Course

10201151 Typography
Course Information
Description
This class is an investigation of all things type related. Students will develop an eye for type and understand how to use it effectively in their design work. Topics include the principles of good typography, type terminology and history, font selection and pairing, letter, word and line spacing, typographic hierarchy, paragraphs and layout, character and paragraph styles, using a grid, trends in typography and the importance of type as the foundation of visual communication.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies (Course Outcomes)
  1. Relate the historical context of typography to the typography of today
    Assessment Strategies
    Quiz
    Criteria
    Describe typography’s role in graphic design
    Map the evolution of typography
    Explain the history of printing and moveable type
    Predict the future of typography

  2. Identify typographic anatomy and terminology
    Assessment Strategies
    Project
    Criteria
    Identify the anatomy of a letterform visually
    Label all learned typographic anatomy terminology accurately

  3. Classify type by design style
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral Presentation
    Criteria
    Explain how the structural elements of letter forms differ for each category
    Describe how a typeface’s history and design determines what it communicates
    Presentation includes well-researched information about assigned typographic category
    Presentation includes information on assigned typographic category

  4. Apply strategies for successfully pairing fonts
    Assessment Strategies
    Project
    Criteria
    Identify pairs of typefaces that work well together
    Identify collections of typefaces that work well together
    Explore terminology for searching for typography
    Paired fonts meet specifications as identified by the instructor

  5. Create professional-level typography
    Assessment Strategies
    Project
    Criteria
    Produce professional paragraphs using leading, space after, alignment, point size and tracking
    Produce interesting headlines and logo typography using kerning and various manipulation techniques
    Demonstrate strong and effective typographic hierarchy
    Use font families effectively

  6. Use Adobe InDesign
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration, Project
    Criteria
    Incorporate character and paragraph palettes, paragraph rules, tabs and leader dots
    Apply paragraph and character styles effectively
    Implement multi-column text boxes and linked text boxes
    Prepare file to correct size and specifications
    Use spell check
    Create paragraphs and headlines to a professional standard
    Use leading, kerning and tracking effectively

  7. Use Adobe Illustrator
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration, Project
    Criteria
    Incorporate effective character and paragraph palettes
    Incorporate type on path, working with type warping functions, outlining live text, manipulating anchor points and scale of type
    Apply shape-building, pathfinder and pattern tools

  8. Create typographic hierarchy
    Assessment Strategies
    Project
    Criteria
    Identify most important information in given text
    Implement effective use of bullets, leader dots and paragraphs rules and breaks to separate information
    Project guides a viewer through content using size, color, space and typography
    Use margins and columns effectively
    Determine color, point size and style of typography for final medium

  9. Follow a design process
    Assessment Strategies
    Proof of Process (mood board, sketches)
    Criteria
    Explore online resources for finding design inspiration
    Fill a page with design styles that could inspire your outcome
    Create a number of sketches that clearly indicate a variety design compositions
    Define creative goal
    Final art meets professional standard
    Work is completed by set deadline