Typography, as a taught discipline in Malaysia, has long been included as part of design curriculums in design courses since the 1980s. However, type design in typography is a fairly recent inclusion. Over the last decade there has been a palpable, albeit still limited, increase in awareness and interest in type design and type design education in Malaysia. As educators and practitioners in the discipline of typography, we feel it prudent to share our experiences in the challenging task of type design in design education.

In our presentation, we introduce two distinct and potentially novel approaches in teaching type design by two different educators. While the approaches are either rooted historically or conceived through observation, the methods and processes are potentially new. The teaching of this discipline is supported by two distinct strategies used separately in our teaching and learning; reflective practice, which focuses on thoughtful and critical analysis of learning through the use of e-portfolios, and collaborative practice, which uses collective intelligence of the class to promote discussion and learning through the use of online platforms. The strategies strive to improve learning by increasing introspection or engagement.

Our presentation will showcase the methods used and the outcomes achieved and draw conclusions from a joint perspective. It will also explore potential paths forward to increase interest and awareness in type and typography amongst learners but also collaboration between educators in the discipline of typography.