This series of 9 workshops introduces participants to typography and print design, guiding them through creative exploration with various techniques and materials. Led by graphic designer Eva Crawford-McKee, the workshops cover a variety of practices, including hand lettering, moveable type, screen printing, and letterpress.
Participants will start by responding to a word or phrase using large-scale coloured tape and paper to create bold, expressive typographic designs. Next, we’ll shift to small-scale ink drawings, refining detailed typographic compositions. Participants will then create 'ransom' style posters using Letraset and collage techniques, inspired by their favourite lines from books, songs, or other media. Referencing designer David Carson, we’ll experiment with mixed media and collage to craft impactful visual compositions.
Next, we’ll explore hand lettering with wedge-tip pens and neon/bright markers, inspired by Ciaran Glöbel. Focusing on signwriting, we’ll design a product sign for marketing, inspired by vintage supermarket signage. We’ll also experiment throughout with mark-making techniques, incorporating bold colours and textures as background.
We’ll then focus on type hierarchy and grid-based creation. Using pre-printed grids, participants will design letters with geometric shapes, introducing the fundamentals of layout design inspired by Swiss Design.
Participants will then explore monoprint, screen printing, and letterpress techniques, experimenting with a variety of ink and paper combinations. Beginning with collaborative development work, they will progress toward creating final print designs, using both black and coloured inks to refine and test their ideas.
The work produced includes the following sizes: A5, A4, A3, and A2.
By the end of the workshops, participants will have gained practical experience in typography and print design, culminating in the creation of distinctive, printed work.
Learning Methods
Workshops will be delivered on campus from 18:30 – 21:00 every Wednesday for 9 weeks, excluding public holidays.
Activity Summary
- Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 8 in the group
- 22.5 hours of teaching in total over 9 evenings, 18:30 – 21:00
Timetable
- Week 1: 21 January - first workshop
- Week 2: 28 January
- Week 3: 4 February
- 11 February - no workshop due to public holiday
- Week 4: 18 February
- Week 5: 25 February
- Week 6: 4 March
- Week 7: 11 March
- Week 8: 18 March
- Week 9: 25 March - last workshop
Independent Study
Participants are encouraged to create and maintain a personal sketchbook which reflects their own creative practice involving ideas and inspiration as well as the documentation of processes and learnings.
Assessment
This workshop is not formally assessed.
Workshop facilitator
Eva Crawford-McKee is a graphic designer with a deep affection for paper and print design. She enjoys taking inspiration from vintage design and blends this with modern execution, creating work that builds on both art and design principles. By creating work that has a story behind it and melding this with a love of both traditional and contemporary print methods, the designer invites the viewer to slow down, appreciate the process and reconnect with the tactile joys of design.
After graduating from Gray's School of Art in 2022, Eva Crawford-McKee returned as a Graduate in Residence from September 2022 to 2023. She continues to collaborate with clients in Aberdeen while celebrating the landscapes of Scotland through her risograph print series.
Edit
Eva's work is currently exhibited and can be purchased from Edit in the Bon Accord Centre in Aberdeen.
Edit is an independent lifestyle store celebrating designers, artists and makers from North East Scotland, delivered by Sally Reaper and Claire Bruce from the Look Again team, Gray’s School of Art and Deemouth Artist Studios in Partnership with Bon Accord.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for beginners.
Required Age
All students are required to be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of the workshop.
For Academic Year 2025/2026
Course fee: £290 per person
The fee is to be paid as part of sign up process and prior to the first session.
After completing the registration form, you will be directed to the payment page. Your place on the course is not confirmed until payment has been received. If you have any difficulties locating the payment link or if you have registered for this course but have not completed the payment form, please contact us for a direct link to pay which will bypass registration.
Additional Costs
Essential core materials are provided.
The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:
Workshop Cancellation & Changes
If minimum participant numbers for this 9-week workshop are not met, the workshop will be cancelled and participants will receive a full refund.
If you’ve signed up and paid for this workshop but need to cancel, please email us at engage@rgu.ac.uk at least 7 days before the first evening session begins.
If the named practitioner is unable to deliver the scheduled workshop, the session may be cancelled or delivered by an alternative facilitator.
Disclaimer
Fees are regularly reviewed and published for each series of workshops. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a workshop/course at the rate confirmed during the application process.
Any questions?
Get in touch with the Engage Team and we'll do our best to help.