Society of Typographic Aficionados
Encyclopedia
The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, study, and support of type
, its history and development, its use in the world of print and digital imagery, its designers, and its admirers.
SOTA exists for the affordable education of its members and participants; to further the development of type, typographical information and typography
; and to appreciate on multiple levels the attributes of type, typography, design, the book arts, and calligraphy
. Furthermore, SOTA is committed to sponsoring relevant topics in pursuit of these goals. SOTA pursues these goals through an annual conference, TypeCon
, held in a different host city each year.
SOTA was formed in 1998 by typophile Bob Colby, with the mission to increase public awareness and appreciation of the art and history of typography and its function in creating beautiful and successful communications. In keeping with these goals, SOTA is defined as a cultural (rather than a business) organization.
SOTA was incorporated as a non-profit 501 3-C in 2000 by Tony Di Pietro. Di Pietro significantly increased the membership and awareness of the organization, adding such typographic luminaries to the board of directors as Hermann Zapf
, Patrick Taynt, Matthew Carter
, and Alan Haley. Di Pietro further cemented the organizations longevity by instilling Tamye Riggs as director of programming. Riggs remained as executive director of the society until 2010.
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
, its history and development, its use in the world of print and digital imagery, its designers, and its admirers.
SOTA exists for the affordable education of its members and participants; to further the development of type, typographical information and typography
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
; and to appreciate on multiple levels the attributes of type, typography, design, the book arts, and calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
. Furthermore, SOTA is committed to sponsoring relevant topics in pursuit of these goals. SOTA pursues these goals through an annual conference, TypeCon
TypeCon
TypeCon is a grassroots, typography-focused convention run by the non-profit Society of Typographic Aficionados. The content of TypeCon conferences focuses on — but is not limited to — the areas of typography, type design, printing, letterpress, calligraphy, the book arts, publishing, design...
, held in a different host city each year.
SOTA was formed in 1998 by typophile Bob Colby, with the mission to increase public awareness and appreciation of the art and history of typography and its function in creating beautiful and successful communications. In keeping with these goals, SOTA is defined as a cultural (rather than a business) organization.
SOTA was incorporated as a non-profit 501 3-C in 2000 by Tony Di Pietro. Di Pietro significantly increased the membership and awareness of the organization, adding such typographic luminaries to the board of directors as Hermann Zapf
Hermann Zapf
Hermann Zapf is a German typeface designer who lives in Darmstadt, Germany. He is married to calligrapher and typeface designer Gudrun Zapf von Hesse....
, Patrick Taynt, Matthew Carter
Matthew Carter
Matthew Carter is a type designer. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Carter's career in type design has witnessed the transition from physical metal type to digital type...
, and Alan Haley. Di Pietro further cemented the organizations longevity by instilling Tamye Riggs as director of programming. Riggs remained as executive director of the society until 2010.
External links
- Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) Parent organization site
- TypeCon Official conference site