Fundamentals of Typography

Learn the fundamentals of letterforms and typefaces

Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. In visual communication, typography must be integrated (every last loop, bowl, and descender) into a total design.

In this 3-lesson course, you'll explore the anatomy of the letterform. Through interactive lectures and hands-on exercises, you'll learn how to classify typefaces and use them creatively.

Understanding the fundamentals of typography will give your work power, eloquence, and beauty.

Tuition: $450 US

Course Instructor(s):

Margaret Penney is a teacher, designer, writer and media artist.

Joanna Smith is a graphic designer, illustrator, and educator.

Jeremy Bratt is a UK based brand designer, consultant, and account director of October Design.

Course content developed by Jeremy Bratt and Brian Slawson.

Requirements:

To take this course you'll need:

Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent vector-based drawing program), or Adobe Photoshop (or equivalent digital imaging program), or Adobe InDesign (or equivalent layout program).
Basic drawing materials (pencil, paper) and ability to scan or photograph sketches.

Prerequisites:

The following courses can help you meet the above requirements:

Course Objectives:

Students learn how to:

Develop an understanding of the basic terminology of typography and the historical origins of typographical terms and concepts.
Identify classic and contemporary typefaces and their use by modern designers.
Analyze a letterform, identifying its distinctive features and anatomical elements.
Develop a basic proficiency in identifying and classifying type by looking for the main features in a typeface.
Identify the 12 ATypI categories of typeface by their characteristic elements.
Use type categories and characteristics to select typefaces and structure text on a page.
Select and manipulate type to depict a concept or mood.
Develop an understanding of the applications of display typography and expressive applications of typography in print and on screen.
Create a type composition that represents a theme typographically.

Course Outline

LESSON 1 The Language of the Letterform

Did you know that letters have shoulders, arms, and ears? In Lesson One, you'll jump right into the fundamentals, looking at the historical origins of typography and learning to identify the component parts of letterforms. You'll explore the applications of typography through case studies on two professional typographers: one designs type, and the other designs with type. You'll also look at contemporary typefaces and their uses. In the exercise, you'll get familiar with letterforms using a paper and pencil, creating letters on a grid and investigating type in the world around you.

LESSON 2 Type Classification

Lesson Two embarks on a trip through the 12 ATypI categories of typeface. Serif or sans serif? Venetian or Glyphic? You'll learn how to identify a typeface by its defining characteristics, and choose the right "face" for your project. In the hands-on exercise, you'll use what you've learned to select a typeface and create an effective page design. You'll also use depict a mood or concept using type and effects.

LESSON 3 Quirky and Loving It

Lesson Three explores the theatrical aspect of the display typography used in posters, advertisements, and online. You'll take a look at the emotion, drama, or whimsy a display typeface can bring to a project, looking at the work of leading designers over the years. In the final project, you'll try your hand at using typefaces to convey the personality of a famous person in an ad, book cover, poster, or home page.

"The V for Winston Churchill is because he was often filmed making the victory salute." Marie Roy, Italy