Type Directors Club Launches Global TDC73 Competition
The international typography contest introduces new entry categories and updated language representation tools.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Language Learning
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The Type Directors Club has officially opened its global TDC73 typography competition, featuring a new branding campaign titled Be Bold, Be Seen (All Characters Welcome). The updated contest allows designers to select specific writing systems to better represent global languages.
Why it matters
The organization updated its entry categories to improve clarity for applicants and introduced new selection options to ensure more accurate representation of global writing systems and diverse languages. This initiative aims to streamline the submission process for designers working in international markets.
The competition has been running for 7 decades and features 8 exhibitions where winning work is showcased. Entrants can compete across three primary disciplines: Communication Design, Lettering, and Type Design.
The players
Type Directors Club
This international organization focuses on supporting and showcasing excellence in typography and design through education and competitions.
Grafis Nusantara
Based in Jakarta, this design agency was responsible for creating the Be Bold, Be Seen (All Characters Welcome) branding campaign.
The details
The competition includes specialized jury experts for Arabic, Cyrillic, Indic, CJK, Thai, and African script writing systems. Designers receive recognition through physical Type-High Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards along with Certificates of Merit, with regional discounts available on entry fees.
Timeline
January 22, 2026: Early bird deadline for digital and physical entries.
November 2026: Announcement of TDC73 Jury Presidents.
January 2027: Unveiling of the full competition jury.
February 12, 2027: Regular entry deadline.
March 5, 2027: Final entry deadline.
Culture Shift
This launch represents a shift toward more inclusive design standards, moving away from Eurocentric models to better accommodate global linguistic diversity. By diversifying their writing system options, the Type Directors Club is modernizing how creative work is categorized in a globalized industry.
Designers looking to enter can utilize regional fee discounts to lower their submission costs. Participants must ensure their work is correctly tagged with the appropriate writing system to accurately reflect the languages featured in their designs.
The takeaway
Designers should prioritize the accurate classification of their linguistic work to align with the new entry criteria. Utilizing early bird deadlines before January 22, 2026, will provide the most cost-effective path to participation.
What happens next
The TDC73 Jury Presidents will be announced in November 2026, followed by the full jury reveal in January 2027 and the final announcement of award winners in May 2027.
Further reading
For more information on how international contests shape design communication, visit the Language Learning section.
Live Poll
Should global design competitions simplify their entry categories to be more accessible to all participants?
