The 2023 Spring Program

TrÉ Seals

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

ABOUT THE Designer

Tré Seals is a multidisciplinary designer based in the Washington, DC area. Inspired by the lack of diversity in the graphic design industry, Tré started the font foundry Vocal Type which crafts typefaces that highlight a piece of history from a different underrepresented race, ethnicity, or gender. These historically informed and extensively researched fonts are developed in a former horse stable built by his great-great-great grandfather that was converted into his design studio. Surrounded by personal and national history, Tré is raising a collective voice through design that is rooted in the past and vocal about progress for the future.

ABOUT THE designer TALK

Becoming Vocal

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Seals’ VASD Program Designer Talk titled Becoming Vocal tells the inspirational story of how Seals went from his first business, selling graffitied index cards of fellow student’s names for $3.00 in 5th grade, to designing custom fonts for Spike Lee, to being named a “Black Design Visionary” by Instagram, and one of the 2023 Forbes “30 Under 30.”

Recommendation List

VASD Program guests provide a recommendation list that gives insight into their work, practice, and research. Tré Seals recommends:

  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

  • Dream In Color by Tré Seals

  • Strikethrough by Silas Munro

  • SPIKE by Spike Lee

  • JIMI by Janie Hendrix and John McDermott

  • “UMI Says” by Mos Def

  • “Stranger Than Fiction” by Moses Boyd

  • A Seat at the Table by Solange

  • “BomBom” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

  • Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul by Jon Batiste

  • A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 by Common

  • “Alabama” by John Coltrane

  • Brown Noise

  • Works of Paul Peter Piech

  • Works of Sister Corita Kent

  • Works of Berthold Wolpe

  • Works of Adé Hogue

  • Works of Eso Tolson

  • Works of Simone Wilder

  • Works of Hank Willis Thomas

  • Works of Jon Contino

  • Fashion by Kerby Jean Raymond

  • Works of Virgil Abloh

PRIVATE EVENTS FOR THE RMCAD COMMUNITY

How Type Works – Workshop with Tré Seals

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
RMCAD students had the chance to join an exclusive workshop with visiting designer Tré Seals! This opportunity was available to any interested student looking to engage with the visiting designer in a hands-on exploration into the boundless possibilities of type in any creative practice. How to draw type, how to look at type, and how type works. This hands-on workshop allowed students to explore their culture and artistic voice through type.

Tré introducing his workshop to students.

Students participating in Tré’s workshop create their own type.

Tré works with students on their custom type.

Student-Led Lunch with Tré Seals

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
RMCAD students led this intimate conversation with accomplished and innovative contemporary designer Tré Seals. Guided by student voices, Tré shared his inspirational journey and gave valuable and practical professional advice for all students. Bonus: they finally got down to the bottom of the issue with Comic Sans.

Students led the casual Q + A session with Tré.