TypeParis Experience
Diary of a Cool Kid: My TypeParis 2025 Adventure
Type, Friendships, and Memories
By Thitawan Noenpoempisut
Hello, everyone! I’m Thitawan Noenpoempisut, the 2025 TypeCon scholarship recipient. The moment I received the news that I had been chosen felt completely surreal. Coming from a non-design background, I actually hesitated to apply for the scholarship. I wasn’t sure about anything. But then I thought... why not? I’ve always been interested in type and had already collected a few personal projects. I figured I had some raw material in hand, so again... why not? I remembered something my parents used to tell me when I was young: “If you try, the chance is 50/50, yes or no. But if you don’t, it’s always zero, no and no.”
And... et voilà! I’m glad and beyond grateful to have been awarded this scholarship. It opened the door to one of the best summers of my life, at TypeParis.
It’s very hard to summarize everything, but from the very first day, everything was completely new to me. I had my very first formal calligraphy class ever! It felt unfamiliar at first, yet somehow comforting, calm, and deeply satisfying. Not that I was good at it... absolutely not! But I enjoyed learning the strokes, ductus, and the history behind it all. We did a lot of practice, and the instructors mentored us one by one. I truly appreciated their patience in guiding each of us individually, despite our different levels of prior experience.
The program was so well-constructed. It helped us build a workflow and system for creating letterforms, as well as understanding the full type design process. It was very intense, like being on a bullet train with no brakes! But that intensity is exactly how I learned so much.
I discovered a small charm I really like about type design: it’s a mix of art and logic. There’s always a reason behind every design decision. When we created our key letters and selected forms from our calligraphy: why this “n” was better than that “n,” why this “c” was chosen and not that one, it wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was also about proportion, ductus, and other formal considerations. That’s the part of type design I really love.
After establishing a strong foundation in type design, we began exploring our personal projects. Each of us developed briefs to design a typeface based on our interests and specific intentions. I learned so much from my own project as well as from others.
I created Tylar, a humanist serif typeface inspired by the history of calligraphy books I discovered during our visit to the Typofonderie Library. I began developing Tylar from my own calligraphy and expanded the family into three styles: Text, Semi-Contrast, and Display, 19 in total! The display version is named Cool Kid, and yes, the title of this blog is a little nod to that! You can find in-depth details about my typeface and final presentation on the TypeParis website.
Throughout the program, we visited many amazing libraries, including the Typofonderie Library, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp, Belgium, and Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal. It was an incredible experience to see rare books printed as far back as the 15th century and to learn about the evolution of type and its history. These visits helped me dig deeper into the ancient know-how behind letter creation and printing techniques.
During the development of our personal projects, several international guest critics joined us each week to provide insightful feedback and fresh perspectives. I learned so much from them to improve my typeface. Each guest came from a different background and had their own working style, which allowed us to absorb many interesting points of view. They offered us not only critique but also inspiration and paths to explore.
My day-to-day experience at TypeParis was intense. I focused on being time-efficient and constantly improving the quality of my work. Whenever I encountered questions or technical issues, I was able to consult closely with my teachers. The individual support from the TypeParis instructors was a huge benefit to us. Each project was unique, and we received tailored support accordingly. Because our projects were so different from one another, we also learned a lot from each other. If I want to do a revival in the future, I know which friend to ask. If I want to explore display type, I know who to talk to. We will not be lost on future projects!
Even though the class was intense, I never felt pressured. Instead, it felt like an opportunity to push my boundaries. One thing that really stuck with me was the importance of respecting myself and my design, and learning that insecurity is not a bad thing, so don’t hide your creativity!!
As someone from a non-design background, I had no problem adjusting to the class speed and content overall, though I did struggle a bit at the beginning. I saw tremendous growth, not just in my type design skills but also in life skills. I learned how to meal prep every day for lunch to save time for my project. Every day at TypeParis felt like being on a bullet train...fast-paced and full of energy! Time flew by super fast!!
Not only that, I was able to learn some French from my classmates, which was a great benefit of changing my workstation every week. It helped me meet new friends and learn from different people. My French classmates even gave me homework each day to learn new words and phrases, which was such a joy for a language lover like me!
I had the best time at TypeParis and I wish I could do it over and over again. Before coming, I had a small fear, I loved type and was passionate about it, but I wondered if that joy would remain once I studied it more deeply and in a more structured way. The only way to know was to try. Luckily, TypeParis made me love it even more!!
TypeParis was truly a new beginning for me, a gear shift from where I was to where I want to be. The connections I made with teachers, fellow classmates, and alumni are something I will forever be grateful for. I am proud to be their student, to be their classmate, and to be part of this incredible community.
And one last thing for anyone hesitating, especially if you’re coming from a different background like me: your degree doesn’t define you, and it definitely doesn’t get to decide what you’re allowed to love or pursue. You can absolutely pivot, start fresh, and dive into something you’re passionate about. Trust me, you’re more capable than you think!
Thank you so much for following along! And don’t forget to also check out my classmates’ amazing typefaces! They are all so inspiring and full of personality! Because we are all Cool Kids!
