Restraint |
| 2009 | Text: Adios Script, Montague Script, Alda, Copte Scripte; Display: Klimax Bold, Nebulon, Optica Normal, Orbe |
| 2010 | Ingeborg, Deliscript, Kazuraki, Urbana Lnd, Joos, Espinosa Nova, Lavigne Display, ITC Legacy Square Serif Pro, Retiro, Narziss, Rieven, Fugu, Ysobel, Rum Black, Aisha, DecoType Nastaliq |
| 2011 | Brandon Grotesque, Eames Century Modern, Aero, Palatino Sans Arabic, Tundra, Amalta, Thuraya Regular, Shift, Supria Sans, FF Suhmo, News, Daisy, Matrona, Tabati, Nori, Eventide, Enzian, Elegy, Poem, Eames Poster Numerals |
| 2012 | Hipster Script, Chiavari, Balkan, La República, DecoType Ruq‘ah, Sutturah, Mr. Porter, Rekja, Greta Arabic, Harriet, Smidgen, Vibro, FF Mister K Informal |
| 2013 | Athena Ruby, JAF Bernini Sans, Karol, The Brill Family, Tegaki, Blanco, Vinter, Days and Nights, FF Chartwell, Baldufa, Iskra, Erotica, Agmena™, Jocham |
| 2014 | Sori, Metro Nova, Odesta, Azer, Pizza Press, Columbia Titling, Amplify, Chimera, Mislab, Duplicate Ionic, FF Quixo, Argentina, Ogg, Lalola, DecoType Nastaleeq Press, Venecia, Medusa, Flirt Script, MZhiHei Ultra Bold, Cloud Mountain Type, FREE, Bungee, Marcel Script, Chapitre Regular |
| 2015 | GT Sectra, Woodkit, Brando, Domaine Sans, Valter, Inei Mincho, Love Script, M Gentle Bold (正纖蘭體), Signo, A23D, Bustan Bold, Lale, Mohtaraf, Gibbs, Input, Proto Grotesk, Haltrix, Hollie Script Pro, Minotaur, Big Moore, GE Inspira Sans and Serif, M Ellan Light (幼雅蘭體) |
| 2016 | BC Mikser, Mornic, Tremolo, Bressay, Acanto Regia, Infini, Froben Antiqua, Zico, Bustani, Greta Arabic, The Spirit of Cursive Script, Greta Sans Hebrew, Bixa |
| 2017 | Salvaje, Lingering Fonts, Nordvest, Qandu, Bely, Sharp Grotesk, Qingyu Lishu, PILOT, Graebenbach, Lalezar, Laica, Rando, Renault Carname, Stratos, Eva |
| 2018 | Mirza, Lamon, IBM Plex, Source Han Serif, Noort, Origen, Teddy, Palago, Harrison Serif Pro, Read Greek Condensed, Koning, Vazeh, Ray, Artigo Display, Guyot, Oi!, Kinetic, Greta Text Hebrew |
| 2019 | Crochet, Rizado Script, New York Serif UI by Apple, Glinko Modern, Jali, Orientation, Ribaasu, Adobe Telugu, Minerale, No Molestar!, Sandwich, Sig, Pyk, Chek Lap sans, Faune, FR kraken slab, Heldane, Hope Sans, Pilat, Gustella, Punta Display, Le murmure. |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | Arabic Protest, Baryton, Coca-Cola Care, Garaje, Grab Community, Hebrew/Latin Extended, Hong Kong Beiwei Zansyu, Huai, Le Rosart, LiebeHeide Color, Lyon Arabic, Rail Alphabet 2, Retail, SF Symbols 2, Signifier, Super Condensed Devanagari, Vasakronan Serif, Vazeh Classic Quranic |
| 2022 | Amaala Arabic, ANEK Indic, Charisma, Englisch, FZ GuoMeiJinDao, FZ QianLongXingShu, Goldich, Greta Armenian, Hanyi yihexianjing, Jinhua Mincho, Klaket, Kristal, Lava Syllabics, Margit, Mithaq, Norbert, November Tamil, Oceanic, Platia, Qing Mocai Lishu, Resonay, RVS Basic, SF Arabic, SF Symbols 3, Shinbakusai Reisho, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, The Epicene Collection, The Mānuka Collection, Uwabami, YouTube Sans Arabic |

### Lettering

Started in 2022.

### Ascenders

In 2018, the TDC inaugurated Ascenders, a competition to recognize the achievements of designers 35 years of age and younger. In its inaugural year, TDC honored nineteen Ascenders from around the world.

