Classes on poetry, printing, & typography in Seattle
Twice a year we offer an in-depth, in person class focused on poetry, printing, and typography at our printshop in south Seattle. The winter class is a six-week course that meets weekly and the summer class is an intensive weekend. We call our classes “Words First” because everything we do at Expedition Press is always in the service of damn fine words. All our work begins and ends with text.
These classes are for you if you love poetry and want to know how to go about printing it; if you love letterpress and want a chance to go deeper into typesetting and press mechanics; if you love design and want to hone your typography skills; if you love creative process and want to immerse yourself in a new medium. Hands-on and process-based, you may or may not come out with a finished piece. You will get your hands dirty and have what you need to explore further should you wish. No experience necessary, ages 16 and up welcome.
Words First Condensed (one weekend in summer)
Limited to six participants, 2024’s summer cohort will meet Aug 9-11 at our printshop in south Seattle. Course fee is $390, which includes 15 hrs of direct instruction, all materials, and lots of follow up resources. Email myrna@expedition.press to sign up.
Class outline
- Friday 6-8pm: Orientation to shop & tools, text selection, permissions.
- Saturday 9am-9pm (with breaks!)
- 9am-12pm: Design constraints, thumbnail sketches, anatomy of type, type selection, typesetting.
- 12-1pm: break for lunch
- 1-5pm Proofing & printing. Continue design work from morning with ink out for proofing and building mockups. Continue typesetting. Lockup and press setup (impression, registration, inking). Start printing if ready.
- 5-6pm break for dinner
- 6-9pm: Printing! And/or continue design/typesetting/proofing.
- Sunday 10-1pm Finishing. Distribute type, clean up, print swap, packaging, appreciate.
It’s an ambitious syllabus but with discipline we can fit a lot in! Questions? Ready to sign up? Email myrna@expedition.press. A 50% deposit of $195 is required to reserve your spot, with payment in full due by July 15th, 2024. Flexible payment plan available, please inquire.
Words First Extended (six weeks in winter)
Limited to six participants, 2025’s winter cohort will meet weekly for six weeks, starting in mid-January our printshop in south Seattle. Each session is 3 hours, typically from 6-9pm. Course fee is $550, which includes 18 hrs of direct instruction, all materials, and lots of follow up resources. Email myrna@expedition.press to sign up.
Class outline
- Session 1: Starting. Creative process (how to start), editorial ethics (selecting a text and getting permission), orientation to shop & tools, notebook binding, read poetry.
- Assignment: Morning Pages. Establishing the habit (from The Artist’s Way)
- Assignment: find some raw material! Bring a text to next class
- Session 2: Design. Constraints, thumbnail sketches, anatomy of type, type selection, editorial selection, ideation, iteration, typesetting, layout, paper considerations, format decisions, paper cutting.
- Assignment: settle on a text and complete at least 25 thumbnail sketches
- Session 3: Typesetting & proofing. Continue design work from week prior with ink out for proofing and building mockups.
- Session 4: Printing. Platen and cylinder press mechanics and operation, lockup, makeready process: pressure, registration, inking. Continue typesetting. Proofing.
- Session 5: Printing. If you’re ready! And/or, continue typesetting and proofing.
- Assignment: bring a poem and snack to share for last class
- Session 6: Finishing. Culling, counting, archiving, sharing. Distribute type, clean up, print swap, package, read poetry, appreciate.
A 50% deposit of $275 is required to reserve your spot, with payment in full due by Dec 31st, 2024. Flexible payment plan available, please inquire.
