Words of Type

Words of Type is an encyclopedia of typographic terms, illustrated and explained in multiple languages.

200 WORDS, TO BEGIN WITH
The first version of Words of Type will contain 200 terms, from all the specific terms used in typography and typeface design: typesetting, historical and conceptual terms, type design anatomy, digital typography, terms specific to particular scripts, and many more. This list shall grow with updates in the future.

IN 7 LANGUAGES
The content of Words of Type will start being translated into seven languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. More languages will join over time.

REAL THING COMING SOON
This is a temporary website version, while we are building its official version planned to be launched by mid-2024 (yes).

In typography (or in any other field, really), it is important to know exactly what is being said or written, or how to say something to be understood correctly. Especially in an industry that becomes more international every day, where we need to communicate better with each other, from designer to client, designer to colleague, teacher to student, etc.

This shall happen (hopefully) with a better and easier access to typographic knowledge, in more languages than English, and about more scripts than Latin.

Words of Type aims to be a useful and accessible tool for everyone interested in typography and type design, everywhere.

Words of Type doesn’t pretend to be THE only source for all things about typography, but more of a companion to the many great resources that already exist as books and other media; sort of like a sidekick helper, accessible from everywhere and for free, to those studying or teaching typography and type design, using these fields daily, or even just occasionally.

Back in September 2023, a fundraising campaign has been launched to gather the needed budget from individuals to initiate Words of Type. Unfortunately, it didn't succeed, but it created enough interest and support from type foundries to continue the adventure anyway!

Words of Type is a project initiated by French and Chinese type designer Lisa Huang.

Great consideration is brought upon the quality of the descriptions in every language. We can count in (as of now) multiple experts for each language, such as Mona Franz, Min-Young Kim, Éloïsa Perez, Tânia Raposo, Katja Schimmel, Carlos de Toro, Yanru Wang and Chuyang Zheng.

Illustrations are made by amazing artists such as Erik van Blokland, James Graham, Jay Cover, and Tezzo Suzuki (so far!).

Words of Type is a project that needs help to keep its quality to the highest level by paying for the work of translators, proofreaders, illustrators, designers, developers, and so on, at a respectful rate.

As a type foundry, you can support WoT by sponsoring selected words that need to show typefaces in their illustrations. Please send us an email to info@wordsoftype.com, and we will get back to you with more details and information.

As of now, we can proudly name as initial WoT Sponsors these great foundries: Typotheque, Production Type, Dinamo, Commercial Type, TypeTogether, XYZ Type, NM type, ArrowType, Letterror, Kerns & Cairns,...

As a person, you will be able to show your support too with a membership program that shall start with the launch of the website. So stay tuned!

And of course, if you feel exceptionally generous, you can also donate! Please contact us at info@wordsoftype.com, and make this happen together!

Words of Type is also planning for a series of lectures and workshops, with type designers and professionals from everywhere, in various languages. The same people who participated for the contribution rewards of the September 2023 Kickstarter campaign are still in, so keep your eyes and ears open for the updates!

Words of Type
Lisa Huang

Graphic Design
Grégory Taniguchi-Ambos

Website Development
Goodthing Studio

Translations
(Chinese)
Yanru Wang 王燕茹

(German)
Katja Schimmel

(Japanese, Korean)
Min-Young Kim

Proofreading
(German)
Mona Franz

(English, French)
Tânia Raposo

(French)
Éloïsa Perez

(Chinese)
Chuyang Zheng 郑初阳

Illustrations
Erik van Blokland
Jay Cover
James Graham
Tezzo Suzuki

Contact
info@wordsoftype.com

Instagram
@words_of_type

Lectures and Workshop
Azza Alameddine
Shani Avni
Peter Bil’ak
Maria Doreuli
Namrata Goyal
Toshi Omagari
Krista Radoeva
Promphan Suksumek
Irene Vlachou
Mingoo Yoon

Campaign Video
Shira Chung
Justin Thatch

And more!
Cara di Eduardo
Stephen Nixon
Lynne Yun