Letterform Archive

Letterform Archive is a nonprofit center for inspiration, education, and community in the graphic arts. Established in 2015, the Archive serves as a library and museum in San Francisco, preserving over 100,000 artifacts of calligraphy, lettering, typography, and graphic design. It offers radical access to the collection through exhibitions, hands-on tours, research opportunities, and state-of-the-art publications. Their education program includes a yearlong certificate program in type design and public workshops, lectures, and salons on the letter arts, both in-person and online. Additionally, the Archive serves a global community through social media, virtual exhibitions, and the Online Archive. The Archive's mission originally aimed to provide designers access to overlooked or inaccessible design objects that were at risk of being lost. However, the response surpassed expectations, expanding its audience to include creative and curious individuals from all backgrounds as enthusiasm for type and design grew in the general public. This shift in audience reflects the Archive's commitment to preserving and sharing its growing collection to enrich the community. Notable design pioneers such as Emigre, Aaron Marcus, Jennifer Morla, and Michael Vanderbyl have entrusted the Archive with their work, recognizing its role as a highly curated and accessible collection that will inspire and educate future generations of designers and enthusiasts.