The OPEN • SET 2025 Competition & Exhibition is an event in the United States featuring finely crafted bookbindings. Sponsored by the American Academy of Bookbinding, it is designed to encourage both new binders and professionals and is open to binders around the world. We invite you to participate!
with Kel Troughton During this 10-week online workshop, which meets on Wednesday evenings from January 31–April 10 (no class on February 21), you will create your own original typefaces as you gain an understanding of the methodologies and software used to produce high-quality digital type. The primary goal of this workshop is to show […]
with Kevin Barrett Kane, Emma Christine Hall Learn the fundamentals of book design from seasoned pros, including layout, typesetting, cover design, and manufacturing. Over the course of this three-week online workshop (Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 13 –29), learn about book and cover design history and practice. Learning Outcomes Learn the basics of professional typesetting in […]
Join us for an evening of insights and delights from the world of information graphics with data storyteller RJ Andrews. During this hybrid (IN-PERSON and ONLINE) event, we will dive into the heart of rare, extraordinary charts and maps from across the globe to spotlight forgotten design flourishes that deserve revival. We'll explore the […]
My story is not a single story, but a series of connected narratives, woven together into one life. ~ Arnold T. Grisham More than a mere autobiography, Making a Way of No Way details the life and experiences of a child born to a working-class Black family in Chicago’s West Side during the 1940s. The crucible of […]
Michael Larsen, Michael Larsen Author Coaching Learn how to clarify and reach your writing career goals as quickly as you can. Now is the best time ever for you to be a writer. One reason is that you can develop your unique superpowers—your gifts, passions, and abilities that will guarantee your success. This presentation will […]
Active between 1957 and 1972, The Situationist International (S.I.) was a revolutionary alliance of artists, intellectuals, architects and political theorists that is hailed as the “last avant-garde” of the 20th century. One of the organization’s core concepts is that of détournement, which can be understood as the subversion of established cultural commodities as a means […]
The Near North Editors meet on the first Tuesday of every month (except for months with holidays around that time, in which case look out for special updates). This month's meeting will be held via Zoom. This event is free and open to all editors.
with Wenting Zhang Discover new ways to make icons customizable, animate-able, colorful, and recolor-able by utilizing variable font and color font technology. With the latest developments in variable and color fonts, typography and iconography are becoming enriched! Join us for a talk with Wenting Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Typogram, who will share new ways to […]
Please join us for an enriching conversation on the cultural weight of paper as Arion welcomes author Nicholson Baker as the first Kirkpatrick Speaker of 2024. Celebrated novelist and culture critic Nicholson Baker will deliver a spirited talk titled “The Weight of Paper” exploring the cultural and physical gravity of the paper book in a […]
Welcome to From the Bench, SFCB's series of short studio tours with friends near and far. From favorite tools to works in progress, you never know what you'll learn about from these amazing artists. This month we'll chat with artist celeste hernández. celeste is a trans, non-binary Mexican artist who lives and works in Tijuana, Baja […]
with Gennifer Weisenfeld Join us for a conversation with the author of our latest book, an exploration of modernist commercial design in Japan. Toward the end of the 1920s, Japanese designers pursued a radical new vision for their profession. Engaging modernist and avant-garde trends from abroad, refashioning local graphic and calligraphic forms, and using the […]
We welcome authors Joan Gelfand, Jia Ling Wang, Salumeh Eslamieh, Sheila Smith McKoy, and Christina Vo in conversation with Women’s National Book Association president Elise Marie Collins, in a celebration of women writers, artists, and changemakers for International Women’s Day. By centering women’s lives - socially, politically, and historically - in their work, these authors faithfully capture the diverse […]
Typesetting for letterpress printing presents multiple challenges: aligning each letter, ensuring ideal word and letter spacing, kerning if necessary, then locking it all up… even defying gravity in a chase. Daredevil typesetting becomes even more challenging as type is formed in circles, curves, waves, and complex illustrations such as landscapes or buildings. Jessica will give […]
Are you an Editor of Color? Would you like to meet up with your fellow Editors of Color in a welcoming, intimate, online setting? Jesi Vega, recent president of the Northwest Editors Guild and a Puerto Rican Jew from the Bronx, hosts a monthly Zoom coffee hour for editors who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of […]
When the more than 18 million visitors poured into the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco in 1915, they encountered a vision of the world born out of San Francisco’s particular local political and social climate. By seeking to please various constituent groups ranging from the government of Japan to local labor unions and […]
In this Member Nerd Out, we’ll guide you through artists’ books and other unexpected and inspiring objects from the collection. This presentation will be followed by reflective breakout rooms for interactions with fellow letterform geeks across the globe. Enjoy the opportunity to converse with others in Letterform Archive‘s growing community of graphic design and typography enthusiasts.
