Python for Visual Designers by Letterform Archive

Python for Visual Designers is a live online workshop from Letterform Archive, taught by Maurice Meilleur. It runs on Tuesdays from 19 January to 9 March 2027, with eight two-hour sessions on Zoom from 5 to 7 pm Pacific time. The workshop introduces computational design and creative coding in Python using DrawBot, a free macOS app, and shows how to use code to make print files, animations and type specimens. You do not need any coding experience, and the workshop costs $720.

Most coding courses are written for programmers. This one starts from the work designers already do: setting type, testing sizes and line lengths, and preparing files for print. That makes it a practical entry point for designers who keep hearing about scripting but have never found a reason to try it.

What You Will Learn

The workshop covers the basics of programming through visual projects. Based on the official course page, you will learn:

• The core ideas of programming: variables, iteration and logical tests
• Object-based programming, explained for designers
• Setting type with code in DrawBot
• Exporting raster and vector images, and PDFs for print projects
• Making animations exported as .mp4 or .gif files
• Building type specimens with code
• Testing type size, line length, leading and margins quickly by changing values

Who Is Python for Visual Designers For?

The official page says no prior coding is needed. You should be comfortable with basic maths, and familiarity with OpenType and variable fonts is expected, so the workshop suits graphic designers, typographers and type designers who already know their way around fonts.

It is less suited to complete newcomers to typography, who may find the font-related examples hard to follow. Experienced programmers will find the coding basics slow, although the design applications may still be useful to them.

Schedule

The workshop runs for eight weeks in early 2027:

• Dates: Tuesdays, 19 January to 9 March 2027
• Time: 5 to 7 pm PT
• Sessions: eight live sessions of two hours each, on Zoom
• Software: DrawBot, a free app for macOS

Because the sessions are set to US Pacific time, check your local time before you register. In Europe the class starts in the early hours of Wednesday morning, so it works best for students in the Americas and parts of Asia and the Pacific.

Price and Access

The workshop costs $720 for all eight sessions. The official page used for this listing does not mention a class size, discounts or recordings, so check the course page for current availability and what is included before you book.

How to Register

Registration is through the Letterform Archive online shop, on the workshop's own page. There is no portfolio needed. If you have questions about the level or the software, contact Letterform Archive before booking.

About the Instructor and the School

Maurice Meilleur leads this workshop for Letterform Archive. The official page used for this listing does not give a full biography, so see the course page for his background. Letterform Archive is a museum and archive of letterforms in San Francisco. It runs public workshops like this one alongside its Type West postgraduate certificate in type design.

Things to Consider

• Computer: DrawBot is a macOS app, so you will need a Mac.
• Background: basic maths plus some knowledge of OpenType and variable fonts is expected.
• Time: plan for the two-hour class plus time to practise between sessions; code sticks only with regular use.
• Time zone: the 5 pm PT slot is late or overnight for much of the world.
• Use it at work: bring a real task, such as a specimen or a set of print variations, to apply what you learn.
• Next step: if you enjoy it, scripting inside type design tools is a natural follow-on.

How to Get the Most From It

Install DrawBot before the first session and try a few simple examples, so the interface is familiar when the class begins. Treat Python for Visual Designers as a way to automate the repetitive parts of your own practice, and you will finish with small scripts you can keep using after the eight weeks.

Register for the Workshop

Interested in learning with Letterform Archive?

Register for Python for Visual Designers

For the full syllabus and pricing, visit the official Letterform Archive website.

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Last verified: November 12, 2026