## TDC Annual — World’s Best Typography

TDC produces a design annual that features award-winning typography. The 2017 publication, The World's Best Type and Typography, was designed by Leftloft of Milan.
| Year | Book Number | Designer and Studio |
| 1980 | Typography 1 | Jack G. Tauss |
| 1981 | Typography 2 | Jack G. Tauss |
| 1982 | Typography 3 | Joe Carnase |
| 1983 | Typography 4 | Richard Moore |
| 1984 | Typography 5 | Jonson Pedersen, Hinrichs and Shakery Inc. |
| 1985 | Typography 6 | Olau Leu |
| 1986 | Typography 7 | Arthur Boden |
| 1987 | Typography 8 | David Brier |
| 1988 | Typography 9 | Alan Peckolick |
| 1989 | Typography 10 | Onofrio Paccione |
| 1990 | Typography 11 | Larry Yang |
| 1991 | Typography 12 | Jessica Weber |
| 1992 | Typography 13 | Daniel Pelavin |
| 1993 | Typography 14 | Mark van Bronkhorst |
| 1994 | Typography 15 | Reverb, Los Angeles & Rick Vermeulen |
| 1995 | Typography 16 | Drenttel Doyle Partners |
| 1996 | Typography 17 | Michael Vanderbyl, Vanderbyl Design |
| 1997 | Typography 18 | Bernhardt Fudyma Design Group |
| 1998 | Typography 19 | L. Richard Poulin, Amy Kwon, Poulin + Morris |
| 1999 | Typography 20 | Adam Greiss, Carin Goldberg |
| 2000 | Typography 21 | The ATTIK |
| 2001 | Typography 22 | Gail Anderson (graphic designer) |
| 2002 | Typography 23 | Allison Williams |
| 2003 | Typography 24 | Alexander Isley |
| 2004 | Typography 25 | Diego Vainesman |
| 2005 | Typography 26 | Urshula Barbour, Paul Carlos, Pure + Applied |
| 2006 | Typography 27 | Andy Kner |
| 2007 | Typography 28 | Number Seventeen (design) |
| 2008 | Typography 29 | Philippe Apeloig |
| 2009 | Typography 30 | Werner Design Werks |
| 2010 | Typography 31 | Paul Sahre |
| 2011 | Typography 32 | Matteo Bologna, Mucca Design |
| 2012 | Typography 33 | Paula Scher, Pentagram (design firm) |
| 2013 | Typography 34 | Chip Kidd |
| 2014 | Typography 35 | Brian Collins (designer) |
| 2015 | Typography 36 | J. Abbott Miller, Pentagram (design firm) |
| 2016 | Typography 37 | Bobby C. Martin Jr., OCD |
| 2017 | Typography 38 | Leftloft, Milan |
| 2018 | Typography 39 | Triboro |
| 2019 | Typography 40 | Hugh Miller, Bond Creative |
| 2020 | Typography 41 | Anagrama |
| 2021 | Typography 42 | Juan Carols Pagan, Sunday Afternoon |
| 2022 | Typography 43 | Tereza Bettinardi |

## Scholarships

Beatrice Warde Scholarship
Winners receive a $5,000 USD award as well as a free one-year student membership to the TDC, offering discounts and other opportunities for conferences and events.
Previous winners of the award include Doah Kwon (2022) Ximena Amaya (2021), Tatiana Lopez (2020), Blossom Liu (2019), Anna Skoczeń (2018), Tasnima Tanzim (2017), Ania Wieluńska (2016), and Rebecca Bartola (2015).
Ade Hogue Scholarship
Formerly known as the Superscript scholarship. Previous winners of the award include Ana Robles (2022) and Sakinah Bell (2021)
Ezhishin Scholarship
Started in 2023, the annual $5,000 scholarship, funded by Google, is for Native American and First Nation individuals in the US and Canada, respectively, who exemplify a creative practice that explores typography, type design, or relevant linguistic work. Winners receive a $5,000 USD award as well as a free one-year student membership to the TDC, offering discounts and other opportunities for conferences and events.

## Sponsors

The TDC is sponsored by A to A Studio Solutions, Adobe Typeset, Typeset Design Matters, Designer Journals, Facebook Analog Research Laboratory, Firebelly, Google, Glyphs, Monotype, Morisawa, Pandora, School of Visual Arts, SVA Masters in Banding, Type Network which help to support the following initiatives:
* TDC Typography Annual
* Student scholarships
* Salons in NYC and other US cities
* Educational workshops
* TDC Book Night
* TDC Competition Judges Night
* New York exhibitions at TDC
* International exhibitions of competition winners
* Special events