GRPH 223 / Typography
This studio course will introduce students to the practice, history, and theory of typography. Through design research, independent project work, and collaborative exercises; students will produce typographic solutions to applied and experimental problems using typography as their primary, if not exclusive, design element.
Course work will include independent student research, sustained project work,
and critiques, emphasizing the perceptual and contextual properties of typographic design. Lectures, readings, and guided discussions will supplement project work, introducing students to the topics of letter form design, printing history, typographic classification, and textual representations.
To successfully complete this course, students will be expected to understand and emulate the principles of typographic practice that began in the early Renaissance and continue with contemporary digital design. Students will also be expected to demonstrate both leadership and collaboration skills while working with their fellow students towards the completion of project work.
{T / August 22}
Introduction / Type as Identity
Course Syllabus
Course Deliverables
Course on Canvas
Course Schedule
Textbooks / Resources
Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 6th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography
[required]
Thinking with Type, by Ellen Lupton
Visual Grammar, Christian Leborg
Grid Systems, Kimberly Elam
Recommended
The Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst,
Foreword, Historical Synopsis
Typography (Graphic Design in Context), by Denise Gonzales Crisp,
William F. Temple
Tools and Supplies
Students should have the following items available for use on a daily basis:
Schaedler Precision Rulers
Scissors
X-Acto Knife and #11 blades
Cutting mat
Drafting Tape or artist’s tape
External jump drive for storage, transfer and backing up files.
Digital Camera*
Xeroxes as needed
Sketchbook
Various drawing tools
Black, 3-ring binders for process book
PUSH PINS
*A small digital camera will also be useful. If you don’t have one, there are a few cameras that belong to the Department of Art + Art History’s Digital Lab.
Adobe’s Creative Cloud Software Update~
Link to UNL Box Folder / GRPH 223 / Typography Fall 2017
*See links in syllabi for additional resources related to Typography. There you will find an extensive list of suggested readings and resources, links to design organizations, and type foundries.
Introductory Readings~
Who becomes a graphic designer?
What a graphic designer needs to know?
What goes on in design school.
Activity:
Reading into Action
Read the essays listed above and outline the contents of each.
Write 5 questions you have from the readings. Be prepared to turn this in.
Eric Gill’s Process Book
{TH / August 24}
Review readings.
Work in groups of 3 to review your outline the readings and discuss the questions that you have. Decide collectively some common themes and ideas discovered from the readings. Turn in your individual outlines to Canvas. [.pdf presentation]
Exercise 01 - [On-going]
Type / Typology / Type Awareness
In class activity: Downtown Lincoln Walking tour / Nebraska State Capitol / Nebraska History Museum / Children's Museum / Sheldon Art Museum to learn how to look for typography. Look around you, study the landscape, observe how type is everywhere and document it in order to gather typographic specimens.
Gather your type specimens in a folder on BOX or in Google Drive. Have them ready to share on Tuesday. [100 minimum samples]
{T / August 29}
Review Exercise 01 Type Library
Discuss what you have gathered, prepare to organize them into categories of type classification. There will be a demonstration on how to go forward and how to create categories for classification.
Locate your favorite 10 type specimens in your type library.
Print them out in black and white, 11" X 17" using the Woods 209 Xerox printer.
Use the provided tracing paper to outline various typographic forms.
Trace at least 10 letterforms on the same piece of tracing paper.
Name the anatomical features of the letterforms you have traced.
Use your text book as a reference to the body parts of the letters. Mark the names of the body parts and the terminology associated with letterform anatomy onto the tracings.
Try to classify each typeface you have traced. Keep these drawings for your process book.
Assign Readings:
Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 6th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography, pages 1–27, The Anatomy of Typography, pages 29–43
Review
Thinking with Type
Ellen Lupton's Classification System
Read the following on Thinking with Type:
Anatomy of Type
Assign Exercise 02
Drawing Type / Type Drawing
{TH / August 31}
Work on Exercise 02 in class.
Assigned Activity~!
Over the weekend, watch the film below and then draw a map or diagram of its contents. Outline the highlights of the film and what people, concepts and thoughts you were inspired by. Watch it friends who are not graphic designers and record their thoughts and reactions.
