Class Meeting Grid

Course Breakdown

Schedule subject to change. This class has 30 meetings. Class content will be added as the semester progresses.

Class 1- Wednesday, 8/28

Class 2- Friday, 8/30

  • Topic: Visual communication and the origin of written communication and the alphabet. Intro to design application.
  • Activities: Brief History of the Letterform, Intro to InDesign.
  • Homework- Due by 11PM, Tuesday, 9/3
    • InDesign, write 4 sentences about what you think is the greatest invention of all time. (See Class Notes for important details).
    • Complete Homework from Class 1 (if you haven’t already).
    • Make sure you have access to Adobe, can login to a school computer, and have a CUNY email.
    • Starting next week you’ll be required to write down one thing you learned during class each day. Bring a notebook or a way to take notes.

Class 3- Wednesday, 9/4

  • Topic: Main Classification of Typefaces, How to access a variety of typefaces for use across media (your computer, other sources), Discuss evolving trends in typography such as variable fonts and typography in space, Type vocabulary
  • Activities: Project 1 Typebook Setup (including Parent Pages and Guides), Graphic Assignment 1
  • Homework- Due by 11PM, Thursday, 9/5
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 1 (guides, lines, and anatomy) that was started in class. This WILL be graded along with Graphic Assignment 2 (assigned during Class 4)
    • Class 1 & 2 Assignment Catchup: 11PM, Saturday, 9/7

Class 4- Friday, 9/6

  • Topic: What are variations of type and what are variable typefaces?
  • Activities: Type Challenge Select Variables, Graphic Assignment 2
  • Homework- Due by 11PM, Tuesday 9/10
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 2 (weight, width, and posture) that was started in class. This WILL be graded along with Graphic Assignment 1 (assigned during Class 3)
    • Found Alphabet: Letters A, Number 1
      • Post Due: 11 PM, Tuesday, 9/10.
      • Comments Due: 11 PM, Thursday, 9/12

Class 5- Wednesday, 9/11

  • Topic: Word Spacing and Line Height
    • Line Height (leading) & Word Space (kerning & tracking)
  • Activities: KERNTYPE Letter Spacing Game, Type Challenge — Tracking and Kerning.
  • Homework- Due by 11PM, Friday 9/13
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 3 (leading, tracking, and kerning).
    • Found Alphabet: Letters A, Number 1
      • Comments Due: 11 PM, Thursday, 9/12

Class 6- Friday, 9/13

  • Topic:
    • Type arrangement and legibility: Alignment
    • Flush or Align Left (FL/RR) /Flush or Align Right (FR/RL)
    • Center /Justify/Justify all lines (forced)
  • Activities: Type Challenge Alignment Activity (In-Class)
  • Homework- Due by 11 PM, Tuesday, 9/17
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 4 (alignment).
    • Find 2 images related to your invention.
    • Found Alphabet: Letters B, Number 2
      • Post Due: 11 PM 9/17. Comments Due: 11 PM 9/19
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 7- Wednesday, 9/18

  • Topic:
    • Type on a path (circles, curves, sharp angles)
  • Activities: Type on a Path Demo (in-class), Converting an Image to Grayscale Demo (in-class)
  • Homework- Due by 11 PM, Thursday, 9/19
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 5 (type on a path).
    • Found Alphabet: Letters B, Number 2
      • Comments Due: 11 PM 9/19
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 8- Friday, 9/20

  • Topic:
    • Type Pairings
  • Activities: Type Connection Game (in-class), Type Challenge — Type Pairing
  • Homework- Due by 11 PM, Tuesday, 9/24
    • Complete Graphic Assignment 6 (type pairing).
    • Found Alphabet: Letters C, Number 3
      • Post Due: 11 PM 9/24. Comments Due: 11 PM 9/26
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 9- Wednesday, 9/25

  • Topic:
    • Design & Typographic Continuity and Uniformity
  • Activities: Paragraph Styles vs Character Styles Demo, Title/Cover Page (part of Project 1), Project 1 Type Book Revisions
  • Homework-
    • Complete Title/Cover (Page 1) of Project 1 and continue edits to all pages.
      • NO additional Dropbox submissions needed until the project is complete.
      • Come to class with questions if you have any.
    • Found Alphabet: Letters C, Number 3
      • Comments Due: 11 PM 9/26
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 10- Friday, 9/27

