How to Write Like An Architect (+ Worksheet)

Tips + techniques for learning how to write like an architect with a worksheet to guide you. Sharing my favorite tools and reference materials you can use to learn the graphic conventions architects use to annotate their sketches. An updated guide to help you develop your own personal architectural lettering style.

Even though digital production has made the architectural handwriting tradition less essential, I would argue learning a handwriting style is still a relevant exercise. As visual people, it forms a significant part of our personal graphic style. So, whether you're an architect, a student, a graphic designer, or simply journaling each day, developing a legible, clear, and consistent handwriting style remains important.

Timestamps:
2:09 Style guide + letter-by-letter tutorial
7:23 Numbers
9:41 Why - I think - you should bother learning this to write like this

The Origin Story
I didn't mention this in the video, but it's interesting to know how this style of writing came to be and why all architects share a similar style of handwriting. Before the computer, there were teams of people responsible for drafting a set of architectural drawings so a floor plan may have been started by one and then passed off to be revised and finished by many others. This meant that all the hand lettered notes and dimensions had to be consistent between each person. Everything had to be clear because a misinterpreted note on a drawing could make for a costly construction error. Because upper case letters are visually distinct they were difficult to confuse with other letters like you might with a lowercase “L” and a lowercase “I” for example. There were also compositional reasons for choosing uppercase letterforms too. When laying out and composing a sheet of drawings there’s an art to arranging the graphics on the page and the notations they’re a large part of the visual style. Upper case letters don’t have descenders - no part of the letter goes below the baseline and this makes them a lot easier to lay out as graphic elements on the drawing and you can pack things in a lot closer than you could if there were descenders as you would if you used lowercase letters.

// GEAR I USE //

CAD DRAWING TEMPLATE:

ARCHITECT'S TOOLKIT:

ARCHITECTURE ESSENTIAL TOOLS:

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR:

MUSIC I USE:

ALL MY GEAR (UPDATED LIST):

#writelikeanarchitect #architectureletteringtechniques #handwriting

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Please watch: "Making a Site Model - The Outpost Project"
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[robs]

I was meeting with a builder client of mine today, and as I was preparing to leave, I put on my coat and my brown leather satchel when he asked me to quickly meet two people before I left his office. I was introduced to two gentlemen who will be performing some work for the builder, when the one says, "He looks architectural with the coat and the satchel bag" and the builder replied, "Yeah, and he does the neat architectural writing too". So for anyone looking to be an architect or a designer - you don't need years of schooling, licensing, or experience. Just carry a leather satchel and write like an architect.

[marymary]

My husband is an architect, I always admired his handwriting, I had no idea all architects use this style.

[cliftonmcnalley]

I took drafting in highschool in the 70's. I think we spent the first three weeks learning to letter - and nothing else. Went on to get my design degree taking several architecture classes and had a much easier time with lettering than my classmates. Still print anytime I feel a handwritten note warrants the clarity.

[JuanCristobalZagal]

I had no idea that this style is actually taught to architects ... Wow I've seen it so many times ... As an engineer I really appreciate it, I will try practicing !! Thanks

[tiklishgirl]

My dad has this type of handwriting, I guess just naturally, and I’ve been obsessed with it my entire life, thanks for this video!! I can finally practice it!!

[elgallito]

As a handwriting aficionado, thank you for creating this video. I have always wanted to learn this type of handwriting. Now, I can! Much appreciated.

[subliteral]

Great video, it's a bit uncommon to see lettering discussed outside of devoted calligraphy circles! The old Leroy lettering system used to be used in comic books, but later got replaced by hand lettering styles across the board . There's a staggering array of beautifully formed crisp, distinctive & clearly readable styles in this field, all unique to the individual artist. I've hand lettered comics for about 25 years now, and if you're intimidated to start don't be! You can develop clear, legible and consistent work in a reasonably short time with some practice

[zakseipel]

old video and all but I found this and wanted to share. I am starting school (IT not architecture) and take notes on my iPad pro. I have always struggled with my penmanship and it has been practically illegible my whole life. I took your sheets and opened them up and worked through them for 1 week solid just repeatedly doing the letter forms until I could do them quickly. This took my penmanship from illegible to damn near perfect. Thank you for creating this.

[StonesAndSand]

I had been a machinist for nearly 15 years when I went into teaching. After two years of teaching machine shop, I taught drafting. Until that time, all of my drafting lettering experience was mechanical. It was totally liberating trying architectural lettering for the first time. And now, some 25 years later, it's all I use.

[ioncekilledamanwithmyshoe]

Next up: how to write like a doctor

**just scribble all over the paper**

[DK-bmrg]

This is why I love YouTube. This jus popped up in my recommendation for no apparent reason, but this video was so satisfying to watch.

[margaretWestminster]

I really liked your video. I used to be a draftsman, I’m a woman. In the 70’s before computers took over. I loved doing that printing on schematics etc. also the LeRoy lettering instrument.

[tomshourd]

Brings back lots of memories. I remember having to do pages of lettering for my beginning architecture classes back in the late 70s. I still use the same style. I don't think I ever learned cursive but my lettering has always been understood. Thanks for the memories

[poope]

I have a drafting degree from one of the best drafting programs in the country, and I would have failed every project if I lettered this way. I'm not saying it's wrong here, but training as actual working professionals, we weren't allowed any type of "flair" to our lettering. Everything had to be completely straight and uniform. We would be docked for even the slightest tilt or overlap. The rule that was driven into us was you don't "write" your letters, you draw them.

[Leodis.Leather]

I was going to say there's the how but what about the why then I read the history bit in the description, that's interesting thank you

[AM-lmdw]

OH WOW! This had been my style of writing ever since, as this is how my parent writes and how they taught me to write. Now it makes all sense because they are both Architects!!! (I'm not joking!!)

[rogerminost]

Architects in UK train for three years initially for their degree, and I used the notes taken during lectures to gradually change my calligraphy one letter at a time until it became natural. By the end of the second year I had completed the alphabet in upper and lower script.

[iya]

I've always been told that I have a handwriting of an architect, and watching this video makes me appreciate the style more. It takes time and so much control for a neat look.

[methodlab]

When I was a teen I wanted to be a comic book artist and do I started writing like this... then came Design school and it became a competition for coolest writing 🤣. To this day I RARELY write in cursive. Thanks for sharing!

[julesdoty]

I have not read too far down, so apologies if this has been addressed. As a lefty living in a right-handed world, I envy the ease that righty's have applying these. English goes left to right, so I have to "push" the pen, whereas a righty gets to "pull" the pen most of the time. Same reason that I had to abandon my desire to use fountain pens; I could not apply the correct pressure to the nib to get the ink to flow. I am also a lefty who crooks my hand rather than holding my hand straight and turning the paper. I write in upper case like this a lot and have found a fair measure of success, but many of my horizontal lines have a tiny arc to them if I speed up at all. Oh well. Still love this style of writing, and it was fun to see the link in my inbox today.