36 Days of Type 2021: This Challenge Pushes the Boundaries of Letter and Number Design

From April 5 to May 10, this challenge invites you to design a letter or number every day for 36 consecutive days

36 Days of Type is the challenge par excellence that explores the graphic possibilities of the letters and numbers in the Latin alphabet.

For the eighth edition, represented by the color orange, letter lovers, designers, illustrators, and graphic artists from all over the world will create and share one letter or number a day for 36 days, from April 5 to May 10.

It all started in 2014, when Nina Sans and Rafa Goicoechea–two graphic designers from Barcelona–set themselves a challenge: to create a design for every letter and number and publish their creations on social media. It was a task that would push them to explore their creativity.

Eight years later, people from all over the world take part in the same challenge, with the latest editions generating more than five thousand letters a day. Participants have included creatives such as Gregory Page, Khyati Trehan, and lettering artist and Domestika teacher Nubia Navarro (@nubikini). Every year, the challenge presents an incredible opportunity to discover different processes and be inspired.

It’s important to clarify that 36 Days of Type is not a competition. In fact, it’s not even necessary to participate every day from start to finish. It is a personal challenge. You challenge yourself and decide your approach. In an interview with Domestika, the creators themselves explained "anyone with an interest in visual arts, typography or lettering can participate. It's a very open and free project and we think that's one of the key reasons for its success."

There aren’t any rules dictating what the designs should look like, which results in surprising and unique interpretations. The only rigid element is the official calendar that tells participants which letter or number to publish on which date. This year’s calendar will be posted on the official website and social media platforms soon.

Some entries have also been shared in our community, such as this alphabet by Blei Studio (@bleistudio), who explain that "36 Days of Type is a joyful journey which encourages us to push boundaries by exploring innovative creative paths and discover new forms of expression and communication through color and form."

As well as accepting images, the project also invites those looking to inject more life into their creations to submit videos. While typography is one of the main pillars of the challenge, entries incorporating illustration, photography, and, increasingly, 3D animation are also welcome.

If you want to participate, just upload your creations to Instagram including the hashtag #36daysoftype + #36daysoftype_[LETTER/NUMBER], and follow the calendar.

English version by @eloiseedgington.

You may also like:

–Design of Letters and Alphabets with Digital Techniques, a course by Domingo Betancur
–Curious Minds Podcast: Why Do People Hate Comic Sans?
–Lettering, Calligraphy, and Typography: Do You Know the Differences?