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Use this reference guide to help brief your entries. Contact us if you need additional information on any topic.
JUMP TO:3-DIMENSIONAL TYPEFACE
Typefaces presented as three-dimensional shapes, incorporating depth, perspective, or sculptural qualities.
36 DAYS OF TYPE
Annual creative challenge creating unique letterforms for each letter and numeral over 36 consecutive days.
ACCESSIBLE TYPOGRAPHY
Type application meeting WCAG standards and universal design principles ensuring readability for all users.
AIRBRUSH LETTERING
Spray-painted letterforms using stencils or freehand techniques, characteristic of certain commercial and artistic traditions.
ALIGNMENT
Placement of visual elements along common edges, centers, or baselines creating order and visual connection.
ANALOG DISTORTION
Physical manipulation of letterforms through printing, photocopying, or material processes creating unique textures.
ANALOG TYPESETTING
Historical printing methods including letterpress, wood type, and phototypesetting, valued for tactile and aesthetic qualities.
ANAMORPHIC TYPOGRAPHY
Distorted letterforms designed to appear correct from specific viewing angle, creating perspectival illusions.
ANONYMITY REQUIREMENT
Mandatory removal of designer and studio identification from judging media ensuring unbiased evaluation.
APERTURE
The partially enclosed, somewhat rounded negative space in characters such as 'n', 'C', 'S', the lower part of 'e'.
ASCENDER
The portion of lowercase letters that extends above the x-height, found in letters like b, d, f, h, k, l, t.
AUGMENTED REALITY TYPOGRAPHY
Type design and application in AR environments, considering spatial relationships, perspective, and real-world integration.
BALANCE
Distribution of visual weight in a composition creating stability through symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial arrangements.
BASELINE
The imaginary horizontal line upon which most letters appear to rest, serving as the fundamental reference line for all typographic measurements.
BEST IN DISCIPLINE
Top award within each of the three competition disciplines, recognizing the most outstanding submission.
BRAND IDENTITY SYSTEM
Comprehensive visual language including logotype, typography, color, and graphic elements establishing consistent organizational presence.
BREAKPOINT
Specific screen widths where responsive designs change layout or typography to accommodate different device sizes.
CALLIGRAPHY
Traditional or contemporary writing art emphasizing rhythm, gesture, and tool-based mark-making.
CAMPAIGN
Comprehensive project spanning multiple touchpoints and media, demonstrating integrated typographic approach.
CATEGORY / SUBCATEGORY
Divisions within a discipline, grouped by media type and other common characteristics. Multiple Subcategories may be listed within a Category. Note: The term "Category" often includes the "Subcategory" information.
CERTIFICATE OF TYPOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE
Traditional TDC recognition awarded to 75-100 winning entries selected by the jury, including publication in the TDC Annual.
CHARACTER SET
Complete inventory of glyphs within typeface including letters, numbers, punctuation, symbols, and language-specific characters.
CLIENT TYPE
The type of client that commissioned the work. Available options: Consumer / Brand, Business to Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Non-Profit.
CLOCK / CALENDAR DESIGN
Typographic treatment of temporal information displays, balancing functionality with aesthetic expression.
CLOSED / SUBMITTED ENTRIES
After clicking the "proceed to payment" button during checkout, entries are considered "Closed."
COLOR FONT
Typefaces that move beyond the default black/white contrast to include color information within the font.
COMMUNICATION DESIGN
Any creation using type, lettering, or written language as significant element, encompassing print, digital, environmental, and experiential applications.
COMPANY CREDIT TYPE
When adding Company Credits, entrants can select from a list of Company Types: Agency, Brand-Side / In-House Agency, Client / Brand, Design Firm, Digital Agency, Media Agency, PR / Marketing Agency, Publisher, Agency In-House Production Company, Production Company, Music / Sound Production Company, Post Production Company, Freelancer.
COMPLETE CREDITS
Mandatory listing of all contributors including designers, clients, collaborators, and production partners.
COMPONENT LIBRARY
Collection of reusable UI components with defined behavior, styling, and usage guidelines.
