Course Syllabus (tentative as of 01.12.04)
GRD 250-06: Typography: Form and Composition (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ART 101, GRD 205 -- Monday (6 – 8:50 p.m.)
Graphic Design Program
Office: 201A Art Building -- Telephone: 513-244-4203
Office Hours: Mon. 3:45 – 5; Tue. 10:30 – 12 p.m., 1-3 p.m.; Thur. 3:45 – 5 p.m.
E-mail: Michael_Kroeger@mail.msj.edu
This course will introduce students to letterform design and typographic composition.
Type styles will be identified and drawn. Pencil page layouts of primitive forms will be executed. An overview of history of typography and letterform design will be investigated.
This course will introduce second year graphic design students to principles of type design and composition. Students will explore and hopefully discover largely unknown phenomena in the interaction of design and content. Concepts such as Semiotics and Visible Language will be explored.
At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:
• F. Critical/Creative Thinking: to reason in an open-ended manner to evaluate a situation, generate multiple solutions, and support the reasoning behind a solution.
1) Font design (upper and lowercase letterforms
– begin in class finish outside of class)
2) Typographic layout/composition (series of layouts from simple to complex)
3) History of typography (lectures and student investigation)
4) Typographic Handbook (complete book of all projects and research: computer based)
5) Pencil pages 14 x 17 inches (graphic exercises performed in class)
There are two deadlines given for all exercises, midterm and the end of the semester. The course is organized this way for two reasons:
(1) the students are able to refine projects as needed throughout the semester
(2) deadline build self-discipline through time organization
The midterm presentation is considered a target and is by appointment. At this point half of the semester work is ideally complete. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to refine some earlier projects towards the end of the semester.
Your final presentation is by appointment during final exam week. The presentation is cumulative. Evaluation criteria comprise the project requirements and the self-evaluation personal development points. Deficiencies are recorded and considered in the final evaluation. There is a grade penalty (unsatisfactory) for late or incomplete presentations. Some work may be temporarily retained for faculty discussion and documentation.
This course follows College, and Department guidelines, objectives, and regulations. Listed below are some specific points for student attention.
ART 250 Typography calls for regular course attendance and participation. Since we meet only one day per week it is essential that you participate in class for the entire period, please do not ask if it is OK to leave early. It is NOT! Each student must fulfill 87 percent attendance and participation. Attendance and participation below 87 percent (two class periods) affect grading. Absences are ‘no fault’ that is, there are no excused/unexcused absences. If there is a serious problem, such as accident, illness, family or personal problem that causes significant absence, contact the professor promptly to discuss your choices.
The final grade is a professor/student consensus evaluation based on these course policies, the achievement of specific project criteria, and the developmental points listed on the evaluation criteria. A student self-evaluation conducted at midterm and finals records student progress perceptions.
A mark of ‘I’ (incomplete) is given by the professor only when a student who is otherwise doing acceptable work is unable to complete a course because of conditions beyond personal control. An incomplete requires external verification such as a physician’s letter. If at reviews, your work is incomplete but otherwise meets standards, and you do not qualify for the ‘I’ grade, you will receive a ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade. When you complete the work, a grade change to a ‘C’ will be submitted.
Student name: ___________________________________
Faculty evaluates student performance based on the course policies, performance expectations, project criteria, and the personal development items below. Incomplete final presentations earn ‘D’ or ‘F’ grades.
Circle assessment -- (4 is higher 1 is lower)
Initiative and enthusiasm 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Performance consistency 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Studio preparation 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Thinking and judgment 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Regular practice 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Project management 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Craft development 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Self-determination 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Personal development 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
General performance level 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Overall design performance 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1
Attendance/leave early ____________ ____________
Letter grade assessment A B+ B C+ C D+ D
2B drawing pencil.
Pelikan Plaka* paint – Black 50 ml jar; as needed.
Pelikan Plaka* paint – White 50 ml jar; as needed.
Windsor Newton Sceptre 101 (or equivalent) brushes (2 the same size) – size 4
Windsor Newton series 680 (or equivalent) 1" brush
Ruling pen.
Crescent 201 hot press board; as needed.
30/60 degree triangle – 12" size.
45 degree triangle – 12" size.
Schaedler Precision Rule set (or equivalent millimeter scale).
Xacto knife # 11 blades.
Cutting mat.
18 inch metal straight edge.
Utility knife.
Scissors.
Scotch 811 Removable Magic Plus tape 3/4 x 72yd; as needed.
Scotch Double Sided clear tape
(*Black and white gesso may be substituted for Plaka
Designer Color* (gouache)
Windsor Newton (WN 0605)
181 - 335 - 508 - 0614 512 (522) - 523 - 524 - 527 - 603
Suder’s Art Store/1309 Vine Street (downtown) 241-0800;
Lance’s Art Supplies/345 Calhoun (near UC) 861-0667;
Prince Reproduction/7th & Main Streets (downtown) 621-0726;
Michaels – Arts & Crafts/Glencrossing Way 451-374;
Hader Hardware:
1) Del Fair Shopping Center 451-5666; or
A basic course in typography
James Craig
Watson-Guptill Publications ISBN 0-8230-1321-9
Optional:
John Kane
Prentice Hall ISBN: 0-13-099071-x