Description
In this introductory course for sophomore graphic design majors, students will study the fundamentals of typography, from its history and anatomy to organizational structures, legibility and hierarchy. Legibility and hierarchy will be examined with increasing complexity from the letterform, to the word, sentence, paragraph and page. Students will learn characteristics of major type families, how to create and use a typographic grid and to work with type in a dynamic environment.
Learning Outcomes
- Study typographic terminology and classification
- Practice creating tone and rhythm through typography
- Explore type as an independent design element
- Cultivate typographic sensibilities
- Develop a grid system for building your typeface
Courseware
Please check our class website and Slack channel regularly. The class website will be used for sign-ups and uploading course materials, while Slack will be used for group communication. We will use Are.na for sharing insightful resources.
Project Submission
All projects should be uploaded to the class Google Drive by the date specified in the class schedule. Files uploaded after this date will be rejected for your semester grade.
Grading
You will receive one-semester grade (A—F) according to the following metric:
- Course Assignments & Projects :
final deliverables, visual execution, ideation
- Depth & Breadth :
exploration, curiosity, refinement
- Class Participation & Contribution :
engagement, active participation & contribution in class
Disability Statement
Students who have self-identified, provided documentation of their disability, and requested reasonable accommodations may be entitled to receive approved modifications in the classroom, appropriate academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids that enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities. Please see http://www.bu.edu/disability for more details.
Attendance & Absences
Please make every effort to arrive punctually. You must attend all the classes. According to the SVA Attendance Policy, unless specific permission for absence is arranged with the instructor of this course, students must attend class to receive credit for the course. Unexcused absences exceeding 1/4 of the total class hours in a given semester are considered excessive in all SVA courses. Tardiness and any unexcused absences will reduce your course grade. Three unexcused absences will reduce your semester grade by one step (e.g. A- to B+). Seven unexcused absences will earn you a failing grade for the course.
Wellness and Health
Your health and well-being are important for your journey as a professional graphic designer. It is important to work hard and balance that with rest, self-care, and attention to your mental and physical health. I will challenge you in this class through assignments, activities, and discussions. However, the work in this class should not be at the expense of your well-being. If for any reason you are struggling to find balance in your work life and health/wellbeing, please reach out. I am happy to discuss ways in which this class can support you in your learning and growth. You can find more resources provided by BU CFA Mental Health & Wellness Resources.
🄋 Type Research
Typography is a fundamental element of graphic design, and understanding a wide range of typefaces is key to expanding a graphic design practice. Type Research is an ongoing research project presented once during the semester on a selected sign-up date. One serif and one sans serif typeface will be selected from Fonts In Use, an independent typography archive. The history, characteristics, and use of each typeface will be researched and presented to the class.
➊ Letterform Study
As the first project, Letterform Study introduces the history and classification of typefaces while examining the visual forms and characteristics of letters. These fundamentals of typographic practice will be applied through typesetting exercises, with particular attention to kerning, spacing, and relationships between letterforms. For the final outcome, two typefaces significant to the history of typography will be selected and presented through type specimen posters that demonstrate their letterforms and typesetting.
➋ Typographic Voice
The second project explores how tone and rhythm in writing can be interpreted through typography. Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style retells an ordinary incident on a bus in 99 different styles of writing. Twenty-four of these styles will be selected and given a distinct typographic interpretation that responds to the voice, tone, and rhythm of each text. The final outcome will be a letter-size, spiral-bound book presenting all 24 styles, along with a cover, table of contents, and colophon.
❸ Modular Typeface
For the final project of Typography 1, a modular typeface will be designed from a self-developed system. Rather than drawing each letterform independently from scratch, a modular typeface is constructed from a consistent set of forms based on a defined grid or structure, often allowing for more experimental approaches to letterform design. The final outcome will be an eight-page type specimen zine that presents the complete alphabet and demonstrates the typeface in use.