  • Topic:
    • Presentations
  • Activities: Type Hero presentations, Project 1 Type Book revisions, packaging an INDD file demo
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 1 Type Book – Due by 11 PM, Tuesday, 10/1
      • Make sure all corrections to books are made and that you’ve included 14 pages of content.
      • Save your InDesign File.
      • Go to File > Package to export and make sure to include a PDF.
      • Name Packaged Folder: Lastname_Firstname_Project1_Typebook
      • Place FOLDER in DROPBOX
    • Study for first test of the semester (Test Date: Wednesday, 10/9)
      • You’ll be tested on anything you’ve learned from Class 1 – Class 10
      • Test will be timed, and in-class so show up on time!
    • Found Alphabet: Letter D & E, Number 4
      • Post Due: 11 PM 10/1. Comments Due: 11 PM 10/3
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 11- Wednesday, 10/9

  • Topic:
    • Type Test 1
    • Intro to Expressive Typography
    • Intro to Project 2: Expressive Typography, Typography & Color 
  • Activities: Type Test 1, Type Challenge Tools (In-Class), Drawing Letters (Homework), Bonus Assignments
  • Homework-
    • Complete Type Challenge Tools, Due 11PM, Tuesday, 10/15
      • Export as JPGs final Name it: LastName_Firstname_Illustrator-Tools-01 and LastName_Firstname_Illustrator-Tools-02
      • Upload to Dropbox
    • Complete Drawing Letters, Due by 11PM, Tuesday, 10/15
      • Take a picture or scan sketches.
      • Name it: LastName_Firstname_Handdrawn-Letters_1 and LastName_Firstname_Handdrawn-Letters_2
      • Upload to Dropbox
    • Scavenger Hunt Due 11PM, Tuesday, 10/15
    • Found Alphabet:
      • Letter F & G, Number 5
        • Post Due: 11 PM 10/10. Comments Due: 11 PM 10/15
      • Letter H & I, Number 6
        • Post Due: 11 PM 10/15. Comments Due: 11 PM 10/17
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.

Class 12- Wednesday, 10/16

  • Topic:
    • Expressive Typography with a Typeface 
  • Activities: Project 2 — Part 1
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 2 — Part 1, Due 11PM, Thursday, 10/17
      • Step 1 of 2—Photograph sketches, save as: Lastname_Firstname_FourWords_Sketches_[insert page number here]
      • Step 2 of 2— Export JPG and name it Lastname_Firstname_FourWords_Digital
      • Place everything in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet:
      • Letter H & I, Number 6
        • Comments Due: 11 PM 10/17
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10

Class 13- Wednesday, 10/18

Class 14- Wednesday, 10/23

  • Topic:
  • Activities: Project 2 — Part 3 — COLOR (Start in class, complete for HW)
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 2 — Part 3, Due 11PM, Thursday, 10/24
      • Take a screenshot of your Illustrator file
      • Name image: Lastname_Firstname_FaveFood_Sequence2
      • Place in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet:
      • Letter J & K, Number 7
        • Comments Due: 11 PM 10/24
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/1

Class 15- Friday, 10/25

  • Topic:
    • Typographical solutions //3D
  • Activities: Demo — 3D tools in Illustrator and Typography, Type Challenge — Illustrator Tools (Extrude), Project 2 — Part 4 — 3D (Start in class, complete for HW)
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 2 — Part 4, Due 11PM, Tuesday, 10/29
      • Take a screenshot of your Illustrator file
      • Name image: Lastname_Firstname_3DWord
      • Place in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet:
      • Letter L & M, Number 8
        • Post Due: 11 PM 10/29. Comments Due: 11 PM 10/31
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/1

Class 16- Wednesday, 10/30

  • Topic:
    • Typographical considerations for presentations and mockups
    • Fix Dropbox
    • Plan Week — the time each semester when we encourage students to get ready to meet with their advisor, register, and plan next steps in their college careers.
      • Virtual Peer Mentor Hours if you have questions:
        • Wednesday, October 30, 4:00 –6:00 PM  Zoom link
        • Thursday, October 31, 1:00–3:00 PM Zoom link
      • Faculty Advisors Website where you will find email addresses for scheduling advisement appointments.
  • Activities:  Feedback & Revisions, Project 2 — Part 5 — Favorite Food Lockup Revisions (Start in class, complete for HW)
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 2 — Part 5, Due 11PM, Thursday, 10/31
      • Take a screenshot of your Illustrator file
      • Name image: Lastname_Firstname_FavoriteFoodRevised
      • Place in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet:
      • Letter L & M, Number 8
        • Comments Due: 11 PM 10/31
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. PDF is due 11 PM the night BEFORE your presentation.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/1

