Spécialisation Graphic Design

Typography is the art of manipulating the visual form of language to enrich and control its meaning. It’s an essential area of skill and knowledge for graphic designers. Typography predates modern graphic design by around 500 years; it is rich in rules, conventions, and esoteric terminology—but it remains an exciting space for invention and expression. In this rigorous introductory course, we will study, name, and measure the characteristics of letterforms. We’ll consider the pragmatic concerns involved in selecting and combining type. We’ll peek into the  rich historical, cultural, and aesthetic histories of familiar typefaces. We’ll discuss time-tested conventions and best practices in setting type, as governed by principles of hierarchy and spatial organization. And we’ll explore the expressive, meaning-making potential of type. Informative lectures will be complemented by a series of three peer-assessed assignments, culminating  in an opportunity to design a full-scale typographic poster. Please note that this is not a software course; a basic working knowledge of Adobe InDesign or other  page layout software will be assumed. You will need access to a computer and page layout software, such as InDesign, to complete the assignments.

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Niveau débutant

Approx. 6 heures pour terminer

Recommandé : 4 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English

Ce que vous allez apprendre

Conduct a peer-reviewed typesetting exercise

Design of a full-scale typographic poster

Explore how typefaces tell stories and understand the historic evolution

Review the terminology and measuring system used to describe type

Compétences que vous acquerrez

Adobe IndesignCreativityPoster DesignAdobe Illustrator

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Niveau débutant

Approx. 6 heures pour terminer

Recommandé : 4 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

1 hour to complete

Week 1: Talking Type

This week, we’ll take an up-close look at typefaces, both as physical artifacts and as works of design.  We will study the formal elements that define and give character to type, and understand where they came from and why they look the way they do. We will review the terminology and measuring system used to describe type, and look at the way the form and proportion of letters relate to the practical concerns of selecting and combining typefaces. The week will wrap up with a graded quiz....

6 videos (Total 21 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Course Welcome2m

Font versus Typeface4m

Stroke and Proportion4m

Type Anatomy2m

Measuring Type3m

Choosing a Typeface4m

5 readings

About this Course5m

About the Assignments5m

Course Tools5m

Additional Resources10m

Reviewing key terms5m

2 practice exercises

Type Terms12m

Describing Type20m

2

Section

2 hours to complete

Week 2: Typefaces and their Stories

This week, we’ll explore the way typefaces express connotative meaning—tell stories—through their association with different time periods, aesthetics, and ideas. Through six short case studies, we  will look at the way a typeface’s connotations are shaped by its context, understand the historic evolution of typographic forms, and familiarize ourselves with the way typefaces are classified. You’ll extend  your exploration through some independent research into a typeface of your choosing....

7 videos (Total 26 min), 1 quiz

7 videos

Typefaces and their Stories2m

Bembo: Humanist Letters3m

Didot: Enlightened Refinement3m

Clarendon: Type for the Masses3m

Futura: the Typographic Avant-Garde4m

Helvetica: International Modern3m

Scala Sans: Typographic Remix3m

3

Section

2 hours to complete

Week 3: Putting Type to Work

This week, we will engage the visual principles and conventions of typesetting. We will look at how the spaces between letters, lines, and blocks of type can be manipulated to refine the appearance and control the meaning of type. We’ll explore the ways typographic hierarchy and grid systems can further organize and clarify type. And we’ll survey the rules and conventions that can add polish to your typesetting. You’ll apply your skills and knowledge in a peer-reviewed typesetting exercise at the end  of the week....

6 videos (Total 26 min), 1 quiz

6 videos

Working with Type1m

Typographic Space5m

Page Space5m

The Grid4m

Creating Hierarchy3m

Typographic Conventions5m

4

Section

2 hours to complete

Week 4: Making Meaningful Type

In our final week, we’ll examine the ways typographic form can dramatically shape the meaning of written language. We’ll survey and analyze possibilities for type treatments—from subtle typesetting choices  to dramatic manipulations—by looking at examples of expressive and unconventional typography. At the end of the week, you’ll bring together and apply everything you have learned in this course in the  design of a full-scale typographic poster....

4 videos (Total 17 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

4 videos

Making Meaningful Type2m

Typesetting with Expression5m

Beyond Typesetting4m

The Typographic Poster4m

1 readings

Course Credits2m

Instructor

Anther Kiley

Faculty, Program in Graphic Design

About California Institute of the Arts

CalArts has earned an international reputation as the leading college of the visual and performing arts in the United States. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions. ...

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
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Spécialisation Graphic Design