DESIGN 3503: Typographic Design

Introduction to basic two- and three-dimensional practices in visual communication design; emphasis on typographic design and systematic method and research techniques.

Credit Hours

Prerequisite: Admission to Bachelor of Science in Design - Visual Communication Design program; or permission of instructor.

Keywords: Typography, composition, letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, legibility, information hierarchy, grid structures

Overview

Effective visual communication depends on clear, appropriate, and functional typography. The objective of this course is to guide students to understanding the fundamental principles of typographic design. You will investigate the basic aspects of letterforms and typography through a variety of projects. You will be exposed to the historical background, technical, and aesthetic issues concerning communication with type and will become familiar with the individual styles of typefaces and their origins.

Objectives

By the end of the semester students will be able to:

To instill an understanding and appreciation of typography
To expose students to typographic design and develop experience in using type as a form of visual communication
To bring awareness to the terminology, guidelines and history of typography
To develop an understanding of fundamental typographic elements, letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and their compositional relationships to one another and to the page
To recognize the wide variety of typographic possibilities and explore the unlimited range of typographic solutions to a single design problem
To examine the complex relationship between legibility, information hierarchy, communication, typographic design, grid structures and page composition