Fundamentals of Typography
Learn the fundamentals of Typography, 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.
Course Tuition
Course Instructor(s):
Requirements:
- 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).
- A scanner (or access to scanning services) or a digital camera with digital imaging program.
Prerequisites:
Course Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the basic terminology of typography and the historical origins of typographical terms and concepts.
- Analyze a letterform, identifying its distinctive features.
- Present an analysis of letterform to demonstrate an understanding of letterform 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.
- Explore the defining characteristics of a typeface by creating a type composition that highlights its distinctive attributes.
- Develop an understanding of the applications of display typography and theatrical or expressive applications of typography.
- Create a type composition and ad that represents a famous person 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. 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
In Lesson Two, you'll become quite the connoisseur of type. The lecture embarks on a trip through the 12 ATypI categories of typeface. Serifs or sans serifs? 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 up-close-and-personal with a range of typefaces, choosing one to create an artistic composition.
LESSON 3 Quirky and Loving It
Type has a lot of character (pun intended!). Lesson Three explores the theatrical aspect of the display typography used in posters and advertisements. 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 display typefaces to convey the personality of a celebrity of your choice.
