ART 251A | FALL 2016
Lettering and Typography 
instructor: Omid 
iomid.com/art251

email: omid@cpp.edu 

cell: 323.206.6643               

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  COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will cover the history, theory and practice of letterforms and typography as they apply to graphics, advertising and other areas of design and visual communication. Projects cover principles of typography, letter structure, typeface selection, fundamentals of computer typesetting, and typographic layout.

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 PREREQUISITES:

ART 140A and ART 150A 

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 TEXTS

Required Books (kind of):

These are our primary sources.It doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy them tonight, but consider them as a thoughtful investment for your education and career:

 

◙  Thinking With Type
By Ellen Lupton; Princeton Architectural Press 

◙  Typographic Design: Form and Communication
Ben Day, Philip B. Meggs, Rob Carter

◙  The Fundamentals of Typography
by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris 


Recommended: 

Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type
Kimberly Elam


Typographic Systems of Design
Kimberly Elam


Typography Workbook

Timothy Samara, Rockport Publishers


Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works
Erik Spiekermann and E. M. Ginger, Adobe Press


Twentieth-Century Type
by Lewis Blackwell, Yale University Press


The Elements of Typographic Style
by Robert Bringhurst, Hartley and Marks


The Art of Typography
by Christopher Burke and Paul Renner, Princeton Architectural Press


A History of Lettering
Nicolete Gray, Phaidon Press


Suggested

Texts on Type: Critical Writings on Typography
Steven Heller and Philip B. Meggs, Allworth Press


Grids: The Structure of Graphic Design
André Jute, RotoVision

A Type Primer
John Kane, Laurence King


Unjusti ed Texts: Perspectives on Typography
Robin Kinross, Hyphen Press


Letter Forms
Stanley Morison, Nattali & Maurice


Typographically Speaking: The Art of Matthew Carter
Margaret Re, Princeton Architectural Press


Basic Typography: Design with Letters
Ruedi Rüegg, Van Nostrand Reinhold


Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop
Timothy Samara, Rockport Publishers


Publication Design Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Designing Magazines, Newspapers, and Newsletters
Timothy Samara, Rockport Publishers


Type Rules: The Designer’s Guide to Professional Typography
Ilene Strizver, North Light Books


Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and Use, Volumes I and II
Daniel Updike, Dover Publications


Adobe Classroom in a Book (for PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Adobe Press 

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◙ COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Develop an understanding and appreciation of typography’s important historical legacy
  • Develop an understanding of specialized terminology and knowledge relevant to typography
  • Develop the ability to understand, recognize and apply the elements and principles of typography
  • Develop and understanding of the elements and principles of design as they relate to type
  • Develop the ability to understand, recognize and apply practical typographic knowledge
  • Develop the ability to understand, recognize and apply various layout methods in relation to typography
  • Develop and demonstrate and understanding of typographic hierarchy
  • Develop research skills as they apply to typographic design solutions
  • Develop an understanding of- and adherence to- the design process, from research and concept through execution
  • Develop the ability to analyze, synthesize, and develop effective typographic solutions utilizing methods and skills in concept development and problem solving
  • Develop typesetting techniques through the use of industry-standard software (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe InDesign)
  • Develop competency in technical skills applicable to graphic design—specifically, the fabrication of comprehensives and mock-ups.
  • Develop an demonstrate an awareness of the expressive, aesthetic, emotional and intellectual potential of type
  • Develop an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of various printing process, substrates (primarily paper) and methods other than ink (die-cuts, foils, embossing/de-bossing, lamination, varnishes) in relation to typography
  • Develop an understanding of the typographic capabilities and limitations of digital media—primarily interactive and digital multimedia communication in relation to typography
  • Develop the ability to apply technical, aesthetic and conceptual understanding of typography in the evaluation of one’s own work and the work of others 

__________________________________________________________________________ ◙ MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION:

Many of the supplies can also be purchased at Michael’s. Register online or download Michael’s app to receive 20-50% off with weekly coupons. Do not buy new supplies if you already have supplies from other classes. If you are not sure about supplies please ask me!