COMPOSITION / LAYOUT
Arrangement and organization of visual elements within design space to create complete, unified image.
CONCEPTUAL STRENGTH
Jury criterion (20% weight) assessing idea quality, creative approach, and conceptual foundation of typographic solution.
CONTENT STRATEGY
Strategic approach to content creation, organization, and governance ensuring consistent voice and effective communication.
CONTRAST
Arrangement of opposing elements to create visual interest, establish hierarchy, and draw attention.
CONTRAST RATIO
Mathematical relationship between foreground and background colors, critical for text legibility and accessibility.
CONVERSATIONAL DESIGN
Typography and language patterns for chatbots, voice interfaces, and AI-driven interactions.
COUNTER
The enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space within letters such as d, o, s, a, e, p, b.
CRAFT QUALITY
Jury criterion (20% weight) evaluating attention to detail, refinement, and mastery of typographic fundamentals.
CROSS-PLATFORM TYPOGRAPHY
Consistent type application across multiple devices, screen sizes, and media maintaining brand coherence.
CSS TYPOGRAPHY
Comprehensive set of CSS properties controlling text presentation including font-family, size, weight, and OpenType features.
CULTURAL RELEVANCE
Jury criterion (20% weight) considering contextual appropriateness, cultural sensitivity, and contemporary significance.
DESCENDER
The portion of lowercase letters that extends below the baseline, found in g, j, p, q, y.
DESIGN OPERATIONS
Systematic approach to design process optimization, workflow management, and team coordination at scale.
DESIGN SYSTEMS
Comprehensive libraries of reusable components, guidelines, and standards ensuring consistency across digital products.
DESIGN THINKING
Human-centered problem-solving methodology applying designers' sensibilities to complex challenges.
DESIGN TOKENS
Named entities storing visual design attributes in format consumable across design tools and development platforms.
DIGITAL DISTORTION
Algorithmic or software-based letterform manipulation creating glitch aesthetics or experimental effects.
DIGITAL LETTERING
Custom letterforms created using digital tools, maintaining hand-crafted quality while leveraging digital precision.
DIGITAL SUBMISSION
Primary entry format using online platform for images, videos, PDFs, and interactive content.
DISCIPLINE
The general area of practice under which categories are organized. TDC covers 3 main disciplines.
DISPLAY TYPEFACE
Typeface designed for large-size applications prioritizing visual impact and personality over extended reading comfort.
ECCENTRIC DISPLAY LETTERING
Highly stylized custom letters prioritizing expression and impact over conventional legibility or systematic design.
EDITORIAL DESIGN
Typography and layout for publications organizing content for optimal reading experience.
EM SPACE
Horizontal space equal to current point size, traditionally the width of capital M.
EMOJI / SYMBOL TYPEFACE
Typefaces whose design is mainly focused on symbols or emoji rather than human language.
EMPHASIS
Design principle highlighting most important elements in composition through contrast, positioning, scale, and color.
EN SPACE
Horizontal space equal to half an em space, traditionally the width of capital N.
ENTRY DEADLINE TIERS
Three submission periods (Early Bird, Regular, Final) with progressive pricing encouraging early participation.
ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Required 500-word maximum text explaining project context, objectives, and typographic approach.
ENTRY LIST
An itemized list of the entries that were submitted together within a specific invoice.
ENTRY SHOWCASE
An option to publicly share your work online. Sharing entries in the showcase is not required.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS
Typography and visual communication integrated into physical spaces including signage, wayfinding, and exhibitions.
EXPERIMENTAL TYPE
Typeface pushing boundaries of conventional letterform design, exploring new aesthetic territories or technical possibilities.
FILE SPECIFICATIONS
Technical requirements including resolution (300 DPI minimum), dimensions (2000px longest side), format (RGB color).
FINALIST
A Finalist has won either a Pencil or Merit award. All Finalists must verify the authenticity of the work, or will forfeit their award.
FINALIST CONFIRMATIONS
All Finalists will be notified of their award by email, at which time they will be required to confirm that all information related to their winning entries is complete and accurate.
FLUID TYPOGRAPHY
Typography that scales continuously based on viewport dimensions using mathematical formulas.
