The Society of Typographic Aficionados

What is a Typographic Aficionado?

We are type designers, punch cutters, wood cutters, type founders, compositors, printers, and bookbinders from conviction and with passion. Not because we are insufficiently talented for other, higher things, but because to us the highest things stand in the closest kinship to our own crafts.
— Rudolf Koch

We are also graphic designers, typographers, new media artists, calligraphers, sign painters, printers, software developers, illustrators, writers, and photographers. We are professionals and amateurs. We are students and teachers. We are historians and visionaries. We are all of these things, and more.

The members of The Society of Typographic Aficionados have any number of things in common, but one in particular — a passion for type and typography.

About The Society

Our Mission
The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, study, and support of type, its history and development, its use in the world of print and digital imagery, its designers, and its admirers.

Our Charter
The Society of Typographic Aficionados exists for the affordable education of its members and participants; to further the development of type, typographical information and typography; and to appreciate on multiple levels the attributes of type, typography, design, the book arts, and calligraphy.

Furthermore, SOTA is committed to sponsoring relevant topics in pursuit of these goals through an annual conference (TypeCon), held in a different host city each year.

Members have the opportunity to help shape the direction of the organization. Volunteerism is essential to the continued growth and usefulness of organization. Members are encouraged to propose venues, programming, and support for future conferences and other events. We welcome ideas for public awareness campaigns, fundraising activities, and broadening cultural diversity. There is much work to be done, and we hope you will volunteer your time and talents.

Our Charitable Status
SOTA is incorporated in the State of New York and has been designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the United States Internal Revenue Service. SOTA is a tax-exempt organization and is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.

Please consider a one-time or monthly donation in support of our mission.

Our Board of Directors

Ex Officio

Friends of SOTA

Past Board Members

  • Heidi Andermack

  • Brian J. Bonislawski

  • Matthew Carter

  • Bob Colby

  • Stephen Coles

  • Jon Coltz

  • Simon Daniels

  • Deborah Gonet

  • Robert Goods

  • Jennifer Gordon

  • Harold Grey

  • James Grieshaber

  • Allan Haley

  • David Hollingsworth

  • Corey Holms

  • Grant Hutchinson

  • Mark Jamra

  • Richard Kegler

  • Jerry Kelly

  • Mike Kohnke

  • Shu-Yun Lai

  • Kent Lew

  • Rod McDonald

  • Erin McLaughlin

  • Piper Murakami

  • David Pankow

  • Laurence Penney

  • Michelle Perham

  • Mary Catherine Pflug

  • Archie Provan

  • Hank Richardson

  • Tamye Riggs

  • Claudio Rocha

  • Nancy Rorabaugh

  • Stuart Sandler

  • Juliet Shen

  • Nick Shinn

  • Brian Sooy

  • Sara Spector Brown

  • Ilene Strizver

  • Erik Vorhes

  • Tiffany Wardle de Sousa

  • Albert Whitley

  • Brian Willson

  • Delve Withrington

  • Hermann Zapf

Past Friends of SOTA

  • Jess McCarty