Notebook for keeping notes and handouts

Traveldrive, jumpdrive or ashdrive with USB2.0 connection that can hold at least 1 gig of data 14 x 17 inch Canson Tracing Pad

14” x 17” Cotton Comp Paper - Bienfang 360

Niji “Stylist” black fine tip pen

Black markers with 2 nibs such as medium & bold
(Sanford PM 98 works well)

Xacto Knife & #11 Xacto blades (bulk pack suggested)

3/16 inch thick Foamcore, black or white sizes TBD as needed.

3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive

3/4 inch White Artist’s Tape

C-Thru Ruler 18 inch (not centimeters)

Metal Ruler 18 inch

White eraser

#2 Pencils (Ticonderoga works well)

Pencil Sharpener 


The following are good to have and to bring to class as needed:

18 x 24 Self-healing cutting matte
Metal T-Square 24 inch
Triangles beveled, 45, 30/60 degrees
Color Pencils
Glue Sticks
Proportion Scaling Wheel
Schaedler Rulers are a smart investment for a designer 

When you are going to shop at art supply stores take your student ID as most stores have student discount!

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◙ Learning Activities and Assignments

Quizzes, tests, or papers related to assignments and/or discussion topics may be given at any time.

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◙ Lectures/Discussions :

There will be a variety of design lectures revolving around the specific needs of students and projects such as: 

  • Discussion on The Letter
  • Review of Principles of Design
  • Discussion on Humanism and the Body
  • Presentation on Anatomy
  • Discussion on Enlightenment and Abstraction
  • Discussion on Monster Fonts and Nineteenth Century Advertising
  • Discussion on Reform & Revolution
  • Discussion on Type as Program
  • Presentation on Classi cation
  • Aiscussions on Type as Narrative
  • Presentation on Big Families
  • Designing Typefaces
  • Presentation on Screen Fonts & Bitmap Fonts
  • Discussion on Text
  • Presentations on Errors and Ownership
  • Presentation on Linearity
  • Discussion Birth of the User
  • Presentation on Kerning and Tracking
  • Presentation on Vertical Alignment
  • Presentation on Web Hierarchy & Web Accessibility
  • Presentation on Dividing Space & Grids
  • Presentation on Golden Section 

The topics or their arrangemnt might change according to necessity.

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◙ Projects and Assignments: 

These projects are intended to help students establish the ability to both create and develop an understanding of the principles of typography as they relate to visual organization and composition, information hierarchy, aesthetics, and the communication of ideas.

Of course Projects/Exercises and their order may change anytime to t the overall needs of the class.

  

Morticed Character: (Black Ink paper—Size: 14” x 17”): The the detailed replication and deconstruction of a typographic character, usingtracing paper and ink pens.

Name Initials and images: Students creat a hybrid design with combination of their name initials and selected silhouettes.

Illustrated Word:  The illustration of a word to capture visual embodiment of its meaning.

Image Substitution Exercise:  Combining meanings. Replacing one character in a word with and image, creating acompletely new meaning.

Type Categories: (Black Ink paper—Size: 14” x 17”): The replication of a character (uppercase and lowercase) in four different styles.

Event Hierarchy: (B&W) Create a small type notification with different hierarchy in mind.

Obeying the Rules: (3 or 4-Color (not process)—Size: 5.5” x 8.5”): Students will produce a multi-paneled booklet that feature guidelines on successful type usage (26 panels).

Type Specimen: (2 or 3-Color—Size: TBD): Design a poster to introduce one of the typefaces from the given list.

Typography Quote: Create a wall piece for a public restaurant, inculding a quote and other required information. (In this quarter-Fall 2016- the project might be changed to a new project with musical theme, accroding to real life playlist on one of public radio, for example 102.7 AM KissFM) 

Public Presentation of Typographic Readings: Students will deliver a classroom presentation on one of the many reading assignments selected from Thinking With Type or they can deliver a presentation on a topic  by thier choice. They must discuss their subject with instructor and get his approval. Students will also moderate a class discussion afterward.



These projects are intended to help students establish the ability to both create and develop an understanding of the principles of typography as they relate to visual organization and composition, information hierarchy, aesthetics, and the communication of ideas. 