Class 17- Friday, 11/1

  • Topic:
    • Typography & augmented reality
  • Activities:  How to Render 3D in Illustrator (Demo), How to place art into mockups (Demo), Type Talk — Lettering Artists, Continue revising Favorite Food lockup and Expressive Typography assignment.
  • Homework-
    • Complete Type Talk — Lettering Artists
    • Continue to work on Project 2 revisions (Fave Food and 3D Type)
    • Take Home Test, Due: 11 PM 11/7: Graded out of 10 pts. Choose your favorite music lyric (no more than 10 words) and create an 8″ x 8″ hand done lettering design, using the techniques shared in Class 11. Color ok, graphics and illustrations are not. Up to 10 bonus points earned if you can replicate your designs on the computer.
    • Found Alphabet
      • Letter N & O, Number 9
        • Post Due: 11 PM 11/5. Comments Due: 11 PM 11/7
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. Next group presents next Friday, 11/8.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10

Class 18- Wednesday, 11/6

  • Topic:
    • Project 2 Wrap-Up: what to submit, how, and where.
  • Activities:  Presentation preparation
  • Homework-
    • Complete Project 2 (Fave Food and 3D Type)—Due 11PM Thursday, 11/7
      • Choose a mockup from this folder only for your presentation.
      • Export a PDF of your 6 page presentation. Save it as Lastname_Firstname_Project2_ExpressiveType and upload it to Dropbox
    • Take Home Test, Due: 11 PM 11/7: Graded out of 10 pts. Choose your favorite music lyric (no more than 10 words) and create an 8″ x 10″ hand done lettering design, using the techniques shared in Class 11. Color ok, graphics and illustrations are not. Up to 10 bonus points earned if you can replicate your designs on the computer.
      • Save file as Lastname_Firstname_Test2_SongLyric. Place in Dropbox.
    • Found Alphabet
      • Letter N & O, Number 9
        • Comments Due: 11 PM 11/7
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date. Next group presents next Friday, 11/8. Submit your presentation to Dropbox by 11PM Thursday, 11/7:
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10

Class 19- Friday, 11/8

  • Topic:
    • Presentations
  • Activities:  Type Hero presentations, Project 2 Reflections OR Business Walrus, Image Sourcing for Class 20
  • Homework-
    • Abstract Textures, Due 11PM Tuesday, 11/12:
      • Photograph and upload a minimum of 6 abstract textures as per the instructions above.
    • Found Alphabet

Class 20- Wednesday, 11/13

  • Topic:
  • Activities:  DEMO (follow along) — How to Place Photo in InDesign, Type Textures
  • Homework-

Class 21- Friday, 11/15

  • Topic:
    • Continue: Color/ Textures/Legibility
  • Activities:  TBD In-Class Exercise, How to Use the Effects Panel InDesign (DEMO), Type Textures 2
  • Homework-
    • Type Textures 2, Due 11PM Tuesday, 11/19:
      • Complete the assignment as per the instructions and export a PDF.
      • Name PDF: Lastname_Firstname_Type_Textures_2
      • Place in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet
      • Letter R & S
        • Post Due: 11 PM 11/19. Comments Due: 11 PM 11/21
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10

Class 22- Wednesday, 11/20

  • Topic:
    • Visual hierarchy, legibility & readability
      • space
      • type size
      • spacial zones (areas defined by grid)
      • color
      • alignment
      • added elements (lines)
      • variations in type (bold)
      • dynamic compositions (diagonals)
    • Typographical Grid:
      • margins
      • columns and rows
      • gutters (vertical and horizontal)
      • modules and spacial zones
  • Activities:  What is a Grid, Type Challenge — Following A Grid, Intro to Project 3— Posters Series and Social Media Posts
  • Homework-
    • Project 3 Posters R1, Due 11PM Thursday, 11/21:
      • Complete the assignment as per the instructions and take screenshots.
      • Name Screenshots:  Lastname_Firstname_posters_1 (_2, _3, etc)
      • Place in Dropbox
    • Found Alphabet
      • Letter R & S
        • Comments Due: 11 PM 11/21
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10

Class 23- Friday, 11/22

  • Topic:
    • Keywords & Moodboards
    • Visual Hierarchy and Grid
  • Activities: Keywords & Moodboards — How to use them to inspire your design. Revise your keywords, moodboards, and first drafts.
  • Homework-
    • Project 3 Posters R2, Due 11PM Tuesday, 11/26:
      • Complete TWO posters and export a PDF. Lastname_Firstname_posters_edited
      • Complete THREE moodboards and export a PDF. Name it Lastname_Firstname_posters_moodboard
      • Place BOTH in Dropbox (will be graded as TWO SEPARATE grades)
    • Found Alphabet
      • Letters T & U
        • Post Due: 11 PM 11/26. Comments Due: 11 PM 11/28
    • Type Hero Presentations (on-going)
      • Refer to the project page (click the link above) for your presentation date.
    • Bonus Assignments (on-going), Due 11PM Tuesday, 12/10