FONT ENGINEERING
Technical implementation of typeface design including hinting, compression, and optimization for various rendering environments.
@FONT-FACE
CSS at-rule defining custom fonts for web use by specifying font family name and source files.
FONT LOADING
Process of downloading and rendering web fonts, affecting page performance and user experience.
FONT METRICS
Mathematical spacing values including sidebearings, kerning pairs, and vertical metrics.
FONTS USED
Required specification of all typefaces employed in project, crediting type designers and foundries.
FULL CREDITS
All companies and individual creatives who worked on the project can be added to the "Full Credits" section.
GAME DESIGN TYPOGRAPHY
Type application in gaming interfaces, narratives, and environments, considering player experience.
GENERATIVE DESIGN
Algorithm-driven design processes automatically generating multiple solutions based on defined parameters.
GESTALT PRINCIPLES
Psychological principles explaining how humans perceive and organize visual information.
GLOBAL CREATIVE RANKINGS
Points system recognizing competition success contributing to international creative industry standings.
GLYPH
Visual representation of a character in typeface, where every character is represented by distinct glyph.
GRAFFITI TYPOGRAPHY
Street art lettering traditions including tags, throw-ups, and pieces, representing urban typographic culture.
GRID SYSTEM
Structure of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines serving as organizational framework.
HAND LETTERING
Manually drawn letterforms using traditional tools or digital tablets, emphasizing craft and unique character.
HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
Creative approach to problem-solving starting with understanding people's needs.
ILLUSTRATED LETTERFORMS
Typefaces presented as three-dimensional shapes, incorporating depth, perspective, or sculptural qualities.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN
Design approach considering full range of human diversity including disability, language, culture, and other differences.
INDIVIDUAL CREDIT TITLE
When adding Individual Credits, entrants can select from a list of creative credit Titles.
INFOGRAPHICS
Visual representation of information combining typography with data visualization to communicate complex information.
INFORMATION DESIGN
Practice of translating complex numerical and textual data into visual forms.
INNOVATION / ORIGINALITY
Jury criterion (20% weight) recognizing fresh perspectives, novel approaches, and advancement of typographic practice.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Typography for forms, manuals, and information systems prioritizing clarity, accessibility, and user comprehension.
INTERACTION DESIGN
Design of interactive elements and systems, focusing on how users engage with digital interfaces.
INVOICE / PAYMENT FORM
Documentation of the financial summary of your entries.
JUDGING MEDIA
Primary visual materials reviewed and scored by jury, determining entry evaluation and potential recognition.
KERNING
Adjustment of horizontal space between specific pairs of characters to achieve even visual spacing.
KINETIC TYPOGRAPHY
Animated text that moves, transforms, or reveals over time, enhancing meaning through motion.
LEADING
Vertical space between lines of text, measured from baseline to baseline.
LETTERING
Custom creation or modification of letterforms for specific application, distinct from repeatable typeface design.
LETTERING SYSTEMS
Coordinated sets of custom letters sharing consistent style but individually crafted rather than systematized as fonts.
LIGATURE
Single glyph representing two or more combined letters, designed to improve letter spacing and visual flow.
LOGO / LOGOTYPE / LOGOMARK
Logo: distinctive graphic symbol; Logotype: text-only brand identifier; Logomark: graphic symbol without text.
MATERIAL LETTERING
Three-dimensional letters created from physical materials including wood, metal, fabric, or found objects.
MEDIA
Media includes digital images, videos, audio files, URLs or PDFs submitted with entries.
MICROINTERACTIONS
Small, contained product moments accomplishing single task while providing feedback.
MOBILE-FIRST DESIGN
Design approach prioritizing mobile experience first, then progressively enhancing for larger screens.
MOTION GRAPHICS
Time-based visual communication combining typography with animation, video, and sound.
MULTI-SCRIPT TYPEFACE
Font supporting multiple writing systems with harmonized design across Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, or other scripts.
MULTIPLE AXIS TYPE FAMILY
Type families that contain several styles that vary along two or more axes — such as weight and width, or weight and slope.
