Introducing “Southeast Asia Type Designer Stories” – a blog series where we dive into the journey, experiences, and insights of type designers shaping the future of typography. This series highlights the unique voices driving the region’s growing type design scene, going beyond the technical aspects to delve into the cultural influences, motivations, and challenges that inspire their work. By sharing these diverse stories, our aim is to foster a deeper understanding of local type communities and spark thoughtful conversations on typography, identity, and innovation throughout the region.
Aditya Wiraatmaja from Indonesia
Aditya Wiraatmaja is the visionary behind the Type Design Club, a groundbreaking platform that is reshaping the typography scene in Indonesia. Fueled by his passion for type design and dedication to elevating the craft, Aditya has built a space that not only highlights his expertise but also fosters a thriving community of designers. Type Design Club is more than just a collective — it’s a vibrant hub that blends creative innovation with Indonesia’s rich typographic heritage, propelling local talent onto the global stage.
A Typographic Journey Driven by Passion
Aditya Wiraatmaja, a graphic and type designer from Jakarta, embarked on his design journey with a degree in Visual Communication Design, where he first discovered his passion for typography. His professional career began at Tokotype, one of Indonesia’s pioneering type foundries, where he collaborated with some of the leading figures in the industry. At Tokotype, Aditya not only refined his skills in crafting versatile and functional typefaces but also built a strong network within Indonesia’s design community, which played a significant role in shaping his future in typography.
In 2020, Aditya achieved a major milestone with the release of Maleo, his first official retail typeface. This project marked a breakthrough in his career, demonstrating his ability to blend creativity with precision. Despite the challenges that came with the pandemic, Aditya’s drive for growth and learning never wavered. In fact, it became a catalyst for further development, prompting him to enroll in the prestigious Type@Cooper Program, where he gained a deeper understanding of type design fundamentals.
Maleo, Aditya’s Debut Retail Latin Typeface
Maleo is a modern display sans with grotesque origins, drawing inspiration from Benton’s Franklin Gothic and Alternate Gothic. Designed by Aditya Wiraatmaja as his debut retail typeface, Maleo is primarily designed with large-size usage in mind. Its small flare and angled cut terminals give it an approachable and friendly appearance.
Type@Cooper: Building A Solid Foundation
The Type@Cooper program offers an intensive, foundational course in typeface design, covering history, theory, and hands-on practice. Participants are guided step by step through the process of creating their own typeface, working closely with experienced instructors and guest critics. By building on this strong foundation, students develop a fully functional, industry-standard font while gaining the specialized skills needed to design professional-quality digital typefaces and lettering. Beyond the coursework, one of the program’s most valuable aspects is the opportunity to connect and collaborate with type designers from around the world. It becomes a space where passionate individuals can share their love for type and build lasting professional relationships.
The program presented new design challenges, pushing him to explore the limits of his craft. One of the most notable projects of this journey was his typeface, Pane, which stood out for its clean, modern aesthetic and exceptional attention to detail, earning him a Certificate of Excellence from the Type Directors Club (TDC), a prestigious recognition that solidified his growing reputation in the global type design community. Driven by passion for typography, an endless curiosity, and a relentless commitment to his work, Aditya continues to push the boundaries and shape the future of type design, further establishing himself as an influential figure in the industry.
Challenges in Southeast Asian Type Design
In Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, type design has long struggled to gain recognition as a legitimate career path, faced by limited access to formal education, a lack of public awareness, and ongoing issues such as piracy and weak intellectual property protections. These challenges have shaped how many designers enter the field.
With few resources available, most Indonesian type designers are self-taught, finding their way through curiosity, word of mouth, or creative practices. A significant number transitioned from a lettering background, especially after its rise in popularity around 2010, using it as a gateway to explore more structured aspects of typography and type design. Although many of these challenges persist across Southeast Asia, the landscape is slowly evolving, with increasing interest and awareness beginning to take root.
Despite these difficulties, Aditya saw a growing interest in type design and an opportunity to foster its development. While a small but active community of designers had begun to emerge, there was no dedicated platform for them to connect, collaborate, or share ideas. To bridge this gap, he founded Type Dialogue in 2021, Indonesia’s first local type collective. The platform quickly became a hub for designers of all levels to showcase their work, engage in discussions, and exchange knowledge. This initiative marked a turning point for Indonesia’s type design industry, sparking a new wave of innovation and community-driven growth.
