YOUNG ONES TDC

What is Young Ones TDC? The Young Ones TDC is the student competition for the Type Directors Club Competition. Established in 1946, the Type Directors Club today curates a calendar of initiatives designed to: build a community through public events and platforms, support the growth of students and early career professionals, and recognize excellence in type design across the world.

For over seven decades, the Type Directors Club Competition has been a testament to the vitality of typography—not as a static discipline, but as a living conversation between form, function, and cultural moment. Every year, a diverse range of entries confronts us with bold experiments, meticulous refinements, and everything in between, each piece speaking in its own distinct voice. Typography, Lettering, and Type Design are not just about shapes on a page, but about intention, context, and the unseen labor behind every curve.

This competition accepts any work created as a student either as a personal project or for your coursework. Explore the Young Ones TDC Categories below.

Young Ones TDC

Communication Design

YOT-A01
Communication Design: Digital / Technology - Website / Microsite
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of dedicated microsite or website design using typography.

YOT-A02
Communication Design: Digital / Technology - Software / App / Wearable Tech
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

An overall layout and demonstration of functionality of a single or series of related software and/or app designs using typography. This includes wearable technology.

YOT-A03
Communication Design: Digital / Technology - Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or a series of related virtual reality or augmented reality designs using typography.

YOT-A04
Communication Design: Digital / Technology - Social Media
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of posts utilizing typography in reels, stories, live-streams, full-length videos, etc., for use on a social media or streaming platform.

YOT-A05
Communication Design: Digital / Technology - Game Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Design for a video game including character concept, style, digital artwork and using typography as a major feature.

YOT-A06
Communication Design: Environmental Design - Installation / Environmental Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

The significant incorporation of typography in a building design, landscape architecture and design, interior design, service design, certain areas of public art, and more.

YOT-A07
Communication Design: Environmental Design - Interactive / Experiential Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

The incorporation of typography in an experiential way within a building design, landscape architecture and design, interior design, service design, certain areas of public art, and more.

YOT-A08
Communication Design: Industrial / Wearable Design - Industrial / Wearable Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design or series of designs using typography printed on fabric or related materials or incorporated into the design of a houseware or accessory

YOT-A09
Communication Design: Motion - Kinetic Typography
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of projects featuring moving/animated typography.

YOT-A10
Communication Design: Motion - Animated Posters
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of interactive, online, or mobile-based typographic posters.

YOT-A11
Communication Design: Motion - Credits or Titles
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A film title or credits for a television show, film, streaming, or online broadcast using typography.

YOT-A12
Communication Design: Motion - Film / Movie / TV
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of video or film that can be screened in movie theaters, on television, or through streaming services that use typography as a primary feature. This includes music videos.

YOT-A13
Communication Design: Other
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

This category contains anything different that is not covered by any of the other categories but uses typography as a major element.

YOT-A14
Communication Design: Print - Poster or Printed Ephemera
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of posters or printed materials used for the promotion of a brand, product, or event.

YOT-A15
Communication Design: Print - Packaging Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Conception and creation of a box, bottle, bag, label, or other containers in which products are displayed, with typography used as a dominant element.

YOT-A16
Communication Design: Print or Digital - Infographics / Maps
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

An infographic or map design using typography.

YOT-A17
Communication Design: Print or Digital - Logotype / Monogram
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design that identifies a company or product while also communicating the brand using typography.

YOT-A18
Communication Design: Print or Digital - Brand Identity System
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A system of design elements that creates a visual identity for an organization or company using typography.

YOT-A19
Communication Design: Publication / Editorial - Book / Magazine Cover
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A book or magazine cover design, with typography used as a dominant element. This may include digital publications.

YOT-A20
Communication Design: Publication / Editorial - Editorial / Catalog / Magazine
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design for a full magazine, newspaper, or digital publication or series of magazines, newspaper, or digital publicatons with typography used as a dominant element This includes PDF brochures or zines.

YOT-A21
Communication Design: Publication / Editorial - Book
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design for a full book-- elements should include book covers and book interiors with typography used as a dominant element. This includes e-books.

Young Ones TDC

Lettering

YOT-B01
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Website / Microsite - Static
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of dedicated microsites or websites using lettering as a primary component.

YOT-B02
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Website / Microsite - Responsive
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of dedicated microsites or websites using lettering as a primary component.

YOT-B03
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Software / App / Wearable Tech
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

An overall layout and demonstration of functionality of a single or series of related software and/or app designs using lettering as a primary component. This includes wearable technology.

YOT-B04
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or a series of related virtual reality or augmented reality designs using lettering as a primary component.

YOT-B05
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Social Media
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of posts utilizing lettering in reels, stories, live-streams, full-length videos, etc., for use on a social media or streaming platform.

YOT-B06
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Game Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Design for a video game including character concept, style, digital artwork and using lettering as a major feature.

YOT-B07
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Artificial Intelligence
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A lettering project or design that employs the use of artificial intelligence as part of the design process.

YOT-B08
Lettering: Digital / Technology - Coding / Scripting
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Use of coding or scripts to create specific motion, effects, or unique visual results that feature lettering.

