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Lately I have been putting in a valiant effort to change my handwriting permanently to architectural lettering.
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Typeface shown above I recommend paying to download: Architect NDP (also listed and linked below)
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It is expected as a designer or architect that all blueprints, drawings and designs have architectural lettering. This lettering was established ages ago by architects so that all writing on blueprints were legible therefore costly mistakes would not be made. Practicing this lettering used to be part of the curriculum in most architecture and design education. Since the advent of computers it is no longer mandatory nor taught in school for the most part. However it is still a necessary part of the job and I have been unsatisfied with my lettering on my designs since I started. Bad handwriting tends to make any design look amateur. All handwriting should match the quality of the design.
I have searched the internet far and wide and these are the best guides and typefaces for practice that I have found. Since it took me a while to find some great guides for practicing I figured I’d share them with you. I can’t be the only one desperate to learn architectural lettering:
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Freestyle Architectural Lettering:
NOTE: I would slant or flip the letters though. The shorter parts of the lettering should always be on the right. The slant is always in a counter-clockwise direction.
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Best for practicing your more casual and stylized architectural handwriting.
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Tekton Typeface Architectural Lettering:
For a cleaner more sophisticated look.
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Here is a how-to video on how to start writing like an architect no matter what your profession:
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Are you in the process of changing your handwriting? Have you already mastered Architectural Lettering? If so, how long did it take you? Are you happy you did?
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Rose XO.
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This feels like back to elementary school when the teachers gave me a bad mark for rounding out the wrong parts of the alphabet letters!
Obviously there’s a technical need to communicate accurately but I find it interesting that on architectural drawings the loss of individuality in writing is juxtaposed with the designer’s illustration/vision- which could only really be his/her own. Neat stuff. Looks like it could be time-consuming to try to adapt, though
Maybe this should be mandatory training for renowned professional chicken-scratchers: doctors?
-J.
I learned in my drafting class. Took about 3 months of drawing to master
the u tube video is great but is there an actual sample i could download as I am trying to master the u tube style myself?
Johanne:
It really is like going back to elementary school. It’s brutal. It is somewhat stylish though in its simple complacent nature. I’ve always wanted to write like this but never bothered to learn. I’m finding the process mind-numbing but I’ll get there.
And yes doctors should learn this handwriting. It seems preposterous that doctors don’t have any requirements or standards in this regard but I suppose it must be that the mistake of one doctor kills one person potentially but the mistake of an architect or designer has the potential to kill thousands.
msottovoce:
I’m glad to hear that some schools still teach it. 3 months though. I am not looking forward to the next 2 months more of this.
Jane:
I updated this post with the closest thing I found to the Youtube video style: The Prov Architect NDP typeface. It costs $20 to download but its worth it.
I found it easiest to do my own template where I mastered each letter separately from the video but I chose to be less sloppy and stylized than the video shows as that wouldn’t fly in my industry. Once I had my own template I practiced from that. I hope this helps.
well, it’s naturally integrated with the overall drafting drawing learning. you learn as you go
hey!!!! i’d like to 2 comment on the above video…. its not really important and compulsory to follow the same style of lettering as shown in the video…. if u are an architect, u will develop ur own style of lettering…. don’t just blindly copy the style shown in this…. think about it…. develop ur own style…. be creative…. architects are supposed 2 b creative…. don’t follow wat others say…. follow ur hand…. it knows wat 2 do….
What is the best type of pen to use? My problem is lifting my pen off the paper and having a smooth writing….I feel like the pen sticks to the paper…thoughts?!?!?!?!
when you are starting off try a Pentel Flair, or any of the finer grade pens.if you feel you’re pen is sticking something in a 4.0 is probably going to help that, Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph Pens are the best if you do alot of manual drafting or a rotoring college set. insainly expensive but they are awesome to use
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oh yeaH!!!!
THANKS FOR THIS POST! I am taking a drafting class and trying to practice my lettering
I am starting to work tutoring a middle school boy, whose “handwriting sucks”. I think this just might be interesting enough to get him to take up the practice. Thanks.
I learned by copying my father, who was a draftsman at Ford Motor Co. After he passed away, I was told by somebody else in the industry his work was like art, and he could tell a drawing was his just by looking at it! With CAD I doubt you could find such skills today.
Over the years my printing has become a little messy, and my “W” is not acceptable to me at all. Doing internet research has helped me find a new “W”.
Need advice: My 12 year old son prefers to print and I’m working with him on cursive, but it’s painful. I’m about to give in and work on making his print easier to read. Do you think it’s easier to write in print for note taking in high school and college type settings? That’s my main concern – quick handwriting when computers not allowed, and of course legibility.
Or do you think I should force him to write cursive?
I’m am currently a college student and I can safely say that print works perfectly well all-day-every-day. I haven’t used cursive since fourth grade (except for when the SAT required me to rewrite and sign a paragraph in cursive), and I don’t miss it at all. I’ve learned to write fast, and my handwriting is significantly more readable than if it was in cursive. If he likes to print, let him print.
Just noticed this reply – Thanks so much. It will really encourage my son I’m sure. Good luck in college!
I also stopped writing in cursive in fourth grade. Thank goodness I had a teacher who just wanted things legible. My signature is printed. I had no trouble keeping up and write very quickly. Even in college (before computers) most people thought my handwriting was typewritten. I have been practicing architectural lettering the last several months.
That is very much a relief to my son. Thank you for taking the time to reply!