COMD1127 Type and Media
Course Information
Course Number: COMD1127
Course Title: Type and Media
Course Description: Foundation course in typography with emphasis on using type for a multiple of industry related applications ranging from print to interactive. Students are introduced to principles of type design and terminology including: variations of type structure, anatomy, font usage, grid, leading, kerning, tracking and alignment
Credits / Hours: 2 cl hr, 2 lab hrs, 3 cr
Section Number: E038
Pre/Co-requisites: CUNY proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics or concurrent enrollment in ENG 092R, ESOL 022R or 032R; ENG 092W, ESOL 021W, or ESOL 031W; MAT 0630 or MAT 0650 as required
Class Meetings
Tuesday: 6pm – 8:30pm, Room P122
Thursday: 6pm – 8:30pm, Room P123
Faculty Information
Professor(s) Name: Prof. Mary Brown
Online Office Hours/Information: 5:30pm – 6:00pm, and 8:30pm – 9:00pm, Tues & Thurs
Contact Information
- Email: mbrown@citytech.cuny.edu
- Phone: 201-407-9502
Course Objectives
Instructional Outcomes /Assessments
| For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to: | Evaluation methods and criteria: |
| Define and describe five families of type and their visual characteristics (Old Style, Transitional, Modern, Egyptian, San Serif). Define and describe other categories of type families such as display and novelty fonts | Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments |
| Define and describe critical components of type anatomy (baseline, meanline, capline, serifs, ascender, descenders, counters, others). | Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments. |
| Describe variations of type structure (bold, italic, condensed, extended). | Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments. |
| Utilize typographic grid components (trim size, margins, columns, gutter) and assemble a grid using specific software. | Students will demonstrate competency through written test and preparations of class projects using InDesign. |
| Utilize variation in type alignment (FL/RR, FR/RL, Centered, Justified, Force Justified). | Students will demonstrate competency through written test and performance of assignment dealing with this topic. |
| Understand and utilize terminology and procedures for Adobe InDesign in order to comprehension basic and correct usage complete assignments and participate in class of computer graphics such throughout the discussions. | Students will demonstrate comprehension basic and correct usage of computer graphics such throughout the course in class participation and on written assignments. |
| Create and edit elements of a document according to specifications by using Adobe InDesign. | Students will demonstrate practical skills in to preparing page layouts. |
General Education Outcomes
| General Education Outcome covered: | How the outcome is covered: | |
| Thinking Critically The student will demonstrate the ability to evaluate evidence and apply reasoning to make valid inferences. | Students will develop their critical thinking by participating in class critiques, applying standards learned in class to their own work and that of classmates. | |
| Social Interaction The student will demonstrate an understanding of professional ethics. | Students will learn about professional ethics through discussion in class. | |
| Lifelong Learning The student will demonstrate an awareness of resources for continued lifelong learning. | Students will be directed towards resources and techniques of research they can use as references throughout their careers. | |
| Information Literacy • The student will demonstrate the ability to find proper resources. • The student will demonstrate the ability to formulate relevant queries. | Students will develop familiarity with professional resources and be expected to learn from them in a relevant fashion. |
Teaching/Learning Methods
- Lectures
- Readings
- Demonstrations
- Assignments
- Discussions
- Tests
Technology Requirements
Schedule
Add a schedule of topics to be covered. Include a detailed schedule on the Schedule page.
Grading Policy
60% — Main projects and their presentations
20% — Tests (2 quizzes, midterm)
20% — Class Activities/Discussions/Participation
The detailed grading policy can be found on the Grading Policy page.
Class Policies
- Last assignments will be penalized by a 5% lower grade, so get your assignments in on time.
- Any missed assignments will earn a zero grade.
- During class, phones should be in silent mode. Please refrain from using social media or texting during class. If you must take a call, please step outside the class so you don’t disturb or distract the rest of the class.
- Respect your fellow classmates as you want to be respected.
- When addressing emails to me, to insure that you get my attention, please write the subject line as follows: COMD1127 [Your Name]
- There are no make-up classes or quizzes. If you are absent, try to get notes from a classmate or check the OpenLab website for material covered.
- Students have the option to revisit earlier projects and revise them based on original comments. If you feel you can improve your grade, this is you only opportunity to do so.
- If a student finds he/she will not be able to be present to hand in a project on the scheduled day, it is his/her responsibility to notify the instructor PRIOR to the due date and request alternate arrangements. Five points will be deducted from your project grade for missed critiques and deadlines.
- You must use your City Tech email for all school business. If you don’t check your City Tech email regularly, you risk missing important information and deadlines. So get in the habit of checking your City Tech email daily.
Attendance/Participation
The COMD BFA and AAS are design studio programs. In-class activities and engagement with other students is a significant portion of the course. Absences in excess of 10% of the total class hours will result in a 10% drop from your grade due to an inability to meet deliverables of participation. This is in addition to other penalties that will be imposed for failure to complete academic requirements. No more than 4 class absences will be tolerated. It is expected that you will be ready to work at the start of each period. Any 2 latenesses will be considered to be equal to 1 absence.
Academic Integrity Policy
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting and citation of sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the college recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension and expulsion. More information about the College’s policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the College Catalog.
Course Activities
- Projects – 3-4 main projects supported by homework assignments
- Homework Assignments – Inserted in the the class pages on site.
- Type Challenges – Design assignments and discussions completed with time constraints during class or as specified.
- Type Talk Discussions – Discussion, comments, critiques, opinions on type throughout the semester
- Name That Type Discussions – Students will comment in live class discussions
- Found Alphabet Typography Discussions – Weekly image posts of alphabet letters,numbers 1-9 ,0 and comments Final Due last class Upload a compiled PDF
- Type Scavenger Hunt Activities – Students will look for various typographic topics principles, techniques, post image
- Type Hero – Students will create a 5 minute presentation to an assigned designer
Course Projects
Course Resources
Materials /Supplies
- Computer with internet access and Adobe CC.
- Cloud storage and Flash drive (any storage for your files)
- Sketchbook for notes, ideas, process / pencils
- Approximately $40 misc expenses (cloud, printing, art materials, etc)
Student Work Samples
Instructor reserves the right to keep reproductions of student work samples to feature on their professional website, as part of their teaching portfolio, and to illustrate points for future classes.
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