Who is this course for?
Devanagari Two is for the student who is passionate about Devanagari letterforms and ready to create their own Devanagari typeface. To succeed, students should have a good comprehension of the Devanagari script, be comfortable drawing with Bézier curves and have some basic familiarity working in a font editor, and have an idea for a typeface they’d like to create during the course. Keep reading the FAQ for more details.
In the past, our Devanagari courses contained students from diverse backgrounds and skill sets — from graphic designers just getting interested in typeface design who are native to the script, to the opposite, professional type designers who want to learn more about Devanagari. The course is tailored to address the unique needs of both types of student (and all those in between) so the material presented is multi-layered and accounts for both perspectives. Devanagari Two welcomes individuals who share a common passion for typeface design and wish to dive deep into the world of Devanagari letterforms.
Important dates
9 July — Devanagari Two Q&A session on Instagram Live
11 July — Scholarships applications due (end of your day)
14 July — Priority enrollment begins for Practica alumni
15 July — Scholarship notification goes out by email
17 July — Enrollment opens for everyone (9am Chicago time)
27 July — Last day to enroll
6 August — Devanagari Two begins (individual meetings with Kimya)
13 August — Make up date: individual meetings with Kimya
15 August — Devanagari Two first lecture
Do I need to have completed Devanagari One before enrolling in Devanagari Two?
It is not necessary to have completed Devanagari One to sign up for Devanagari Two, but prior knowledge of the script is a requirement. See → Do I need prior Devanagari knowledge?
Do I need prior experience in typeface design?
While you don’t need to have experience in creating an entire typeface, it is important that you are comfortable drawing with Bézier curves and have some basic familiarity with working in a font editor. Basic usage of Glyphs will not be covered.
Do I need to have a typeface already in the works to attend Devanagari Two?
You don’t need an in-progress typeface but you do need an idea for one. There will be individual sessions with the lead instructor, prior to the first lecture, to discuss and finalize the idea of the typeface you will draw during the course. The idea can be in the form of an existing lettering/sketch that you wish to expand into a typeface, an image of a hand-painted sign that becomes the basis of the typeface style, or expanding an existing typeface from a different writing system to Devanagari.
What style of typeface can I start the course with?
Text, display, experimental, sans serif — bring whatever you’re excited to work on.
How much time am I expected to work outside of class?
We recommend committing a minimum of six hours per week to work outside of class and that might include readings.
Do I need to use a specific font editor?
We recommend that most students use Glyphs for this course. Creating a Devanagari typeface requires a file set up that varies by font editor and these aspects will only be explained in Glyphs. If you’re comfortable with the technical aspects of creating a Devanagari typeface, like setting up all the necessary features to render the script, any editor is welcome. If you’re not sure, then we recommend using Glyphs for the course. Keep in mind the course comes with a free trial license of Glyphs so you can try the font editor at no additional cost.
Will one be able to produce a complete typeface at the end of the course?
The course will outline each step in the process of designing a Devanagari typeface—the workings of various components of the script right from building consonants, vowels, mark positioning, and building conjuncts. The full Devanagari character set is exhaustive and the course will provide the tools to build all the components but how many characters a student is able to create during the course is subjective. Additionally there will be lectures providing information on building features in order to export a fully functioning typeface.
Are there scholarships or other tuition help available?
All Practica courses are offered on a sliding scale, which can reduce the amount of tuition a student pays.
In addition, we’re offering one full tuition waiver for Devanagari Two, however the deadline to apply has passed. The recipient will be notified on July 15, 2024.
