Letterform Archive — Attraction in San Francisco

Normally I do not leave scathing reviews. We are HUGE fans of Bauhaus. Never ever ever EVER go to this exhibition - we do not recommend. Zero stars for this place. If we could go Lower we would.

They were closed. And locked. And wouldn’t pick up the phone. People left and we got in. They are nasty and rude and told us we are nasty and rude 😂🙈🤷‍♀️

Apparently there was a tiny note on a speaker. We looked as we left and still did not see it so… Zero signage.

We were upset as we’d traveled a long way for this and she was so rude. Her friend, when hearing our complaints, told us to “not take it out on her.” I beg your pardon but we were most certainly not at that level. When they left and we apologized in case we were, she not only did not accept the apology but was snotty as heck. Wow. If you see signs or instructions in these pics please let us know.

Edit and this is terrifying to us… someone from the museum called the next day (today) and told us we were wrong about everything we have said in this review and when you get right down to it, told husband to his face that we are lying and people were complaining about us as clients. We were there 90 seconds?

Maybe the aforementioned people above?

But to call is to harass us and harangue us instead of reaching out to work it out just kind of reinforces it all - to us anyway. She...

Great organization with amazing virtual programs, but visit on a free admission day. Plan to spend 15~20 min.

I'm a huge fan of their online programs, so I was very excited to visit in person when I was in SF. I read reviews so I managed my expectations on the exhibit size.

The improv jazz typography exhibit was on a local typographer and I wish the signage did more storytelling. Maybe a SF local who knew the designer or is a HUGE type nerd would've gotten more out of the exhibit. But even as a graphic designer that knows the basics of typography/type design, I felt the burden to make meaning out of what I was seeing.

Getting into the building is a little confusing since it's an industrial building, there's no signage outside, and no instructions on how to use the intercom. I was lucky someone leaving let me in. No wait to enter the exhibit and I was actually the only guest the time I was there.

I wanted to support and buy a small gift line a pen or stationary, but they mainly sell books. Too heavy to fly with and none of them...

I took a 9-week type design crash course at Letterform Archive and was immensely pleased with the results. They have a wealth of historical type to reference, and we were shown beautiful specimens every class. I highly recommend taking the Fundamentals of Type Design class by type designer Carl Crossgrove of Monotype. Carl was assisted by Stephen Coles, himself an author and notable historian of type, and they would pull lovely examples from the archives to share with the students.

Letterpress Archive also allows the public to make appointments and browse the archive for reference material. If you have a certain era or style in mind for a project, they will help you find appropriate reference material. It's a superb place for design + type aficionados and students, and I highly recommend you plan a...