Jim Wasco, a second-generation lettering designer, began his lifelong

passion for lettering when his father taught him calligraphy at the age of 12.

He started with a reproduction of the book Operina, by Ludovico Vicentino

degli Arrighi, and an instruction sheet for Chancery Cursive (based on

Arrighi’s Operina typeface).

Jim’s father taught him about lettering, proper spacing, letter proportions and

balance. It was this knowledge, along with his illustration skills, that formed

the fundamentals for a California-based type design business Jim founded in

1974. Early career highlights include assisting Jim Parkinson with his

alphabet design for Rolling Stone Magazine.

Jim Wasco explains, “I realized I had a gift of understanding letterforms.

These things came to me naturally as common sense.”These things came to me naturally as common sense.”

Jim transitioned to designing type on computers at SlideTek, and later spent

13 years in the type department at Adobe. His signature style can be found

on typefaces such as the Tekton Bold and Mythos designs.

Today, Jim is an award-winning senior typeface designer at Monotype

Imaging. His work includes custom typefaces for Microsoft, AT&T and

Gatorade, and his most recent designs include the Neue Aachan, Elegy and

Harmonia Sans typefaces. Jim can also be found directing outside designers

and coordinating collaborative design teams. In addition, he served for three

years on the review board at Silicon Valley College and has taught workshops

on hand lettering and making fonts for software companies at SoTA (Society

of Typographic Aficionados).