VCT 1060 - Typography

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 2 Lab 2
Course Description: This hands-on course is an introduction to the expressive and functional use of typography in design. Topics include typographic terms and technologies; early writing systems as well as computer-generated type and fonts; the aesthetic, emotional, and intellectual aspects of typography as an expressive medium. Activities help students learn the important concepts and skills needed to use and create meaningful type.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. The history of type
2. Physical attributes of type
3. Type family classification
4. Legibility and readability
5. Layout design aspects
6. Using grids
7. Type in a digital environment
8. Designing type
9. Creative uses of type

 
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. identify ancient writing systems and their influence on early typefaces.
2. identify the relationship between type form and advances in technology.
3. describe the different parts of a letterform.
4. recognize the influence of early typefaces on contemporary letterforms.
5. create type systems to organize and prioritize content.
6. compare the different digital font technologies and file types.
7. use different font management software.
8. recognize the historical context and meaning of certain typefaces.
9. describe typographic conventions and their appropriate use in different situations.
10. recognize how the appearance of a typeface can influence the message.

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