Present your map, chart, diagram to the class on Tuesday to discuss thoughts, responses and questions you have from the film.
“Helvetica”, the Documentary
{T / September 05}
Present process for Exercise 02:
Discuss what you have accomplished and how to go forward.
Discuss readings / Integrate readings into process review.
Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 5th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography, pages 1–27, The Anatomy of Typography, pages 29–43
Review creative direction and what will be turned in for Exercise 02
Review printing specifications for Exercise 02. Print tests in black and white and prepare mechanical for final output.
Work on Exercise 02 for the remainder of the class.
Student typography award winners
{TH / September 07}
Exercise 02 is due.
Due to glitches in the Digital Lab we will have time this morning to print.
Prepare to upload your final solutions as a .pdf
to the designated box.unl folder and to Canvas as directed.
Have your final prints ready to pin up for a formal review.
Submit to Canvas
Activity
Review commentary on Helvetica and how the film portrayed the field of typography and the typeface's place in history.
Type History Overview
Evolution of Typography Animated Short
Assign Project 01
Locate 15 examples of timelines for inspiration.
Research each section. Reference your text book as well as online searches.
Create an outline with images, indicating evidence of the zeitgeist of the times for all of the sections. Spend 15 -20 minutes on each section.
St. Leonhard, Frankfurt, Germany, 14th Century
{T/ September 12}
Work on Project 01
Reference:
Thinking with Type, by Ellen Lupton
Visual Grammar, Christian Leborg
Grid Systems, Kimberly Elam
Research Rob Forbes of Design Within Reach / Public Bikes
What do Graphic Designers Need to Know
{W/ September 13}
Visiting Designer / Rob Forbes
Work on Project 01
{TH/ September 14}
Work on Project 01
Work on Project 01
Read:Demonstration of setting up a grid system in InDesign
Prepare a minumum of 5 iterations for the layout of your timeline
[template] [ Plan to design 5, 11" X 17" variations before you populate pages with the contents of your research]
Documentation from Exercise 02
{T / September 19}
Work on Project 01
Review research and development and assigned readings.
Edward Johnston’s London Underground
{TH / September 21}
Work on Project 01
Project 01 Resource
Research Presentation
History of Advertising / Typography
‘The great thing about printing is it should be invisible’
– Beatrice Warde
Research Presentations / Previous Classes
{T / September 26}
Work on Project 01
{TH / September 28}
Work on Project 01
Review progress on 5 panels and discuss printing in color, paper etc. for final prints.
READ THIS:
Article on Pairing Fonts / Beautiful Web Design
Art work from various art movements
{T / October 03}
Present Project 01
Project 02 Assignment: Locate 5 poems of your choice and of various lengths.
Set the poems in 10/14 using InDesign
{TH / October 05}
Assign Project 02
Assign Reading:
Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 6th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography
[required]
Chapter 03: Syntax and Communication
Chapter 04: Legibility
Chapter 05: The Typographic Grid
Visual Grammar, Christian Leborg
Grid Systems, Kimberly Elam
Grid Examples / Square Format
More on the grid / typographic space
Assigning pt. size variation / establishing visual hierarchy
using Fibonacci sequencing.
What can a grid poem be?
A grid poem is a grid based arrangement of lines written to allow two different readings: left-to-right, and top-to-bottom and on the diagonal. This allows subtly,
or drastically, different perspectives to emerge from the same text. Part haiku, part Sudoku, the full poem is only revealed through re-reading and exploration.
The example above is a loose example. We will not be working with black full pages or illustration, and we will also be designing with a square format.
{T / October 10}
Work on Project 02
Exercise 03 / Preparation for Quiz from Readings
Terminology / Principles from the readings
*
{TH / October 12}
Work on Project 02
Review Exercise 03
Referencing the assigned readings.
{T / October 17}
{TH / October 19}
Exercise 04 LETTERPRESS pt. 01
In class activity
Explore the letterpress print shop in Woods Art Building, 3rd Floor,
with printmaker Danley Wilkington. We will get oriented to the print shop
and learn about setting type to be printed with the letterpress printer.
Work on Project 02
{T / October 24}
Work on Project 02
{TH / October 26}
Work on Project 02
Exercise 04 LETTERPRESS pt. 02
In class activity
{T / October 31}
Project 02 is Due.
