I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Typography

2. Course Prefix & Number:
GDES 1134

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course introduces the process of design concepts with type. The student will learn how to research creative ideas using typography. They will use type to format different layouts of design projects.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Graphic Design A.A.S.
Graphic Design Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Apply proper kerning to letters in a headline.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Formulate creative concept ideas as a creative team.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Understand basic principles of design;
• Select appropriate typeface to meet the communication goals of design projects;
• Analyze the anatomy and characteristics of type;
• Understand the development of basic typographical concepts;
• Construct harmonious combinations of type with imagery and other design elements;
• Determine how to use type correctly when legibility is a factor;
• Demonstrate proper use of color;
• Apply creative abilities to communicate ideas with confidence; and
• Compose designs using gestalt theories.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Type history
2. Type classification
• Serif
• SanSerif
• Text type
• Display type
3. Anatomy: parts and shapes of type
• Sizes
• Measurements of
• Widths, weights, and slopes
4. Terminology of type
5. Color and tone
6. Spacing
• Kerning and kerning pairs
• Tracking
• Leading
7. Alignment of type
• Justifications
• Hyphenation
• Indents, outdents
• Hanging punctuation
8. Body copy
• Paragraphs
• Drop caps
9. Headlines
• Display type
• Text type
10. The emotional impact of type
11. 3D type
12. Managing your fonts
• Building your type library
  

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions