CGA2022 TYPOGRAPHY
3 Credit Hours
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in either the freshman or the sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
CGA2022 - Typography (3 hrs.)
This course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of typography. Emphasis is on creative manipulation of letterforms as design elements and their impact on the message communicated by the text and overall design. Students will use Adobe graphic and page layout software to control and enhance type.
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
CGA2014 Visual Communication, CGA2013 Introduction to Computer Graphics, or basic knowledge of Adobe Illustrator.
Controlling Purpose:
This course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of typography. Emphasis is on creative manipulation of letterforms as design elements and their impact on the message communicated by the text and the overall design. Use of graphic and page layout software to control and enhance type.
Learner Outcomes:
The student will:
- Use letterforms as design element in image composition
- Develop an awareness of the structure and visual impact of letterforms
- Copyfitting and analysis of type as form and texture in text and headlines
- Utilize computer graphic applications to render and manipulate letterforms, as well as employ grid layout
Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:
The following defines the minimum core content not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other content as time allows.
UNIT 1: Introduction to the Fundamentals of Typography
Outcomes: Upon completion of the unit, the students will be able to
- Identify type anatomy: ascender, descender, stroke, serif, x-height, cap height, em, point size
- Identify and compare the similarities and differences between the major type classifications
- Identify type families and classifications
- Identify type specifications: alignment, leading, kerning, tracking, line length
- Describe and utilize the aesthetics of types; shape, size, weight, tone, color, patterns, texture
UNIT 2: Introduction to the Creative Use of Type in Visual Communication
Outcomes: Upon completion of the unit, the students will be able to.
- Identify legibility and clarity needs in typesetting
- Understand the emotional and intellectual impact of typefaces and typesetting on the viewer
- Establish a hierarchy of information through type and typesetting
- Communicate a message through the typography only
- Use type and its characteristics to guide movement through a design
- Describe the impact of typefaces, color, texture, use of display type on the message
UNIT 3: Introduction to the History and Current Trends in Typography
Outcomes: Upon completion of the unit, the students will be able to
- Identify key innovations in typography: Guttenberg press, hot and cold press, phototype, digital
- Identify key innovators impacting use of type such as: Guttenberg, Jan Tschihold, Bauhaus, Paul Rand, Jef Raskin, etc.
- Identify major periods in evolution of type
- Identify current trends and impact of electronic communication on typography
UNIT 4: Introduction to Technologies used to Produce Digital Typography
Outcomes: Upon completion of the unit, the students will be able to
- Understand differences between bitmapped and PostScript fonts
- Describe the basic parts of a Bezier-based objected-oriented vector graphic
- Plan the design of artwork using templates and autotrace
- Use the drawing and transforming tools in Adobe Illustrator
- Use the measure, constrain, fill and stroke functions in Adobe Illustrator
- Handle type and type manipulation in Adobe Illustrator
- Use the grid and guides in Adobe Illustrator to layout a design grid
- Understand preflighting of documents for offset printing and desktop printing
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Materials/Equipment Required:
Access to production lab and appropriate software
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Timeframe:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission, and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching, and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies:
402.00 Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 Student Code of Conduct
Disability Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability, which may impact work in this class which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
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