March 9, 2026

Author

Robert Tickner

I’m writing to you from Vietnam today. This is my fourth time in this country, and somehow it feels like the first time I’m actually seeing it: The beach full of older people exercising at 6am; the cafés in full swing at 7am; the bánh bao motorbikes moving through the streets; the slow, almost siesta-like hours between 2 and 5pm; the clapping at the end of every yoga class; the techno karaoke parties at 7pm; the waste collection trucks blasting the Lambada song at top volume;  the somehow ordered chaos of the smoking drivers; and the omnipresent Cooper Black font everywhere.


Watching both Thy Hà’s lectures below while being in Đà Nẵng has been especially meaningful, and I’ve developed a deeper respect for this country and its high-energy, resilient people.


On March 31st, we land back in Naarm/Melbourne to start a new chapter — and to stop living out of our suitcases for the first time in four years. Thank you for travelling with me over the past twelve years; it means more than you think.


Much love,
Maria xx


Below you’ll find a registration link for my free online lecture this month; my up-coming 4-month calligraphy course; and a video tutorial on bridging the gap between blackletter calligraphy and vector lettering.


On the last section you’ll find a couple of type talks by Vietnamese-Australian Thy Hà; a Vietnamese type collective called Lưu Chữ; and a presentation by type designer My-Lan Thuong.


Calligraphy for type and graphic designers free online lecture poster with teal and white text and colorful letterforms

Free Online Calligraphy Lecture


This month, I’m hosting a free online lecture titled:


  • What It Actually Takes to Learn Calligraphy Properly
  • In this session, I’ll be speaking about:
  • The role of discipline and long-term consistency
  • How to train your eye (not just your hand)
  • What structured progression really looks like?
  • The benefits of learning calligraphy for type & graphic designers
  • Calligraphy mechanics


This lecture is for those who are genuinely curious about studying calligraphy more seriously — whether you’re a committed beginner, a designer wanting to learn more about letterforms, or someone who feels ready for more rigorous training.


At the end of the session, I’ll also share details about my upcoming 4-month calligraphy course (limited to 10 in-person students), which begins soon. The course is primarily in-person and fully recorded for students in regional or rural Australia, or for those who occasionally cannot attend a session.


There is no obligation — simply an opportunity to learn, reflect, and see whether a deeper path in calligraphy is right for you.


When: Saturday March 14 at 2pm AEDT


If this resonates, you can register for free below. I hope to see you there!

New calligraphy course in Naarm/Melbourne, May-August 2026, beside smiling Maria Montes  holding a calligraphy pen

4-Month Calligraphy Course Melbourne


After four years of travelling and working remotely, I’ll be returning to Australia this April to establish a base again. It feels like a beautiful full-circle moment… and I’m so happy to share what’s coming next.

On May 2026, I will begin hosting an immersive 
4-month calligraphy course in Naarm/Melbourne.


  • May 2 – August 22, 2026
  • 16 Saturdays from 10.00am – 2.30pm
  • In-person in Melbourne + online access
  • 7 in-person spots left!


This is a long-format, in-depth program designed for dedicated students who truly want to refine their eye, discipline, and craft over time. It’s something I’ve been wanting to offer for years.

To make this course possible, I need a minimum of six students. Three beautiful humans have already enrolled (which I’m so grateful for!), and I would truly love to see this group come together.

If you would like to join me, follow the link below, and if you know someone who may be interested, please share it along!


From Analogue to Digital: Bridging the Gap Between Blackletter Calligraphy and Vector Lettering.


In this video tutorial I focus on the transition between Blackletter calligraphy and digital lettering. It’s perfect for students who know calligraphy but are intimidated by digitising their work.

Stage 1 (Analogue):
Using the Pilot Parallel Pen for the raw DNA and rhythm of the letters.

Stage 2 (Vectors/Glyphs):
Refining curves and finessing the structure using Glyphs App and Adobe Illustrator.

Stage3 (Pixel/Procreate):
Adding warmth, texture, and "a human touch" back into the digital piece with Procreate App.


T.  Y.  P.  E.  F.  A.  C.  E.  S


Vietnamese food menu text with a small black-and-white portrait in the corner.

Thy Hà | Type, Tradition, and Transformation: Unfolding the Narrative of Vietnamese Typography


Thy Hà known as Hà Mai Thy in Vietnamese, is a designer and researcher specialising in web design, type design, and cross-cultural design. Born and raised in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam, she now lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.


In this presentation from ATYPI 2024, Thy explains how the dance of strokes, curves, and diacritical marks in Vietnamese typography unfolds a story deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural tapestry.


Slide on black background listing “Vietnamese type designers & foundries” with names in white text and a small profile photo in the top right.

Additionally, last year Thy Hà also gave a lecture about Vietnamese diacritics and Vietnamese language support at Type Electives. During her lecture, Thy shared a list of Vietnamese type designers and foundries that I’m sharing with you above.

Black-and-white typographic collage with stylized words, numbers, a stop sign, and a small truck icon

Lưu Chữ on Typographic Design in Vietnam


Lưu Chữ is a group of passionate people about typography; we archive and share research and practice materials on typographic design in Vietnam.


Through our content archiving activities, research sharing, and typography practice, we hope to create opportunities for everyone to examine, analyse, and discuss a topic that has not received much attention in the community: how letters have permeated Vietnamese life from ancient times to the present day.

Black sign reading “Tourist & More Industries Support for Underserved Latin Languages” on a wall

My-Lan Thuong | Toward a More Inclusive Support – Underrepresented Latin Languages


I absolutely adore the typographic work of My-Lan Thuong, specially her font Carta Nueva. This presentation from ATYPI 2024 is an invitation for type designers to think about the international use of the fonts we produce and how we could improve the transcription of underrepresented languages.

Black poster reading “A Decade of Vietnamese Typography” with a small grayscale portrait in the top right

A decade in Vietnamese Typography


"It’s hard to believe that my final thesis is 10 years old today. To celebrate this special occasion, I wrote about A Decade of Vietnamese Typography” by Donny Truong.


Smiling Maria Montes with glasses and dark hair in a navy polka-dot top against a turquoise wall

For over ten years, I’m the author and editor of a bi-monthly email newsletter announcing calligraphy courses, community events, type related matter and other topics which often include creative mental health and fostering women in the type and industry. Subscribe here and join my journey!

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