YOT-B09
Lettering: Environmental Design - Installation / Environmental Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

The significant incorporation of lettering in a building design, landscape architecture and design, interior design, service design, certain areas of public art, and more.

YOT-B10
Lettering: Environmental Design - Interactive / Experiential Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

The incorporation of lettering in an experiential way within a building design, landscape architecture and design, interior design, service design, certain areas of public art, and more.

YOT-B11
Lettering: Environmental Design - Sign Painting / Mural
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Lettering used in the creation of signs or executed directly on a wall using lettering.

YOT-B12
Lettering: Industrial / Wearable Design - Industrial / Wearable Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design or series of designs using lettering printed on fabric or related materials or incorporated into the design of a houseware or accessory

YOT-B13
Lettering: Motion - Kinetic Typography
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Interactive, online, or mobile-based design work that employs active or animated lettering. Kinetic typography is a design technique that involves animating text to make it visually engaging and dynamic.

YOT-B14
Lettering: Motion - Animated Posters
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Interactive, online, or mobile-based lettering design that explores the possibilities of motion and expands the traditional form of a poster.

YOT-B15
Lettering: Motion - Credits or Titles
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A film title or credits for a television show, film, streaming, or online broadcast using lettering.

YOT-B16
Lettering: Motion - Film / Movie / TV
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of video or film that can be screened in movie theaters, on television, or through streaming services that use lettering as a primary feature. This includes music videos.

YOT-B17
Lettering: Other
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

This category contains anything different and is not covered by any if the other categories but uses typography.

YOT-B18
Lettering: Print - Poster or Printed Ephemera
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A single or series of posters or printed materials used for the promotion of a brand, product, or event.

YOT-B19
Lettering: Print - Packaging Design
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Conception and creation of a box, bottle, bag, label, or other containers in which products are displayed, with lettering used as a dominant element.

YOT-B20
Lettering: Print or Digital - Infographics / Maps
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

An infographic or map design using lettering.

YOT-B21
Lettering: Print or Digital - Logotype / Monogram
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design that identifies a company or product while also communicating the brand using lettering.

YOT-B22
Lettering: Print or Digital - 36 Days of Type
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

36 Days of Lettering is a project that invites designers, lettering artists, and illustrators to express their unique interpretation of the letters and numerals of the Latin alphabet. Entries must include a complete custom set of lettering that features 26 letters and 10 numerals. Letterforms do not necessarily need to be in the same style.

YOT-B23
Lettering: Publication / Editorial - Book / Magazine Cover
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A book or magazine cover design, with lettering used as a dominant element. This may include digital publications.

YOT-B24
Lettering: Publication / Editorial - Editorial / Catalog / Magazine
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A design for a full magazine, newspaper, or digital publication or series of magazines, newspaper, or digital publicatons with lettering used as a dominant element This includes PDF brochures or zines.

YOT-B25
Lettering: Tattoo / Body Art - Tattoo
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A tattoo or series of tattoos of permanent body art using lettering

Young Ones TDC

Type Design

YOT-C01
Type Design: Specialized Typefaces + Non-standard Formats - Color Font
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Typefaces that move beyond the default black/white contrast to include color information within the font.

YOT-C02
Type Design: Specialized Typefaces + Non-standard Formats - 3-Dimensional Typeface
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Typefaces presented as three-dimensional shapes.

YOT-C03
Type Design: Specialized Typefaces + Non-standard Formats - Emoji / Symbol Typeface
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Typefaces whose design is mainly focused on symbols or emoji rather than human language.

YOT-C04
Type Design: Specialized Typefaces + Non-standard Formats - Software - Other
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Typefaces presented in nonstandard or experimental technological formats other than typical font files.

YOT-C05
Type Design: Text + Display Typefaces - Single Style Typeface
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Typefaces supporting any one or more language(s) in one single style.

YOT-C06
Type Design: Text + Display Typefaces - Single Axis Type Family
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Type families that contain two or more fonts that vary along a single axis. Typically, they would differ in one attribute such as weight, width, slope, optical size, or any other parameter. Pairs of 1 Roman + 1 Italic in a single weight also qualify for this category.

YOT-C07
Type Design: Text + Display Typefaces - Multiple Axis Type Family
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Type families that contain several styles that vary along two or more axes — such as weight and width, or weight and slope (multiple weights with italics), or any combination of two or more parameters. This may be presented as multiple individual weights and/or as a variable font.

YOT-C08
Type Design: Text + Display Typefaces - Superfamily
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

Large and/or more loosely related type families that contain any number of separate styles — which respond to different design concepts, rather than being entirely controlled by axes that vary individual design parameters. This may be presented as multiple individual weights and/or as a variable font.

YOT-C09
Type Design: Text + Display Typefaces - Variable Font
Final Extension Fee: $75.00

A type family presented as a single* variable font containing a continuous range of styles along one or more interpolation axes. (*Separate font files for romans and italics are permissible.) It is also acceptable to enter Variable fonts that represent type families under those categories.)