Classes on poetry, printing, & typography in Seattle
We offer in-depth, in person classes focused on poetry, printing, and typography at our letterpress shop in south Seattle. Our classes are offered on very limited basis a couple times a year, in two different formats: a weekend intensive (Words First Condensed) and a six-week course that meets weekly (Words First Extended). The weekend workshop usually happens in later summer and the extended course in winter. 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 (weekend intensive)
Dates for the next Condensed workshop are TBD. Please email hello@expedition.press to be added to our list of interested students and we'll let you know when we know dates.
Limited to four participants, in person at our printshop in south Seattle. Course fee is $390, which includes 13+ hrs of direct instruction, all materials, and follow up resources. Typically we offer this class once a year in late summer.
Class outline
- Friday 6-8pm: Orientation to shop & tools, text selection, permissions.
- Saturday 9am-8pm (with breaks!)
- 9am-12pm: Design constraints, thumbnail sketches, anatomy of type, type selection, typesetting.
- 12-1pm: break for lunch
- 1-4pm Proofing & printing. Continue design work from morning with ink out for proofing and building mockups. Lockup and press setup (impression, registration, inking). Start printing if ready.
- 4-6pm break for dinner
- 6-8pm: 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 hello@expedition.press. A 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot, with payment in full due one month ahead of the start date. Flexible payment plan available, please inquire.
Words First Extended (once/week for six weeks)
On hiatus in 2026! Next class TBD winter 2027. Please email hello@expedition.press to be added to our list of interested students and we'll keep you posted.
Limited to four participants, the Extended class meets weekly for six weeks in winter (typically mid Jan to late Feb) at our printshop in south Seattle. Course fee is $550, which includes 15+ hrs of direct instruction, all materials, and follow up resources. Class sessions typically last 2.5-3hrs.
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. Cylinder press mechanics and operation, lockup, makeready process: pressure, registration, inking. Continue typesetting. Proofing.
- Session 5: Printing. And/or, continue typesetting and proofing, distributing, etc.
- 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 is required to reserve your spot, with payment in full due one month ahead of the start date. Flexible payment plan available, please inquire: hello@expedition.press.