Type Design Club: Accessible and Inclusive
After completing the Type@Cooper program in 2022, Aditya Wiraatmaja partnered with Iqbal Firdaus of Tegamitype to launch Type Design Club. The club was designed to make type design more accessible and inclusive, promoting a deeper appreciation for the craft and fostering collaboration among creatives. It also offers valuable educational resources to nurture the community and raise awareness of the importance of type design, encouraging active participation in the evolving design industry in Indonesia.
At its core, Type Design Club is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional type design while bridging cultural and typographic practices. The club organizes online workshops, collaborative projects, and typography-related events, bringing together designers from Indonesia and across Southeast Asia. By creating a space for both professionals and beginners, it continues to inspire the next generation of type designers, uniting them through a shared passion for typography.
Bridging the Gap in Typography
In Indonesia, aspiring typographers often encounter significant challenges due to the lack of formal training and limited career opportunities in the field. Typography education at universities is minimal, usually limited to a single semester (around 3-4 months), focusing mostly on basic theory. Practical, hands-on experience is rarely emphasized. Additionally, typography is frequently overshadowed by more dominant graphic design coursework.
Recognizing this gap, Aditya and Iqbal, both type designers who have experienced these struggles firsthand, established an alternative club called Type Design Club. Their initiative aims to address these challenges by focusing on education and providing valuable resources. The club offers workshops and seminars designed to raise awareness about typography, spark interest in the field, and, ultimately, help designers refine their skills, deepen their knowledge, and elevate the local type design community.
The core mission is straightforward: to share the knowledge and resources they’ve gained through mentorship, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth. As Aditya, drawing from his experience at the Type@Cooper Program, emphasizes, feedback is one of the most crucial tools for improvement as a type designer. In this context, feedback is not just about criticism or pointing out flows; it’s about receiving guidance that helps individuals improve, grow, and ultimately achieve their goals of becoming better designers.
Type Design Club: Latin Text Type Program
Type Design Club offers an annual Latin Text Type course, a comprehensive and intensive 12 to 16 week online program. Each session lasts approximately 2 hours and is designed to guide participants through the process of creating high-quality, functional typefaces. The course culminates in a virtual Zoom event where participants can present their journey, showcasing their progression from initial sketches to polished, finalized designs.
The course is priced at Rp3 million for students and Rp5.5 million for general admission (approximately 180–330 USD), making it an accessible learning opportunity for individuals at various stages of their typographic journey. The 2024 edition runs from June 1 to September 14, with 14 sessions and 2 breaks over the span of 16 weeks.
Led by Aditya and Iqbal, who bring their expertise as instructors, the program offers a balanced approach that blends theory with practical, hands-on exercises. Participants will receive valuable feedback from industry experts and guest critics, further enriching the learning experience. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics in type design, from developing initial concept sketches to mastering font software (using Glyphs), with a focus on the foundational elements of Latin typefaces, including lowercase and uppercase letters, figures, and symbols. This course is specifically crafted to equip participants with the skills and insights necessary to create professional-grade typefaces that are both visually appealing and functional.
And by the final week of the program, each student will have the opportunity to present their completed typeface in a 15-20 minute presentation. During this time, each student will walk through the entire design process, from concept, their initial sketches to the refined and finalized typefaces. Students will share insights into the challenges they faced, the decisions they made regarding letterform design, and how they approached the technical aspects of type design.
This presentation will not only showcase their hard work but also demonstrate their growth throughout the course, highlighting their ability to create a cohesive and functional typeface. Additionally, students will receive constructive feedback from peers and instructors, offering an opportunity to refine their designs and deepen their understanding of the craft.
Shaping the Future of Typography
Type Design Club is more than just an educational platform—it’s a movement that empowers designers to create high-quality typefaces and shape the future of typography in Indonesia. As the industry evolves, the club remains committed to its belief that typography is not only a creative tool but also a unifying force. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, it is playing a key role in defining the future of this dynamic field, building a community of passionate type enthusiasts who share a common love for typography.
By blending tradition with innovation and fostering a community of passionate type designers, the Type Design Club Latin Text Type course is empowering the next generation to push the boundaries of type design. After three successful editions from 2022 to 2024, the club continues to grow stronger, with the next edition scheduled for later this year, between June and July. For the latest updates on courses and registration details, visit the official website.
