Category Archives: Course Activities

Welcome To Type and Media

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Welcome to Type and Media, a typography foundation course. We work together to explore the principles of type design through online exercises, discussions, assignments and projects. Please take some time to explore this OpenLab course site. Use the top menu bar to explore the course information, activities, and help.

Course Information

Course Number: COMD1127

Section: OL24

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: 1 cl hr, 5 lab hrs, 3 cr

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

Online

Faculty Information

Professor: John De Santis

Online Office Hours/Information:
Virtual Office Hour Tuesdays & Thursdays • 10:00AM-11:00AM

Contact Information

Technology Requirements

Schedule

Add a schedule of topics to be covered. Include a detailed schedule on the Schedule page.

Grading Policy

40% — Main projects and their presentations
30% — Assignments -homework
30% — Class Activities/Discussions/Participation
The detailed grading policy can be found on the Grading Policy page.

Class Etiquette & Netiquette

  • As this is an online course it is important that students establish weekly virtual participation.
  • All assignments need to be submitted on time as they are part of the online class sessions.
  • Proper attire, dress as for physical classes.
  • Adjust your posture, sit up as straight and look into the camera.
  • Learning online requires paying attention, especially with classmates unsure of when to speak. Conference apps, BlackBoard and Zoom, have a chat feature. If you have questions in class sessions type in the chat, or raise your hand.
  • Voice volume; most microphones can pick up your normal speaking voice, so you don’t need to yell. You do need speak clearly in a normal voice volume.
  • Mute your mic as needed to eliminate background noise when not speaking

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)

Type Challenge color

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Instructions

  • Take your color poster from the homework
  • Make a new master with that layout
    Insert three pages in InDesign with that new master
  • 1. Utilize complementary colors from color wheel of you existing layout if it is black make it white if it is red make green etc.
  • 2. explore Tint = lightened color (increase brightness, add white)
  • 3. one = desaturated color (reduce opacity of you colors in InDesign
  • Export = jpg “last name_Firstname_designC1a.jpg”
  • upload to course site
  • Create a new post named “Last Name_First_Name_ TC_  “ADDNAME”
  • Give it categories “Student Post Type Challenge” “Type Challenge -….”
  • Save your work as jpg named: “Last Name_First_Name_ TC_ “ADDNAME” .jpg”. Insert jpg INTO your post.
  • Comment on at least one other students work.  Try to give your assessment in terms of what is working or not clear. “loving or “liking” or “being blown away” by work is OK but not helpful. What and why the work is successful and what is not working is key in refining and improving work

Due Date(s)

  • Specified time or 11:30PM the night before next class

Resources

  • Add assignment resources or readings

Class 29

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Class Info

  • Class Date: Tues. Dec. 15
  • Class Time: 8:30AM-10:00AM

Topic

  • Prepare for submissions Project 3. DUE next class. LAST CLASS

Objectives

  • Further develop presentation, communication and critique skills

Activities

In class presentation Found Alphabet

To-Do After Class

FINAL Project 3 Posters

  • Place all pages into one documen
    • Page 1
      Poster 11 x 17 Grid poster Pet Peeve
      Page 2
      Poster 11 x 17 Hierarchy Poster Pet Peeve/
      Page 3
      Poster 11 x 17 Color Texture Poster Pet Peeve/
    • Export PDF Lastname First name Project Final 3.pdf
    • Create a new post Lastname first name Project 3 Finalgive it categoires “student post” and “project 3”
    • UPLOAD your multipage PDF

Please refer to PDF with how to package and combine pages from different documents in InDesign

Class 28

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Class Info

  • Class Date: Tues. Dec. 8
  • Class Time: 8:30AM-10:00AM

Topic

Objectives

  • Further develop presentation and critique skills.

Activities

Type challenge Color

To-Do After Class

NOT DUE NEXT CLASS DUE LAST CLASS Dec 17

FINAL Project 3 Posters

  • Place all pages into one document, See PDF
    • Page 1
      Poster 11 x 17 Grid poster Pet Peeve
      Page 2
      Poster 11 x 17 Hierarchy Poster Pet Peeve/
      Page 3
      Poster 11 x 17 Color Texture Poster Pet Peeve/

    • If we get to it Page with 4 square social media posts

Please refer to PDF with how to package and combine pages from different documents in InDesign

Class 27

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Class Info

  • Class Date: Thurs. Dec. 3
  • Class Time: 8:30AM-10:00AM

Topic

  • Color texture poster

Objectives

Continue to develop presentation skills
Color
Poster 3 Color

Activities

Color texture placement Drop box files to place for classwork

color_texture_inside_type-ChallengeDownload
Color_texture_contrast_giuliani_challenge-2-Download

To-Do After Class

  • Initial layout Project 3 color texture poster upload jpg

NOT DUE NEXT CLASS

  • Place all pages into one document, See PDF
    • Page 1
      Poster 11 x 17 Grid poster Pet Peeve
      Page 2
      Poster 11 x 17 Hierarchy Poster Pet Peeve/
      Page 3
      Poster 11 x 17 Color Texture Poster Pet Peeve/

    • If we get to it Page with 4 square social media posts

Please refer to PDF with how to package and combine pages from different documents in InDesign

Class 26

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Class Info

  • Class Date: Tues. Dec. 1
  • Class Time: 8:30AM-10:00AM

Topic

Objectives

Understanding text wrap (or runaround) and the relationship of between image, text, space and distance

  • Use the same grid as the previous two posters
  • Content:
    • The words: My Pet Peeve Exhibit
    • Title of your Pet Peeve (different for everybody)
  • Specs:
    • Use a grid as the previous two posters
    • include a shape
    • must use text wrap
    • Type CONSIDERATIONS as per previous lectures,

Activities

To-Do After Class

Graphic Assignment

Complete layout of Poster 3 with Visual Hierarchy (pt. size, SCALE, Placement, Alignment, Variations, Compositions)

graphic_assignment_poster3_textwrap1Download

Class 25

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Class Info

  • Class Date: Tues. Nov. 24
  • Class Time: 8:30AM-10:00AM
  • Continue Posters.
  • Look at sketches and determine which are the best solutions.
  • Translate our sketches to actual designs.

Objectives

  • Learn to translate sketches to actual designs (typeface selection, use of grid, visual hierarchy).

Activities

Now that we have the grid and content of your poster, it is time to design

  • Create NEW Document:
    • 2-page document
    • size 11 x 17 inches
    • 3 pica margin all around
    • 8 columns / 1 pica gutter
    • 12 horizontal rows / 1 pica gutter
      • GO to LAYOUT>CREATE GUIDES>ADD the rows and gutter> OPTIONS>from margin
  • Specs:
    • Create 2 different designs (2 layouts following the same grid)
    • Use type only 
    • TWO typefaces max. (but with extensive families ok)
    • Black and White
    • Follow the grid
    • Emphasize your visual hierarchy
      • Emphasize contrast with scale (something must be BIG, something must be small)
    • Must consider and apply what was previously covered in class: Type selection and variations, alignment, word and letter spacing, line height, expression, etc.
  • Look at sample below with complete process:
Slider image

Project 3 process

Slider image
Slider image

To-Do After Class

Graphic Assignment
  • DUE Next class:
    • Complete two different layouts in InDesign
      These will have the same grid and the same contents, but completely different layouts
    • Once completed take save your InDesign files. Take screenshot of your solutions. These screen shots must show the guides.
    • name your files:
      lastname_name_poster1
      lastname_name_poster2