Petr van Blokland

Petr van Blokland (born 1956 in Gouda) is a type designer, typographer, graphic designer and lecturer at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (KABK), where he teaches in the Master Type and Media program. He co-founded Type Network and releases typefaces under the TYPETR label. His studio, Buro Petr van Blokland + Claudia Mens, was established in 1980.

His research interests focus on the intersection of traditional typography and digital innovation. Van Blokland explores typeface design, design automation, and creative methodologies that bridge historical practices with contemporary digital tools. His work emphasizes expansion contrast typography, flourished letterforms, and variable font technology, creating type systems that function across diverse media contexts while maintaining typographic integrity.

His publication history shows consistent innovation across decades, with recent work focusing on variable font technology (Presti, 2023), display typography (PowerLift, 2018), and historical analysis of type technology (2024 phototypesetting article). His typefaces demonstrate a progression from traditional text faces (Proforma, Productus) to experimental digital forms (Bitcount) and finally to sophisticated variable systems that incorporate historical techniques with digital flexibility.

• ATypI's Charles Peignot Prize (1988)

As a lecturer in the Master Type and Media program, van Blokland guides students through advanced type design projects that integrate historical knowledge with cutting-edge technology. His approach to teaching emphasizes practical application through live design games and collaborative workshops that simulate professional design environments. His studio work with Buro Petr van Blokland + Claudia Mens provides real-world context for his academic instruction, creating a seamless connection between professional practice and educational theory.

Van Blokland leads TYPETR, a type foundry that develops sophisticated type systems with extensive OpenType features. His work on Presti demonstrates particular innovation with floating flourishes that can be attached to letters in multiple positions, sizes, and directions, creating a highly customizable typographic system that maintains historical authenticity while embracing digital possibilities.