Projects / Exercises
[download .pdf]
On Line Journal in Blog Format [on going]
Students will build and maintain an online journal of documentation of the evolution of their process throughout the course. Each project and the series of exercises / studies produced will be documented on
a personal blog, or other type of digital publisher. This personal journal is worth 100 pts. towards your final grade. This on line journal will be reviewed at various points throughout the semester to ensure adequate entries and caliber of content. This will also be an appropriate place for your annotated bibliography to
be published.
Melinda Akerbrant
Lucy Bechtol
Harry Benson
Caitlin Glazebrook
Ashley Hirschbek
Aaron Hong
Lisa Kam
Tatiana Korman
Tatianna Mier
Catalina Noyola Lozano
Patrick DeYoung
Blair Reed
Christa Wirkus
[link to Typography Course Blog]
Annotated Bibliography [on going]
Each Student will turn in an annotated bibliography of ten or more readings (books or design journals only) to represent their cumulative project research for the semester. Each annotation must begin with the title, author, and publisher of the chosen text, using the citation style featured in the Recommended Reading list, followed by a 150-word description of this text, including its merits or detriments as a personal research tool and the ways it informed your thinking, your design process, and/ or your work.
Exercise 01 /
Billboard as Personal Advertisement
Design a billboard advertisement that will inform, persuade, promote, educate an audience. Tell an audience who you are with typographic form. Photograph a billboard in the city and alter it with your own typographic message. Photograph billboards in the city (3 - 5 minimum) and then select the best composition for optimal readability. Convert billboard photographs to black and white. Adjust for laser print output.
[Click here to download Project Briefs for Annotated Bibliography, On line Journal, Exercise 01]
Project 01 /
Survey of the History of Typography
Working in groups of two, students will be responsible for researching an assigned period of time in the history of typography. Groups will be responsible for preparing a short presentation that is inclusive of their research. Presentations will be designed to illustrate the significance of the specified period in typographic history. Presentations will demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which typography, as a discipline, has been influenced by the economic, social and / or political conditions of a place and time.
The Mechanics of Page Layout + Grid-Based Design will also be covered. Students will gain knowledge of the following design fundamentals.
type identification / classification
letterform anatomy
typographic syntax
typographic resonance
typographic heirarchy
typographic space
[Click here to download Project Brief for Project 01]
[Click here to download Grading Criteria for Project 01]
[Click here to download The Letter Fountain Reading]
[Click here to see example for Project 01]
[fibonacci reference 01]
[fibonacci reference 02]
Exercise 02 / Type as Shape + Typographic Joinery
Students will learn about the basic anatomy of letterforms while looking at type as shape.
Students will the expressive qualities of different type families, discover visual solutions in which two characters can be combined to form a new symbol or monogram. In addition, students will develop a sensitivity for shape, proportion, weight, balance and beauty in letterforms.
[Click here to download Project Brief for Exercise 02]
[Click here to download reading "Letter Fountain" [on printing types]
Project 02 / Designing With Type
Create four different layouts all using the same underlying grid. You may choose one the following typefaces for your studies:
Helvetica / Baskerville / Bembo / Bodoni
Caslon / Century Schoolbook / Clarendon / Didot
Franklin Cothic / Univers / Futura / Garamond
Gill Sans / Meta
04 layouts,10” X 10” each, trimmed to size.
layout 01 - Using one typeface, 9 pt. size only throughout the layouts
set type along the X-Axis only
layout 02 - Using one typeface introduce 4-5 other point sizes
set type along the X-Axis and Y-Axis
layout 03 - Use one typeface and use variations in point size and style within ONE type family
set type along the X-Axis, Y-Axis and Z-Axis
layout 04 - Use any typeface/s and use variations in point size and style within any type family/families
set type along the X-Axis, Y-Axis and Z-Axis
Study Topics
typographic contrasts structure and alignment
groups and space repetition [unity/variety]
value and shades of gray color to emphasize / organize
overlapping and layered text shape as a compositional element
dramatic scale contrast use of page edge as a design element
[Click here to download Project Brief for Project 02]
Project 03 / Type Specimen Poster
Study Topics
type identification / classification
letter form anatomy
typographic syntax
typographic resonance
typographic heirarchy
typographic space
Learning Outcomes
Demonstrates skill using typography as a component of visual communication, through submission of design process documentation and final project work.
Locate typography critically within the disciplines of fine art and linguistics, and demonstrate use of typography to meet formal and conceptual objectives within those disciplines, through visual presentation of project plans and submission of final project work.
Demonstrate fluency with typography as a tool for cultural representation in particular, the processes through which typography represents the identity values of its producers and users, through visual representation of conceptual project plans and submission of final project work.
Project
Design a type specimen poster series for one of the following typefaces:
Bauhaus, Bembo, Bodoni, Caslon, Century Schoolbook, Clarendon, Frutiger, Futura, Gill Sans, Aksidenz Grotesk, DIN, Interstate, ITC Franklin Gothic, Meta, Neue Helvetica, Profile, Quadraat Sans, Univers, Baskerville, Didot, Garamond
Each of these font families has been chosen for the range of weights available within it.
Poster sizes: 11 X 17 and 27 x 41
Advertisment placements: billboard /OR bus shelter, magazine ad, newspaper ad, web site banner, two products from Zazzle.com
[Click here to download Project Brief for Project 03]