NEW YORK, Today: For the first time in its 80-year history, the Type Directors Club will present physical Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, beginning with the TDC72 competition.
Until now, winners all received the same Certificate of Typographic Excellence. With the new Type-High award, the organisation wanted to better recognise work that rises above the rest.
Designed by longtime collaborator Graham Clifford, the bamboo award is milled to the exact depth of traditional foundry type. It balances history with wit, featuring a mirrored Franklin Gothic “t” that would print correctly if inked.
“The name Type-High does double duty,” said Clifford. “It signals excellence and roots the award in the origins of the field: a nod to the mechanical legacy that shaped the digital future.”
“Every year, a diverse range of entries confronts us with bold experiments, meticulous refinements, and everything in between.” – Sahar Afshar, TDC71 Jury President
Joe Newton, TDC Executive Director added, “This new direction brings more personality and permanence. It belongs on your bookshelf, your proud parents’ mantelpiece, or perfectly framed behind you in your next video call.”
The TDC72 competition covers Communication Design, Lettering, and Type Design. Work produced in 2025 is eligible, with deadlines in November, January, and February. Winners will feature in The World’s Best Typography® annual and global exhibitions.
TDC72 branding, by Morcos Key, celebrates typographic diversity through a dynamic 13×13 grid system. Custom animated type, Logic Monoscript by MCKL, and ITC Franklin by Morris Fuller Benton feature across the identity.
“Every year, a diverse range of entries confronts us with bold experiments, meticulous refinements, and everything in between,” said TDC71 Jury President Sahar Afshar. “To emerge on top from such a rigorous process is the highest compliment we can offer.”
CREDITS
Client: Type Directors Club for TDC72 competition
Agency: Morcos Key, New York
Fonts
Custom type animation by Morcos Key
Logic Monoscript by MCKL Type Foundry
ITC Franklin by Morris Fuller Benton, Monotype
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