The TDC70 Annual Competition, hosted by the Type Directors Club, marks its 70th edition as a prestigious event in the world of typography and design. This competition stands out as a globally recognized platform, attracting a diverse array of submissions under three main disciplines: Communication Design, Lettering, and Type Design. Communication Design encompasses a wide range of typographic works, including print and digital design, immersive experiences, architecture, fashion, film titles, and social media campaigns. Lettering involves the creative manipulation or creation of letters, covering areas such as traditional or abstract calligraphy, tattoos, wordmarks, custom logotypes, and unconventional typeface designs. Type Design is dedicated to the craft of creating workable font software, including individual typefaces, type families, emoji or symbol fonts, and innovative type-generating software.
The TDC70 competition has expanded its categories, offering an unparalleled opportunity for designers, typographers, and artists to showcase their typographic talents and innovations. This expansion makes the TDC70 event not just a competition, but a celebration of the evolving art and craft of typography. The competition’s inclusion of native experts for major writing systems like Arabic, Cyrillic, Indic, CJK, Latin, Thai, and select African scripts underscores its commitment to global inclusivity and diversity in typographic design. Such a broad range of categories and expert jury members ensures a comprehensive evaluation of entries, highlighting the competition’s dedication to excellence in typography.
Winning entries in the TDC70 Annual Competition gain significant recognition and exposure in the typographic community. Selected works are awarded the prestigious Certificate of Typographic Excellence, a hallmark of achievement in the industry. These winning designs are not only published in “The World’s Best Typography” compendium but are also featured across TDC’s social media channels, reaching a wide, international audience. Furthermore, winners have the unique privilege of having their work included in eight global traveling exhibitions, showcasing their designs across continents. This extensive exposure provides winners with an invaluable platform to elevate their profiles in the design world, making the TDC70 Annual Competition a highly sought-after event for typographers and designers aiming to make a mark in the industry.
Entry fees vary by country, with discounts for economically less prosperous countries and TDC members.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to typographic works produced or published during 2023.
Prize
Winners of the TDC70 Annual Competition will be awarded Certificates of Typographic Excellence. Their work will be featured in the 70th TDC Exhibition and included in “The World’s Best Typography®” compendium. Additionally, winners will contribute to eight traveling exhibitions across various continents. They are also required to provide additional copies of their winning entries for these exhibitions. The selected pieces will carry credits of all individuals and firms involved. Winners will be notified in April 2024.