Introduction to Typography

Investigate how typefaces function as visual signifiers, carrying deep connotative meaning through their historical and cultural associations. This week, you will conduct six technical case studies on landmark typefaces—including Bembo (Humanist), Didot (Modern), Clarendon (Egyptian), and Helvetica (Modernist)—to understand how their forms were shaped by technological shifts like the Industrial Revolution and the Avant-Garde movement. You will master the standard classification system to categorize letterforms and apply visual semiotics to decode the "stories" fonts tell within different design contexts. The module culminates in an independent typographic research project, where you will analyze the formal and cultural trajectory of a typeface of your choosing.

Master the technical and aesthetic conventions of professional typesetting by manipulating the spatial relationships within a layout. This week, you will develop high-level proficiency in micro-typography, specifically controlling kerning (letter-spacing), leading (line-spacing), and tracking to optimize legibility and visual tone. You will implement rigorous typographic hierarchy and baseline grid systems to organize complex information and establish clear navigational paths for the reader. By applying established industry standards for orphans, widows, and rags, you will add professional polish to your designs across both print and digital environments. This module features hands-on typesetting projects and a technical assessment of your layout precision.

Synthesize your technical and historical knowledge to master the art of expressive typography. This week, you will move beyond functional legibility to explore experimental typesetting as a vehicle for visual metaphor and conceptual depth. By analyzing the boundary-pushing work of CalArts designers and contemporary practitioners, you will learn to intentionally deconstruct typographic rules to amplify a text's emotional and narrative resonance. The course culminates in a capstone portfolio project: the design of a full-scale typographic poster. In this final synthesis, you will apply rigorous compositional hierarchy and connotative strategy to transform language into a high-impact, professional-grade visual statement.