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6.
Developing type from social environments:
Fer Cozzi on the educational mission of Rubén Fontana
Type design first appeared as a university-taught profession in Argentina, circa 1997, and Rubén Fontana developed one of its first syllabuses.
Almost a decade later, Fer Cozzi, a graffiti teen who drew on the streets as her canvas, enrolled in graphic design at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). In 2012, she went to study under Fontana in a specialized typography course.
Today, it has transformed into a Masters in Type Design at UBA and its syllabus is widely referred to as the educational standard across Latin America. Cozzi is an independent type designer, author of award-winning fonts and Professor in the Masters of Typeface Design course at her Alma Mater. In 2019, she was named among the ten Ascenders—outstanding type designers under 35, according to Type Directors Club. In this piece, she recalls Fontana’s classes and the most important things he taught.
(born 1942)
A prominent figure of design education in Argentina. From 1985 to 2017, he taught typography at UBA and established a teaching program rooted in the diverse national cultures of Latin America. In 2022, The Type Directors Club announced Fontana as recipient of the TDC Medal. One of his typefaces, Fontana ND, also received the TDC’s Certificate of Excellence.
Luther Poster for Instituo Di Tella designed by Juan Carlos Distéfano, Rubén Fontana and Juan Andralis, 1966.
Free classes for all who aspire
UBA is a state-funded public university that provides education free of charge to students from across Latin America. The typography classes taught by Rubén were really popular, often attended by more than two hundred people at once. That was part of the inspiration for his own educational method, that emphasizes the basics of typography in the most fun and entertaining way, but at the same easily adapts to the needs of different students. Rubén’s method laid the foundation for modern typography classes in Argentina and many are still taught in a similar way. As a teacher, I am personally adherent to Rubén’s curriculum and methods.