ART-225 Typography: Evolution & Application

This studio art course is intended to be an exploration of typography from prehistoric mark making through current international trends in typography. This art course traces the history and impact of typography on culture and will explore the human need to connect and communicate using type. Students will study letter forms, the design of social movements and cultural connections while engaging in projects which will combine historical perspectives of typography, investigation of culture and the impact of type, color and symbolism on visual communication. Students will develop a body of work which celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. This class is required for students enrolled in the AAS in Graphic Design.

Credits

3

Corequisite

ART-115

Department

• Visual and Performing Arts

View Course Outline

ART 225: Typography: Evolution & Application

Department

Visual and Performing Arts

Course Description

This studio art course is intended to be an exploration of typography from prehistoric mark making through current international trends in typography. This art course traces the history and impact of typography on culture and will explore the human need to connect and communicate using type. Students will study letter forms, the design of social movements and cultural connections while engaging in projects which will combine historical perspectives of typography, investigation of culture and the impact of type, color and symbolism on visual communication. Students will develop a body of work which celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. This class is required for students enrolled in the AAS in Graphic Design.

Credit Hours

3

Corequisites

ART-115

Topic Outline

1. History and Etymology; the influence of culture and human evolution. 
   1. Alphabets 
   2. Writing and Iconography 
   3. Language: Construction and Lexical Understanding 
   4. Western and Non-Western Developments 
   5. The Arrival of Typography 
2. Technology and Cultural Impact: Creating Equity and Exclusion or Systematic Oppression
   1. Printing and Reproduction Techniques 
   2. The Letter Press 
   3. Digital Typesetting for Print 
   4. Digital Typesetting for Screen 
   5. Propaganda 
   6. Social Justice 
   7. Intentionally Selecting a Typeface 
3. Form: Dissecting Letters and Written Language
   1. Glyphs: Letters, Numbers and Punctuation 
   2. Anatomy of Type 
   3. Caps 
   4. Small Caps
   5. Size/Units 
4. Setting Type for Aesthetic Flow and Readability: Matters of Accessibility
   1. Point Size / Type choice 
   2. Kerning 
   3. Tracking 
   4. Line-spacing 
   5. Line-length/Measure 
   6. Alignment 
5. Hierarchy; Organization, Visual Effect and Content Accessibility 
   1. Type classification
   2. Type families
   3. Pairing typefaces 
   4. Font formats 
   5. Ableism 
   6. Meeting ADA requirements 
   7. Type choices and research as a means of creating successful connections 
6. Grids Structure: Underlying Intentionality 
   1. Columnar
   2. Modular
   3. Baseline
   4. Function
7. Templates and Styles: Bringing Accessibility to the Masses
   1. Design for readability for children 
   2. Design for readability in education 
   3. Design for readability in print 
   4. Design for readability on screen 
8. Establishing Emotion and Mood with Type 
   1. Social responsibility / Appropriation and identity 
   2. Signs and communication 
   3. Propaganda 
   4. Characteristics and connections