MURAL LETTERING
Large-scale letterforms integrated into architectural surfaces or public spaces.
NATIVE SCRIPT EXPERTISE
Jury requirement ensuring evaluators fluent in specific writing systems assess relevant non-Latin entries.
NON-LATIN SCRIPTS
Writing systems beyond Latin alphabet including Arabic, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and others.
OLDSTYLE FIGURES
Numerals with varying heights—some align to baseline, others descend below it (3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
OPEN / DRAFT ENTRIES
Entries that have been started in the system, but have not been submitted for judging are considered "Open."
OPENTYPE FEATURES
Advanced font functionality including ligatures, alternates, contextual substitutions, and stylistic sets.
OPTICAL SIZES
Typeface variations optimized for specific size ranges, adjusting proportions and details for optimal appearance.
PACKAGING DESIGN
Three-dimensional application of typography on product containers.
PARAMETRIC DESIGN
Design approach using algorithmic processes to generate forms through mathematical relationships.
PARAMETRIC TYPE
Typeface systems using mathematical parameters to generate letterforms through algorithmic processes.
PHYSICAL SUBMISSION
Limited option for select categories to submit actual printed or produced pieces.
PICA
Typographic unit equal to 12 points or 1/6 inch (4.233mm).
POINT SIZE
Height of type body measured in typographic points, where one point equals 1/72 inch.
PRESENTATION DESIGN
Typography for slides, decks, and visual presentations, balancing readability with visual impact.
PRIMARY CREDIT
The one (1) company that led the project and should be listed at the top of the credits. If multiple companies should be listed at the top, entrants may include them in the "Secondary Credits" section.
PROCESS DOCUMENTATION
Optional materials showing design development, sketches, iterations, and decision-making journey.
PROGRESSIVE ENHANCEMENT
Development approach starting with basic functionality, then adding enhanced features for capable browsers.
PROMOTIONAL IMAGES
Reference-only visuals accompanying submissions to provide context but not included in jury scoring.
PROXIMITY
Relationship principle stating related elements should be placed near each other.
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Comprehensive design of books, magazines, and catalogs including cover, interior layout, and typographic systems.
REFERENCE IMAGES
All entries require high resolution digital images. These images will be used for reference but will not be judged.
REGIONAL PRICING
Tiered entry fee structure providing discounts based on economic conditions.
REPETITION
Design principle using same or similar elements multiple times to create consistency and unity.
RESPONSIVE DESIGN
Approach ensuring optimal viewing and interaction experiences across various devices.
RESPONSIVE TYPOGRAPHY
Typography adapting fluidly to different screen sizes using viewport units and CSS techniques.
SANS-SERIF
Typefaces designed without serifs, characterized by clean, geometric forms.
SCRIPT EXTENSION
Authorized expansion of existing typeface to additional writing systems.
SCRIPT LETTERING
Flowing, connected letterforms simulating handwriting or calligraphy.
SECONDARY CREDITS
Up to three (3) companies that worked on the project and should be listed at the top of the credits, with the Primary company.
SERIES ENTRY
Collection of 3 or more related pieces sharing conceptual, visual, or functional unity.
SERIF
Short line or finishing stroke extending from main strokes of letterforms.
SERVICE DESIGN TYPOGRAPHY
Typography orchestrating entire service experiences, mapping touchpoints from initial contact through ongoing relationship.
SIGN PAINTING
Traditional craft of hand-painted lettering on surfaces.
SINGLE AXIS TYPE FAMILY
Type families containing two or more fonts that vary along a single axis such as weight, width, slope, or optical size.
SINGLE ENTRY
Individual piece or project submitted as standalone work, evaluated independently.
SINGLE STYLE TYPEFACE
Typefaces supporting any one or more language(s) in one single style.
SMALL CAPS
Capital letters designed to approximate x-height of lowercase letters.
SOCIAL MEDIA TYPOGRAPHY
Platform-specific typographic content optimized for engagement, sharing, and mobile viewing.
SOFTWARE - OTHER
Typefaces presented in nonstandard or experimental technological formats other than typical font files.
