Advanced Typography – ARTS 524

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course is an advanced study of typography. Students are expected to develop an original body of work reflecting their personal artistic interests in graphic design. Graduate level students are expected to approach their work conceptually while demonstrating aesthetic excellence. May be taken twice.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Typography is a lifelong study for the graphic designer. The purpose of this course is to help guide the graduate student toward a deeper understanding of the subject through the development of a research-based comprehensive project. The student will combine their graphic design knowledge with the study of typographic history and theory as they progress toward a project that reflects upon their academic and/or professional goals within this field. The combination of textbook readings, scholarly research, analysis and critique of 'found' design, and in-class discussion will assist in the course project development.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion Assignments (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences and forums for critique. The student is required to create a Thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each Thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the Thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words.

Course Project: Proposal Form Assignment

Typography reaches across almost every area of visual communication. Throughout the course, the student will focus on a specific topic within the category that aligns with your unique background, educational and career goals, and interests. The student must receive approval on the topic and project(s) they plan to develop for the course by submitting a Course Project Proposal Form. This document acts as a contract; it is the agreed-upon direction for the student’s course research and visual project(s).

Course Project Assignments

The student will develop visual project(s) for the course that connect to the chosen research category and topic and display an understanding of typography consistent with graduate-level work.

The Course Project includes three visual progress phases: Preliminary Phase, Intermediary Phase, and a Final Phase submission. The student will have two weeks to complete each phase for a total of six weeks spent developing the project(s).

Research Paper Assignment

The student will write a 10-12-page research-based paper in current MLA format that focuses on their approved research topic within the realm of typography. The paper must cite at least 7 scholarly sources. The paper will be designed and formatted as if it were an article in a journal or magazine using Adobe InDesign.

Quizzes (3)

Quizzes will cover the Reading & Study material for the assigned week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice, and true/false questions, and has a 20-minute time limit.

Quiz: Comprehensive

The exam will cover the Learn material for weeks 1-4. It will be open-book/open-notes, contain 35 multiple-choice, multiple answer, and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.