Type is culture. Type is fact. Type is trust. Type is entertainment. Appropriateness is everything, and our responses define ourselves.” -> neville brody
Introduction
Typography serves as the basic grammar of graphic design. Letterforms, words, phrases and paragraphs are at the core of what we utilize to communicate. Type provides an essential “voice” for content. Nearly all forms of visual communications from printed material to video and digital media utilize typography. Therefore, it is an inherently powerful tool that serves to visually convey/unify our thoughts and emotions.
This course introduces students to advanced principles, techniques and practices in typographic communication.
Advanced Typography is designed to provide students with an understanding of typography as a component for organizing and constructing space and composition. Throughout the semester, we assess and examine typographic form and communication from both highly visual and informative perspectives.
The structure of the class includes lectures, demonstrations, and in/outside class studio activities. Projects will be assigned and will be due on scheduled dates. Each project will include an introduction to the specifics of what is expected and what concepts we are covering. At the completion of assigned projects a critique/class review will take place. Grades will be presented after each project and at the conclusion of the semester (grades are usually complete within two weeks of each project completion, if you happen to be gone on the day that I hand back grades make sure that you request your project grade sheet). Please review the grading criteria and course
requirements information.
If you have any questions, please contact me by e-mail, phone or during class or office hours.
catalog description-
ART 421 visual communication IV (3)
Advanced, team oriented graphic design studio course to be concerned primarily with professional issues and topics in visual communication design.
“A personal style come from honest investigation and experimentation. It comes from the ability to recognize what comes naturally to you, and the ability to express those feelings honestly, without much concern for what is currently in style.”
-> rudy vanderlans
Course Goals: During this course you will:
A. exhibit sensitivity to the visual concerns of typography and to
meaningfully explore issues relating to typographic organization
of space | page layout
B. learn how electronic page layout tools impact typography and publication
design + motion
C. introduce relevant terminology ->visual vocabulary.
+ gain an understanding of practices and theory related to typography/
typographic design
D. ability to define and manage information and design priorities
E. effectively balance expression (design + art) with functionality (content
+ communication) in terms of typography
Meeting Times- Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am - 11:20am. Three credit hours meet for 6 class hours plus 14 hours outside of class (minimum). Additional lab hours will be announced.
Required text:
Idea spotting How to find your next great idea by Sam Harrison.
Current Industry periodicals + other materials as required.
Accommodation
TSU will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.
“Good typography, American or otherwise, is not a question of nationality but of sensitivity to form and purpose.”
-> paul rand
Absentee Policy
Roll is taken daily. More than 3 unexcused absences will result in a reduction of your final grade by one letter grade. Requests for excused absences should be submitted to the instructor in writing before the class to be missed. This includes sports practice or away competitive events, band or other instructor-led group trips sponsored by faculty/university administration. This does not include fraternity, sorority or other extra curricular type of activities. Determination of the absence is at the discretion of the instructor.
Tardiness Policy
Lateness is not tolerated in this fundamental class. All students NOT present at time of attendance being taken, regardless of late arrival, will be counted absent for that period.
Semester Projects
>warm-up | Publication Design | Designing Dissent | Personal Journey | Self Promotion Piece
>projects could change and be added to as semester progresses
Effort Policy
Students who are late to class, unprepared or who do not participate will receive reduced grades when applicable. Any late or incomplete projects will result in failure on the project; unless such is the result of an excused absence (in which case every effort should be made to turn in the project early). Excusibility will be determined by your effort throughout the course of the project and at the instructor’s discretion.
“The primary choice of which way you organize something is made by deciding how you want it to be found.”
-> richard saul
Supplies & Cost
You will have to pay for any prints made in the computer lab, BW and/or color. You will pay at the registration office and then give your receipt to Rusty(laser)/lab monitor(ink ject).
Storage Device - Jumpdrives, external HD’s
sketchbook
3 ring binder
-recommend getting a printer that prints 13 x 19 (epson stylus 1400)
****You may also need to purchase additional supplies as needed.*****
Cell Phones
Cell phones are not permitted in the studio. Turn it OFF and leave it in your locker. Do not keep in on your person to “check” incoming calls.
Process Book
In this course you will be required to do a process book/design idea diary (minimum size 8.5 x 11) for the entire semester with entries for each assignment and each class meeting. The book should include: sketches, notes, ideas, as well as visual inspirations/imagery from magazines, books, etc. (can be copied; cut out).
The process book will be counted as graded component in each one of the assignments that is presented this semester.
Support Material/outline:
• any periodicals, book, etc. - represented by photocopies of articles and
work. Source material should relate to the content that we a covering
during each assignment
• sketches also are a integral component of each exercise or minimum
expectation will be announced during each visual problem
• Notes: all project notes should be easily source in your process
book(organization)
• all project information/handouts
An emphasis upon the design process: the value of Looking and Seeing. In essence...This journal once completed by each one of you becomes a mechanism for idea development, inspiration, documenting research and self-reflection. These activities, which are represented in the book, provides each of you with clearer vantage of the various possibilities for each of the given exercises and meaningful guide to how important process is in general.
typography is the message and the messenger
Grades
A - 100-90%. Excellent Work, reflected by:
• meeting deadlines for all stages of projects as scheduled.
• the development of preliminary research as outlined by the instructor.
• strong evidence of creative process demonstrated via the idea diary.
• communicating desired concepts/ideas to a selected audience.
• using space effectively by creating dynamic, foundational elements of visual
communications: letter forms, image/illustrations, organizational strategies.
• technical proficiency
• maintaining a professional attitude in your work.
• a quality project presentation to the class (demonstrating communication skills).
• top project(s) in class.
B - 89-80%. Good Work (above average)
• very solid effort.
• may be lacking qualities listed in A description.
C - 79-70%. Fair Work (average)
• completes projects as assigned.
• may be lacking qualities listed in A description
D - 69-60%. Poor Work (below average)
effort lacking.
• suggest dropping course if received frequently.
• meet with the instructor for guidance.
F - 59-0%. Failure
• major problems with projects.
• suggest dropping course if received frequently.