Review work in print format. Trim to 10" X 10". Ready for pin up at 11:00 am.
Assign:
Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Preliminary sketches, storyboarding and ideation
Examples of type in motion.
Create 6 scenarios for a word to be animated. Draw out the scenarios in the storyboard template.
Assign:
[From Project Brief]
Step 01
Reference the case studies in your textbook.
Type in Motion
{TH / November 02}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Gather inspiration and resources for you to reference.
Exercise 04 LETTERPRESS pt. 03
In class activity
Assign:
[From Project Brief]
Present Step 01
Using a single letter form from your word, create a 5 second sketch using Adobe After Effects.
What possibilities are there for creating action for this form?
Why did you choose the typeface that you did? Is this the best possible choice
to illustrate the meaning of your word with?
Use black letters on white background only to keep the variables to a minimum.
Animate the letter form by having it create a simple action. ie. Letter drops from the top of the page and floats down.
Create this as one 05 second scene and export it as a GIF.
{T / November 07}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
{TH / November 09}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Reference text book for inspiration and methods
Group 02 completes typesetting of Letterpress exercise to make ready for printing. Danley will lock up the sets so you can print on Tuesday.
{T / November 14}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
{TH / November 16}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
PRINT last series with the Letterpress / Danley
{T / November 21}
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
In Class Activity / Typography in Logo Design / CANVAS
Terminology / Final Exam Review
Study Topics 02 / Published to Canvas
LOGOTYPE Terminology
Read Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 6th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography
Chapter 09: Typography in Motion
Use language from this chapter to write your statement about the project.
{TH / November 23}
No Class / Thanksgiving Vacation
Work on Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Exporting / Rendering Files for output
Read Typographic Design: Form and Communication, 6th edition,
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Phillip B. Meggs, The Evolution of Typography
Chapter 09: Typography in Motion
Use language from this chapter to write your statement about the project.
Background pg.156
Using type in time based media pg.159
How type changes and moves pg.163
Legibility factors pg.167
Expression pg.169
Concepts
Typography in Time and Motion
Communicating with behaviors and actions
Adding a voice to the message
Time becomes the most significant structural element in the design
Moving type coupled with sound and images, enables the typographic designer to explore narrative as a means of expressive communications.
Key Terms
Meaning and interpretation
Continunity
Use of storyboard to visualize a narrative and show how elements in a sequence will move and change.
Heirarchy: Time, Behavior
Variation
The frame and space
Movement / direction
Rhythym and pace
Transition
Speed and duration
Canvas and Box Turn in: Please make sure you turn in ALL of your projects to Canvas for evaluation AND to UNL Box for archiving and for me to evaluate your file management and production process.
{TH / November 30}
Present Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Have a QuickTime .mov ready to present at full screen with proper resolution. Prepare 2-3 sentences commentary to introduce the project. This introduction to the project will incorporate highlights of your process [parts from your statement] and be a great lead into how the audience will receive the composition.
Turn in your .mov and .pdf of statement to Canvas
Turn in your project file and statement to Box
PROCESS
Include the following: drawn sketches, evidence of completion of Adobe After Effects Tutorials by applying effects to type forms in order to reveal investigation of type and movement. You will also display exploration of sound bytes for your compositions. Work these sound bytes into your ideation.
Included detailed storyboards, Adobe After Effects studies, sound bytes as researched sound elements.
Use black letters on white OR white letters on black background only. Select from the typefaces from our study topics.
{TH / November 30}
Present Project 03: Type in Motion / Sequential Typography
Have a QuickTime .mov ready to present at full screen with proper resolution. Prepare 2-3 sentences to introduce the project that incorporates highlights of your process [parts from your statement]
Turn in your .mov and .pdf of statement to Canvas
Turn in your project file and statement to Box
{T / December 05}
Final Exam Review
Self grade quizzes in Canvas as review of visual grammar.
Turn in Process Books
{TH / December 07}
Final Exam
Put away type in Letterpress Studio.
http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/CarmenHerrera
Stacy Asher
Associate Professor of Art
209 Woods Art Building
School of Art, Art History & Design
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
stacyasher@unl.edu
stacyasher.com