Learn to use calligraphy and lettering to create dynamic and clever monograms
Graphic designer, illustrator, typographer, and calligrapher Gabriel Meave teaches you how to design a monogram based on the key letters of a graphic identity using calligraphy, lettering, and typesetting techniques. Letters are so much more than just lines. They are powerful ingredients that can be mixed, twisted, interwoven, and composed into unique identities. Discover the secrets of monograms, the laws of symmetry and asymmetry of written signs, as well as the styles that will enrich your typographic choices. This course takes you beyond simple corporate identity to get the most out of the alphabet.
What will you learn in this online course?
28 lessons & 28 downloads
What is a monogram? What role do letters play in a logo? What differentiates the typography of calligraphy?
8 minutes, 55 seconds
Abbreviations, acronyms and key letters of a graphic identity
11 minutes, 1 second
Not all the letters are the same: typographic anatomy
11 minutes, 10 seconds
Axes of composition, symmetry, layout and reading direction
12 minutes, 26 seconds
Axes of composition, symmetry, layout and reading direction 2
14 minutes, 17 seconds
Sketch and draw a geometric monogram
10 minutes, 33 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by learning about the work of Gabriel Meave, including his publications and sketchbooks. Also discover some of his influences and get a brief introduction to monograms, the role letters play in a logo, and the differences between typography and calligraphy.
Next, Gabriel talks about the key letters in a graphic identity, their anatomy, and the most important aspects of composition, symmetry, layout, and reading direction. Once you're familiar with the more technical aspects of the letters, learn to put them into practice by sketching your first geometric monogram.
Delve into the field of calligraphy and typography seeing different styles of monograms based on Gothic, Italic, English calligraphy, and paint brush lettering, Along with the use of typographic languages such as serif, san serif, and incised.
Gabriel Meave guides you through how to define the volumetrics, outlines, and filleting of the letters, before looking at accessories and details such as envelopes and coats of arms to achieve a perfect finish.
Now you have your monogram designed, learn to digitize and vectorize it until you're happy with the final artwork.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Design a monogram based on the key letters of a graphic identity.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Designers, illustrators, calligraphers, typographers, and lovers of creativity in general who want to delve into the world of monograms, logos, and emblems.
Requirements and materials
For materials, you need paper and a pencil, as well as a computer installed with Illustrator and Photoshop and a scanner.
Reviews
- 9 months ago
Excelente profesor, comparte todo tipo de conocimiento
- 1 year ago
Muy buen contenido, buen profe :)
- 1 year ago
Gostei muito mesmo deste curso e consegui desenvolver uma base este tema. Recomendo sim o curso!
- 1 year ago
Es impresionante todo lo que aprendí en este curso. DEMASIADO completo. Lo recomiendo muchísimo!
- 1 year ago
Increíble curso. No solo aprendes a realizar un monograma, sino a entender la morfología de las letras, las formas y contraformas y como la composición puede afectar la lectura y la percepción. ¡Recomendado sin importar tu nivel de conocimiento!
He has illustrated narrative, fantasy and fiction books for authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Villoro, and Cornelia Funke, and designed special typefaces for companies such as Telcel, the financial newspaper El Economista, Jumex, and El Palacio de Hierro stores, as well as the institutional font of the federal government of Mexico.
His original Arcana and Organic typefaces are distributed internationally by Adobe Systems, and he has carried out design and branding projects for Mexicana de Aviación, Corona, P&G, McMillan, Pearson Education, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Ogilvy & Mather, and various agencies, publishers, and design firms.
Throughout his career, he's received five awards from the Type Directors Club of New York and three from the Association Typographique Internationale and several of his photographs have been selected for the Tipos Latinos biennials in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012.
His calligraphic and illustrative work has been exhibited in various forums and spaces, including the solo show "La mano que mece la pluma" at the Diego Rivera Mural Museum in the historic center of Mexico City. In addition, his work has been published in the main international design magazines, such as Communication Arts, Novum, Ètapes, Typo, and How. Phaidon Books, in their book Area_2, published in 2009, listed Meave as one of the hundred most important emerging designers in the world today.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation of my work, publications and sketchbooks
- Influences, references and a bit of history
- What is a monogram? What role do letters play in a logo? What differentiates the typography of calligraphy?
- U2
Key words, anatomy and geometry
- Abbreviations, acronyms and key letters of a graphic identity
- Not all the letters are the same: typographic anatomy
- Axes of composition, symmetry, layout and reading direction
- Axes of composition, symmetry, layout and reading direction 2
- Sketch and draw a geometric monogram
- U3
Style and Calligraphy
- Calligraphy styles: principles, history and bases
- Logos and monograms based on italic calligraphy
- Logos and monograms based on italic calligraphy 2
- Logos and monograms based on Gothic calligraphy
- Logos and monograms based on Gothic calligraphy 2
- Logos and monograms based on the English calligraphy
- Logos and monograms based on paint brush lettering
- U4
Style and Typography
- Typographic languages
- Sans serif types applied to monograms and logos
- Serif types applied to monograms and logos
- Monograms and logos based on incised forms
- U5
Combinations and accessories
- Levels of information and composition
- How to mix typography with calligraphy
- Volumetry, profiling, filleting and various finishes
- Graphic accessories: envelopes and blazons
- U6
Original and vectors
- Preparing and refining a final original
- Preparing and refining a final original 2
- Notions of digitization, vectorization of monograms and applications
- Notions of digitization, vectorization of monograms and applications 2
- Notions of digitization, vectorization of monograms and applications 3
- FP
Final project
- Stylish monogram design
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FAQs
You’ll learn to craft original monograms by blending calligraphy, typography, and illustration—from hand sketching to digital finishing. You’ll study historical styles, symmetry, letter anatomy, and refinement techniques to create unique logos and graphic compositions.
This course is geared toward those with intermediate skills in graphic design or typography. It’s perfect if you have some basic sketching or illustration experience and want to dive deeper into advanced monogram and custom logo creation.
You’ll need drawing supplies like pencils, tracing paper, a ruler, markers, plus access to graphic editing software such as Adobe Illustrator to digitize your designs. Some prior drawing skills and basic digital tool knowledge are recommended.
Calligraphy is artistic handwriting, typography is designing alphabets, and lettering is drawing custom letters. This course explores how to combine these disciplines to create unique, expressive monograms and logos.
You’ll be able to design covers, logos, emblems, and distinctive graphic elements for books, brands, or products—using visual synthesis, typographic composition, and ornamentation to strengthen visual identity.
Yes, the course covers historical styles including Gothic calligraphy, heraldry, and Mayan glyphs, showing how to adapt their elements and decorations for modern monogram design.
Yes, the course teaches techniques to scan, clean up, and vectorize your monograms, ensuring quality and precision when moving from hand-drawn to digital using tools like Adobe Illustrator.