SPECULATIVE DESIGN
Design practice exploring possible futures through fictional scenarios and prototype objects.
STREET ADVERTISING
Large-scale typographic applications for outdoor advertising including billboards and transit advertising.
STYLE SHEET
CSS document defining presentation and formatting rules for HTML elements.
SUBCATEGORY (CATEGORY)
Divisions within a category, grouped by media type and other common characteristics. Multiple Subcategories may be listed within a Category. Note: The term "Category" often includes the "Subcategory" information.
SUPERFAMILY
Large and/or more loosely related type families containing any number of separate styles responding to different design concepts.
SUPPORTING MEDIA
The secondary material and content that the jury may choose to review at their discretion.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Environmentally conscious design practices minimizing waste and considering lifecycle impact.
SWASH
Elegant decorative extension or flourish on letterform.
TATTOO LETTERING
Specialized letterform design for skin application, considering body contours and aging.
TDC72
The 72nd annual Type Directors Club competition (2026).
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
Jury criterion (20% weight) evaluating craftsmanship, execution quality, and professional standards.
TEXT TYPEFACE
Typeface optimized for continuous reading at body sizes.
THREE DISCIPLINES
The foundational organizational structure of TDC72 comprising Communication Design, Type Design, and Lettering.
TRACKING
Uniform adjustment of horizontal space between all characters in selected text.
TYPE DESIGN
Creation of complete, functional typefaces as software fonts.
TYPE FAMILY
Related typefaces sharing core design DNA but varying in weight, width, or stylistic features.
TYPE FOUNDRY
Company specializing in design, production, and distribution of typefaces.
TYPE-GENERATING SOFTWARE
Applications or code creating dynamic, parametric, or algorithmic typefaces.
TYPE-HIGH AWARDS
New trophy program featuring Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards made from sustainably harvested bamboo.
TYPE REVIVAL
Contemporary interpretation of historical typeface, balancing authentic reference with modern requirements.
TYPE SPECIMEN
Designed presentation showcasing typeface's complete character set, features, and intended applications.
TYPEFACE
Complete set of characters sharing consistent design characteristics.
TYPOGRAPHY
Art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing.
TYPOGRAPHIC HIERARCHY
System organizing type establishing order of importance within textual content.
UNITY
Principle tying all design elements together to create cohesive composition.
USER EXPERIENCE (UX) TYPOGRAPHY
Type application considering user journey, accessibility, readability, and interaction patterns.
USER INTERFACE (UI) TYPOGRAPHY
Type application in digital interfaces focusing on legibility, hierarchy, and interaction patterns.
VARIABLE FONT
A type family presented as a single variable font containing a continuous range of styles along one or more interpolation axes.
VARIABLE FONT AXES
Adjustable parameters in variable fonts allowing real-time modification of design characteristics.
VERIFICATION FORM
A document confirming the print or air date of the work, to meet the eligibility requirements for entry.
VIEWPORT
User's visible area of web page, critical for responsive typography decisions.
VIEWPORT UNITS
CSS units (vw, vh, vmin, vmax) sizing elements relative to viewport dimensions.
VIRTUAL REALITY TYPOGRAPHY
Typography within immersive VR experiences, addressing readability and spatial orientation.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Practice of using visual elements to convey information, ideas, and messages.
VISUAL HIERARCHY
Principle of arranging design elements to show order of importance.
VISUAL IDENTITY
Collection of visual elements representing and differentiating a brand.
WAYFINDING
Systematic use of typography, symbols, and spatial graphics to guide navigation.
WEB FONTS
Custom typefaces delivered over internet using @font-face CSS declarations.
WHITE SPACE / NEGATIVE SPACE
Empty area around and between design elements providing visual breathing room.
WOFF / WOFF2
Web Open Font Format - compressed font formats optimized for web delivery.
WORDMARK
Company or brand name rendered as distinctive lettered unit.
WRITING SYSTEMS
Distinct scripts for recording language including Latin, Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Devanagari, Thai, and others.
X-HEIGHT
Height of lowercase letters without ascenders or descenders, typically measured by the letter 'x'.
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