On December 22, 2013, Hollywood Park Racetrack closed its doors permanently. Comprising 500 photographs culled from more than 25,000 taken on location, Clubhouse Turn (2013-2016) is the final documentation of the historic landmark before its demolition. It is a portrait of not only the architecture and grounds of Hollywood Park, but of those individuals whose livelihood and […]
with author Katherine Turk in conversation with Professor Deirdre English Join author Katherine Turk in conversation with writer, editor, and professor Deirdre English on Turk’s new book, The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America. In 1966, a diverse group of activists founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) to build “a […]
Join us for our "Editors Helping Editors" meeting. Bring your problems, big and small, as well as your thinking caps. We'll work together to solve event-goers quandaries and questions, which could range from common questions like how to find clients in a particular field (say academic editing) to more situation-specific issues like why a particular […]
with Romello Goodman Learn how to use HTML, CSS, and variable fonts to create animated type in this hands-on workshop. Every day designers use code to create experiences that are novel, dynamic, and playful. With code, we can unlock new and imaginative possibilities for typography through animation and interaction. Over the course of a weekend, […]
Join this workshop hosted by Parchelle Tashi to explore the untapped potential of your book. We’ll delve into how you can create learning assets, such as digital workbooks, to amplify your work and boost your income. Together, we’ll identify unique themes from your books that can be transformed into these lucrative learning assets. Experience the […]
Curator Maymanah Farhat will be in SFCB’s gallery to discuss the exhibition A Radical Alteration, discuss some of her favorite pieces on display, and answer questions about her research at the Women’s Studio Workshop archive. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear about Maymanah’s process and how collaboration with a storied arts organization informed certain curatorial […]
An essential piece in California Studies, Redemptive Dreams: Engaging Kevin Starr’s California offers the first critical engagement with the vision of California’s most ambitious interpreter. While Starr’s multifaceted and polymathic vision of California offered a unique gaze—synthesizing central features, big themes, and incredible problems with the propitious golden dream—his eight-volume California Dream series, along with several other books and […]
with Izzy Pludwinski Join us for a peek into a personal journey through the ancient scribal traditions and the world of modern calligraphy. The Hebrew aleph-bet (technically an abjad) is one of the oldest alphabets in existence. Paleographically perhaps 3000 years old; mystically the Hebrew letters existed before the creation of the world. As the […]
Berkeley Repertory Theatre creates ambitious theatre that entertains and challenges its audiences, provokes civic engagement, and inspires people to experience the world in new and surprising ways. Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer joins Mechanics’ Institute to explore how Berkeley Rep became an international leader in innovative theatre. Pfaelzer will discuss the current season including Cult of Love by Leslye […]
Are you a developmental editor, or interested in developmental editing? Join us for an informal chat about this fun and fascinating variety of editing. This event is free to attend and open to all editors.
TBD who leads the meeting. We're meeting virtually on Zoom. BABA meets the third Wednesday evening of each month via Zoom. Members share books, work in progress and information about book events and resources.
