Design your own drop cap | Jessica Hische's Skillshare class "Introduction to Lettering"

Though years out of school, I still get that autumn ache for new notebooks and a set of my favorite pens (office supplies have always been my jam).  This year, I'm exploring a new learning platform with

Built on the ethos that everyone is a teacher, Skillshare believes that everyone – from leading industry professionals to budding, passionate enthusiasts – has something to teach and to learn from each other.  Skillshare offers classes spanning a range of creative fields, from Advertising, Business, Fashion & Style, Music, Photography, Technology, Design and Writing & Publishing.  Best of all, their online classes are project-based and entirely self-paced, so you can learn anytime, anywhere.

Designer and illustrator Jessica Hische's first Skillshare class, Introduction to Lettering: One Letterform at a Time, officially launches today.  Through video lessons and step-by-step project instruction, students get a sneak peek into Hische's sketchbooks and design process as they complete their very own drop cap letterform inspired by their favorite book.

($25 course fee, with $10 off for first-time Skillshare students)

I enrolled in Hische's class almost immediately after first hearing about it, last month.  Like many, I was only recently introduced to her work through the drop caps series she collaborated on for Penguin Books, but have since enjoyed delving deeper into an impressive portfolio, citing clients such as: Wes Anderson, Dave Eggers, Penguin Books, The New York Times, Tiffany & Co., OXFAM America, McSweeney’s, American Express, Target, Victoria’s Secret, and Chronicle Books.

For more of Jessica's creative enthusiasm, check out this highly entertaining talk she did last year for the Creative Mornings monthly breakfast lecture series.

If you have a thing that you want to do ... just grab the reins and fucking do it. — Jessica Hische