Projects and their order may change anytime to fit the overall needs of the class.

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◙ Assessment and Evaluation:

The course grading criteria is based on students’ demonstration of the following: • Development of concepts that are thoughtful, original and creative
• Careful attention to execution, technique and completion of projects
• Effective visual and verbal presentation skills

• Active and verbal participation in class activities and critiques
• Attendance with necessary materials and assignment preparation • Personal challenge and effort in project development
• Deadline compliance
• Maintaining currency with reading assignments
• Participation in class discussions 

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◙ Grade Breakdown:

Critiques and feedback on main projects will revolve around individual critiques, round table critiques, and wall critiques. Projects will be graded on personal challenge, self-motivation, and attitude in exploration in the development of self-generated graphic design imagery.

If a project is worth 10 points, its individual stages (thumbnail, rough, comp) are graded on the following point system:

10=Flawless 

9= Excellent 

8= Good 

7= Average

6= Weak

Counting the final comp twice, the final grade on any project is based on the average grade of the individual stages, for example:

Initial Sketches: 8

Rough: 8

Final Comp: 9

Final Comp: 9

8+8+9+9= 34 / 4 = 8.5 


A total of 100 points are possible for the course. Final course grades are issued based on a straight percentage: 93 points = A. Points will be allocated as follows: 


Activity                                                                  % of Grade

Handwarming (Define Typography)                                -

Exercise #1                                                                   6%

Exercise #2                                                                   6%

Exercise #3                                                                   3%

Project #1 (Morticed Char.)                                            8%

Project #2 (Words Assign. 2 parts)                               10%

Project #3 (Type Styles)                                                 8%

Project #4 (Typography Booklet)                                   15%

Project #5 (Type Specimen)                                           8%

Project #6 (You'll vote!)                                                 8%

Midterm (written)                                                          8%

Final (written)                                                               10%

Presentation                                                                  6% 

Attendant                                                                      4%  


TOTAL                                                                          100%


FINAL GRADE CRITERIA
A 93-100   

A- 90-92  

Clearly stands out as excellent performance and, exhibits mastery of learning outcomes


B+ 87-89  

B 83-86  

B- 80-82

Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good, and exhibits partial mastery of learning outcomes


C+ 77-79

C 73-76 

C- 70-72

Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter, and exhibits suf cient understanding and skills to progress in continued sequential learning


D+ 67-69

D 60-66 

Quality and quantity of work is below average, exhibits only partial understanding and understanding and skills are not acceptable to progress in the graphic design 


F 59-  

Quality and quantity of work is below average and not suf cient to progress 


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Class Policies and Guidlines:


Attendance and Participation

Roll will be taken in the first 15 minutes of the beginning of class

Arrving to the class between 1:00 - 1:15 is considered a tardy

Missing more than 30 minutes of class is considered an absence

3 tardies is equal to one absence

2 absences will lower a student’s grade by one full point (ex: B- to C-)

4 absences: Student will not pass the course

• A doctor’s note will not excuse absences more than once

A medical withdrawal from the course is recommended for illnesses extending beyond 2 class sessions.


Late Work

The general answer is NO. But we will have a mutual agreement how we can handle late works, case by case, with a fraction of grade.

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◙ Students with Learning Disablities:

Students seeking disability support and accommodation resources should contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC has been designated as the campus authority to verify disabilities and to prescribe specific accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Individualized programs are designed that enable students to compete academically on an equal basis with their non-disabled peers. Academic accommodations and support services are available to students who have mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, chronic health conditions, and/or attention, learning or psychological disorders. 

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◙ Code of Student Conduct:

If you dont know it, its here.

Read it once for the rest of your academic life,
It is the same all around the world (almost).

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◙ Last but not least:

This class like my other classes is a two-way course. The purpose of this class is not solely for learning technical skills, but to develop our vision to look at things differently. The art and design world has endless excitement to discuss. So, make yourself comfortable by bringing your point of view to this class while we respect each other and make a professional connection through this course. We all learn from each other. Let’s do it CPP TYPE I people. 

-Omid
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© iOmid.com 2016