S U B A
L Typography L Y S
E S R
U Group classes in NYC and onsite training is available for this course. O
C For more information, email [email protected] or visit: https://www.nobledesktop.com/classes/typography
[email protected] • (212) 226-4149 Course Outline
Section 1
The History of Typography A brief timeline of the history of typography and printing. Where did letter forms come from? How have they evolved through time? How does history and technology affect they way letter forms are used and how they look? What is Micro Typography? What is the role of typography within Graphic Design?
Type Classifications What are the most commonly used type categories? How can a designer identify what classification a typeface belongs to?
The Anatomy of Type What is a serif? What is sans serif? What is a stem? stroke? loop? bowl? ball terminal? We will explore the differences between both forms of type and all their idiosyncrasies plus discuss why choosing the right typeface is necessary for good communication.
Design Exercise Contrast and form studies. Each student will select two letter forms from two different categories and combine them in expressive and contemporary compositions.
Design Assignment Typographic specimen poster. Each student will be assigned a typeface and instructed on how to create a specimen poster.
Section 2
Old Style Typefaces Brief lecture on “old style” typefaces such as Garamond and Jenson
Optical Spacing: Kerning, Tracking, Leading & Point Size What is kerning? What is leading? What is point size? We go over these details and use InDesign to explore how amounts of space between letters, between lines, the size of letters and position can affect the content of a body of text.
Type Pairing To combine or not to combine? What is the limit on the number of typefaces used in a single communication? What is a super family and when is a good time to use it?
Design Exercise
Course Syllabus | Typography 1 Five squares and ten inches. Students will experiment with justified blocks of text in varying weights, leading and point sizes to create balanced textural compositions.
Section 3
Transitional Typefaces Brief lecture on “transitional” typefaces such as Caslon and Baskerville.
Indents, Paragraphs, & Justification What are indents? What are paragraph breaks? What is justification? Through in-class exercises we will explore the ways paragraphs can be structured.
How to Rag Copy We will explore what a “good rag” is. How to use hard returns and soft returns and what both mean.
Typographic Grid Systems What is Macro Typography? What are the differences between manuscript, columnar and modular grid systems within publication design?
Design Exercise Each student will be given text and a headline directly from The New York Times and we will work to design the texts in a graphic way using specific typefaces for the headlines and specific typefaces for the body copy.
Design Assignment Students have to redesign an opening spread for an existing feature article from a magazine of their choice. This assignment will utilize what we’ve learned so far: point size, leading, kerning, paragraph rules, indents, and justification. Principles of editorial design will be introduced.
Section 4
Modern and Egyptian (Slab Serif) Typefaces Brief lecture on typefaces such as Bodoni, Didot, and slab serif typefaces such as Clarendon, Rockwell, Courier and Playbill.
Font Selection Criteria How does a designer select the right typeface for the right job? Does form follow function?
Design Exercise Stacked type recipe. In this exercise students bring in a recipe of their choice and we redesign it as a stacked typographically graphic puzzle. Principles of block-set typography will be introduced.
Design Assignment Alphabet collage: Using two of the typefaces we talk about in class students must design a collage of letters and numbers.
Section 5
Sans Serif I Part one of the slide show and lecture on the history of sans serif typefaces covering Akzidenz Grotesk, Gill Sans, Erbar, Kabel, and Futura.
Type Foundries and Licensing What is a type foundry? Are your usage rights for personal or commercial application? Are free fonts really free? How do generalist design firms and agencies license fonts for commercial use?
Design Assignment Event poster. Students are given a choice of several unique events to develop an announcement poster that features typography as the primary focal point. Principles of poster design will be introduced.
Course Syllabus | Typography 2 Section 6
Sans Serif II Part two of the slide show and lecture on the history of sans serif typefaces covering Helvetica, Univers, Frutiger, Franklin Gothic, and Gotham.
Masters of Typography: Past & Present A brief survey of influential typographers and movements from Bauhaus, to the minimalist Swiss School, to the contemporary visual language of Reid Miles and his legendary Blue Note album covers.
Helvetica and Logotypes An in-class discussion on the many applications of Helvetica for identity design.
Design Exercise Blue Note jazz covers: In this assignment we study what made the Blue Note jazz record covers so visually arresting for their time and why they are still relevant today. Students will be assigned a musician and album and have to use design record covers in the Blue Note style.
Course Syllabus | Typography 3