Advanced Typography

Recommended Prerequisites

Average knowledge of typography, programming and generative design.

Teaching Methods

The unit includes theoretical lectures where the fundamental concepts, principles and techniques are presented and explained in detail.

Lectures of practical nature play the role of strengthening the connection between theoretic knowledge and its practical application. To pursue this goal we focus on problem solving and on the analysis of case studies that require combining different theoretical concepts and that promote critical reasoning.

Learning Outcomes

In this curricular unit, it is intended that the student deepens the understanding of the typographic resources at his disposal and their application in different media. It is intended to deepen the student's knowledge in type design. In this way, the student must understand the constructive principles of type design, its conventions, and limits. The student must understand the modular aspects of the Roman alphabet, as well as the similarity of the anatomical parts between characters. The students should be able to create and/or choose typographic fonts suitable for the exposure of a message, using elements and principles of visual communication. The student should be able to develop methods to support the generation or design of typefaces using programming. It is also intended that the student is able to critically analyze a model, by evaluating its aesthetic value and its effectiveness in terms of communication, and to present and defend its concepts and respective purposes.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Type Design
a. Constructive principles of letter design
b. Anatomy of the Roman alphabet and similarity of anatomical parts between characters
c. Optical adjustments
2. Critical Analysis
a. Typography and Communication
b. Form and Function
c. Readability, expressiveness, suitability
3. Case studies of typographic systems and identities that do not use programming
4. Case studies of generative typography systems.

Head Lecturer(s)

Artur Luís Gonçalves de Azevedo Rebelo Alves

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 25.0%
Project: 75.0%

Bibliography

Archer, O. (2004). Tipografía. Valencia: Campgràfic;

Bringhurst, R. (1997). The Elements of Typographic Style. Point Roberts: Hartley & Marks;

Cheng, K. (2006). Designing Type. London: Laurence King Publishing;

Heller, S., Meggs, B. (2001). Texts on Type: Critical Writings on Typography. New York: Allworth Press;

Jury, D. (2006). What Is Typography. Mies: RotoVision

Luidl, P. (2004). Tipografía Básica. Valencia: Campgràfic;

McLean, R. (1980). The Thames and Hudson Manual of Typography. London: Thames and Hudson

Tiggers, T. (Ed.). (2003). The Typographic Experiment: Radical Innovation in

Sesma, M. (2004). TipoGrafismo. Barcelona: Paidós;

White, A. (2005). Thinking in Type: The Practical Philosophy of Typography. New York: Allworth Press;

Van Nes, I. (2012). Dynamic Identities: How to Create a Living Brand. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: BIS Publishers.

Gross, B et al. (2018) Generative Design: Visualize, Program, and Create with JavaScript in p5.js Paperback.