This coffee chat centers people who work as editors and are living with disability and/or chronic illness. It is open to everyone. The idea was partly inspired by an active peer group currently hosted by the Society of Authors (https://www.societyofauthors.org/Groups/Authors-Disabilities-Illnesses-Network). Group agreements that will be open for discussion at the start of the chat: * […]
A Lunch and Learn Discussion with Kate Farrell for Women’s History Month 2024 Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay! Ever wonder why the movie Barbie was a “particular ripple in the universe” as Greta Gerwig, its screenwriter/director, described it? How did the movie appeal more than the average chick flick and become a […]
In this session, Nigel French demonstrates techniques for blending the boundary between text and image. Featuring InDesign, with a strong supporting cast of Photoshop and Illustrator, Nigel will show a series of real-world projects and share his favorite techniques for placing typography at the center of your visual communication. About the Presenter Nigel French is […]
Designers Tim Green and Molly von Borstel of Faceout Studio are the source of a number of award-winning book covers, including their entries at the PPN 2023 Book Show. In this virtual event, they discuss their process for creating these designs. They will cover the roles of inspiration, trends, and other resources in planning and […]
By popular demand, WNBA-SF will hold a Pre Pitch-O-Rama Coaching AMA . Registration is free for anyone already signed up for 2024 Pitch-O-Rama. If you haven’t, prices are $10 for WNBA-SF members and $25 for non-members. We are VERY excited to hold our fourth virtual Pitch-O-Rama which is looking to be a fabulous event with new agents and editors […]
Are you a technical editor, or interested in learning about technical editing? Join a friendly discussion of editing in technical fields. This event is free to attend and open to all editors.
Join author, professor, and political theorist Juliet Hooker in conversation on her new book, Black Grief/White Grievance: The Politics of Loss. In democracies, citizens must accept loss; we can’t always be on the winning side. But in the United States, the fundamental civic capacity of being able to lose is not distributed equally. In Black Grief/White Grievance: […]
Join us on Saturday, March 30th at 11 am PST for: Who Restores Books? How to Choose Wisely with Sophia Bogle. Discover why not all book conservators are created equal and how to find the perfect match for your needs. Bogle will serve as a guide through the intricacies of selecting the right conservator, explain technical jargon, […]
The Near North Editors meet on the first Tuesday of every month (except for months with holidays around that time, in which case look out for special updates). This month's meeting will be held via Zoom. This event is free and open to all editors.
Leah Spencer reveals her process of replicating period-appropriate typography for productions like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” During the creation of movies and TV shows, every book cover, receipt, storefront sign, newspaper, or hotel room number that you see was custom-made by a graphic designer. The aim of this work is to create design that unceremoniously […]
Meet the people making it happen at key literary arts institutions in San Francisco! Have you ever gone to an author conversation at City Arts & Lectures or an event at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco and wondered what it takes to put together such expansive cultural programming? Perhaps you’ve […]
The Independent Publishers Caucus will be hosting a pavilion for their members to display their latest titles at PLA in Columbus, OH, April 3-5, 2024. PubWest members are invited to take part in this great opportunity to showcase your titles to over 5,000 librarians. The Public Library Association (PLA) invites you to join thousands of public library workers, […]
Welcome to From the Bench, SFCB's series of short studio tours with friends near and far. From favorite tools to works in progress, you never know what to expect from these amazing artists. This month we'll chat with Maymanah Farhat, a writer, curator, and university lecturer living and working on occupied Yokuts land in California […]
Join Mechanics' Institute for a special celebration of National Poetry Month with a trio of extraordinary poets: Lee Herrick, California Poet Laureate, Tongo Eisen-Martin, San Francisco Poet Laureate, and Ayodele Nzinga, Oakland’s Inaugural Poet Laureate.
Making Your Book Marketing Plan Alexa Bigwarfe, CEO & Founder, Write|Publish|Sell & Women in Publishing Summit Learn the key elements of your book marketing plan—for short and long-term goals. We’ll also cover how to develop a marketing and launch strategy that makes sense for your book and your budget. Key takeaways include: The key elements of your marketing plan—for short & […]
Join us for our online anthology book launch, Invasive Species. Meet the authors, and listen to them read snippets from their stories! Register here. Our in person book launch will be held at Left Coast Crime, and will include book signings by the attending authors.