This is a foundation course in typography with an emphasis on using type for a multiple of industry related applications.

Category: typography

Project #3 – Magazine Spread

The last major project of the semester is the magazine spread. During the last class, we learned about the anatomy of a magazine layout. Please download the handout if you didn’t get one in class.

Here is the assignment:

  • Design a magazine article: 4 pages, 2 spreads
  • The trim size is 8.5″x11
  • Topic
    Choice A: snowboarding – the text and photos have been provided for you.
    Choice B: a topic of your own, but it must be approved by the instructor first. You will be responsible for providing the text and photos for the assignment.
  •  Requirements include use of grid, headers, subheads, dropcaps, indents, columns, page numbers, images, captions, margins, gutters.

This project will be done is phases. The first phase will be your brainstorming and research to determine your topic. You will then sketch ideas for a possible layout. After that we will do a style guide and begin the first draft layout.

 

Due Monday, April 30:

  • Your topic and rough sketch ideas for your layout. Begin to collect your text and imagery if you will be doing your own topic.  You would be ready to begin your style guide
  • Find two pages from a same publication. These must share a grid, but have different layouts
  • Bring in examples of 2 different magazine spreads. These must share a grid, but have different layouts

Here are a few links to information we looked at in class:

Creating a Magazine Style Guide: Design

Hierarchy of Typography

 

 

 

 

Project #2 – Design a Poster

We are now working on our second project. This project should be fun and give you an opportunity to incorporate all that you’ve learned so far about typography and basic graphic design. This project will be graded on those points. If you didn’t get the design assignment in class, download a copy here.

On Monday, April 9, 2018, be prepared to present your initial sketch ideas. We will do this first thing when class begins, so don’t come to class and begin to do your sketches for the first time. Not having computer access will not hinder your ability to do the sketches. You should have a full page of thumbnail sketches and then another page that has 3-4 sketches of your best ideas. From those 3-4 sketches we will be able to determine which will make a better design layout for your project.

One of the main emphasis of this project will be use of the grid system and hierarchy. Here is a video what may give you more insight into developing hierarchy in your poster design.

 

In case you’re still a bit unsure about doing thumbnail sketches, here is a video that previous students have found to be helpful. Please note, the tutorial is done on a computer for the sake of recording, but you will be using pencil or pen and paper.

 

The Type Book: Assembly Instructions

If you didn’t get the handouts with the instructions for the type books, here they are again. Every type book exercise is to be included. All of the exercises are listed below and should appear in your book in this order. The titles are based on the assignment sheets. Some of those handouts included more than one exercise. Hopefully this list is clear. If you have questions, please ask for clarification. Use the handouts as a guide for the number of pages included for each exercise

  • Front Cover
    (Create a cover page that includes, the title of the project, your name, Type & Media, COMD1167-D146, Spring 2o18, my name.)
  • Anatomy
  • 5 Families (5 pages)
  • Variations (6 pages)
  • Alignment
  • Alignment 2
  • Leading (2 pages)
  • Tracking (2 pages)
  • Kerning
  • Type on a Path
  • Legibility (in color)
  • Hierarchy
  • Grid (2 pages)

Your type book  is to be printed out (8.5″x11″ pages) and bound along the left edge where we left space for such details. The book is printed horizontal. Use a clear vinyl (acetate) front cover and a black vinyl back cover with spiral binding along the left side. You can print the pages out in class, in lab or on your own printer. The only page printed in color is the Legibility: Type Color page. The spiral binding is done at Staples or FedEx Kinkos. Don’t wait until the last minute to get this done because they may require that you pick it up the next day.

The finished books are to be submitted no later than Monday, April 9, 2018.  All projects submitted late will have lowered grades by 5%.

Typography is the beginning point for good graphic design. There will be things and terminology that will be repeated over, and over during the course of this semester. Trust me, they’re important for you to know them. Eventually they will be second nature to you.