An Affiliate Member of Icograda, the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) is a professional body for typography that aims to inform and inspire typographers, graphic designers, writers and educators engaged in the field of visual communication. The ISTD Student Assessment scheme is the most thorough and effective and is used as a benchmark by educators around the world.

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Founded in 1928 by 'advertising typographer' Vincent Steer and a group of six others who cared enough about the arrangement of words on paper to meet and share their experiences, International Society of Typographic Designers was originally called the British Typographers Guild. Eventually becoming the Society of Typographic Designers and, with subsequent international reach, ISTD, the society never loses sight of its original purpose: 'to bring together in friendship and mutual help, all those with a love of the printed word'.

Membership of the Society confers professional status on a designer, with the Society's suffix (MISTD/FISTD) denoting not only design competence, but acceptance of agreed standards of ethical practice.

ISTD Student Assessments

The Society has always given a high priority to supporting graphic design / communication students at many levels. The Annual Student Assessment, initiated in 1977, accepts work from around the world to assessments in six countries. The inaugural Australia Assessment, in November 2009, will add significantly to those already running in United Kingdom, Ireland, Lebanon and South Africa.

Unlike other schemes The ISTD Student Assessment is not a competition - if the work passes assessment the student is seen to have expressed a high level of achievement and is offered ISTD membership. Assessment is rigorous and holistic - it does not just consider the final design proposal but the whole process from initial reflection, research, initial sketches, design development and testing through to the final proposals and presentation. The project briefs are written to support the teaching of sound design practice and foster learning in the academic environment. Every student who submits work receives an individual report from the assessors.

The Scheme is considered to be the most thorough and effective student assessment anywhere... and is used as a benchmark by educators around the world.

ISTD doesn't stipulate at which stage students should take part, but the demands of the projects make them more suitable for final year students. Also, because ISTD awards membership to successful students, submissions must be on an individual basis. This still allows students working on the same brief to compare notes but not to work as teams.

Five projects are published annually at the beginning of October. Offering a range of themes ranging from the specific to the esoteric, they are reckoned to demand an average commitment of six or seven weeks' work. As well as the possibility of gaining ISTD membership and the associated kudos, these projects can form a valuable part of a student's portfolio/book.

2009 ISTD Student Assessments

The 2009 project partner is Frost Design. Northern Hemisphere projects have been assessed, here are some of the entries.

Type factory
A new museum and gallery space offering an exciting resource and experience for designers, school children and discerning tourists, its mission is simple – to inform and enthuse its visitors about all aspects of type and to promote all things typographic.

The brief
Design a visual identity and range of promotional materials.




Above: Commendation. Project by Stewart Walker of Duncan of Jordanstone, University of Dundee, Scotland.


Three Minutes
What has happened? What can happen? What would you like to happen? Your shortest/longest kiss? How long you can hold your breath? The time it takes to get ready in the morning? The time it takes you to run 100 metres. . .

The brief
Interpret Three Minutes – a brief for innovative thinking and one which can be fun. The only production parameter (for print submissions) is the use of a single A1 sheet.




Above: Commendation. Charles de Grussa of Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, England


10 things you should know about
We want you to consider the publication (through print and/or online) of a source of information on a series of subjects – not encyclopedic – that will simultaneously inform and enthuse its users.

The brief
Identify a subject area and design a publication containing 10 things people should know about it. This will be a prototype design for the publication of a series.




Above: Commendation. Edward Caldwell of Duncan of Jordanstone, University of Dundee, Scotland


78rpm – mp3
Each decade of the 20th century had its share of iconic tunes and charismatic writers and performers – we want you to celebrate their art in typographic form.

The brief
Investigate the lyrics of at least two songs selected from different decades of the 20th century. Express the essence and spirit of your chosen songs in a typographic 'tour de force'. Compare or contrast, consider period, context, locations, include biographical or historical sub-texts, or simply celebrate the emotions aroused by great words.




Above: Commendation. Christopher Mahoney of University of Lincoln, England


Environment – Typography – Environment
Does the environment create typography or typography create the environment?

The brief
Create a typographic information piece(s) based on your observations and research of environmental typography. The format could be a publication, book, poster (or a combination of these) or a screen-based piece – website, DVD or animation from your chosen local area and language to demonstrate typographically your observations and interpretations.




Above: Commendation. Karol Domagalski of Buckinghamshire New University, England

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This article was published with permission from International Society of Typographic Designers.
 
For more information please contact:

John McMillan
Education Officer
International Society of Typographic Designers
E:
W: www.istd.org.uk