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  2. Design Practices: Typography [DES2106]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Design Practices: Typography

  • Unit Code

    DES2106

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit provides an introduction to Typography. Through an examination of the history of alphabets and the technology of type students will explore how current methods of typographic design came into being. Students will work within the rules of typography before exploring ways to break those rules, and will develop an analytical approach to the practice of typography that enables them to develop their own typographic style.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the application of typography in terms of theory and industry practice.
  2. Demonstrate and understanding of appropriate applications of specific typefaces and typesetting through working from authentic design briefs.
  3. Produce practical examples that show familiarity, and application, of the guidelines of good typography.
  4. Work in a team to lay out a multi-page document ready for press.

Unit Content

  1. Alphabets, writing systems and typographic history.
  2. Guidelines of typographic layout and grids: how to work within these and without.
  3. Letterforms: brushstrokes, chiselled forms, machined and vector forms.
  4. Type application from screen to billboard.
  5. Typographic designers/schools and their legacies.
  6. Work on real magazine.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Workshops, Tutorials and Lectures.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalResearch diary and typographic exercises25%
ProjectProject 1 Freature article for magazine25%
ProjectProject 2 Book Design35%
EssayTypographic Essay15%

Text References

  • ^ Bringhurst, R. Elements of typographic style.
  • Spiekermann, E., & Ginger, E. M. (1998). Stop stealing sheep and find out how type works. Mountain View, CA: Abode Press.
  • Vanderlans, R. Emigre No. 70: The look back issue. Berkely, CA: Emigre & Gingko Press.
  • Meggs, P., & Purvis, A. (2006). Meggs' history of graphic design. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Roberts, L., & Thrift, J. (2005). The designer and the grid. Brighton: Rotovision.
  • Poyer, R. (2003). No more rules: Graphic design and postmodernism. New Haven, CT: Yale University.
  • Baines, P., & Haslam, R. (2005). Type & typography. New York: Watson-Guptil
  • Donaldson, T. (2008). Shapes for sounds. London: Mark Batty.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

DES2106|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Design Practices: Typography

  • Unit Code

    DES2106

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit provides an introduction to Typography. Through an examination of the history of alphabets and the technology of type students will explore how current methods of typographic design came into being. Students will work within the rules of typography before exploring ways to break those rules, and will develop an analytical approach to the practice of typography that enables them to develop their own typographic style.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the application of typography in terms of theory and industry practice.
  2. Demonstrate and understanding of appropriate applications of specific typefaces and typesetting through working from authentic design briefs.
  3. Produce practical examples that show familiarity, and application, of the guidelines of good typography.
  4. Work in a team to lay out a multi-page document ready for press.

Unit Content

  1. Alphabets, writing systems and typographic history.
  2. Guidelines of typographic layout and grids: how to work within these and without.
  3. Letterforms: brushstrokes, chiselled forms, machined and vector forms.
  4. Type application from screen to billboard.
  5. Typographic designers/schools and their legacies.
  6. Work on real magazine.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Workshops, Tutorials and Lectures.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalResearch diary and typographic exercises25%
ProjectProject 1 Freature article for magazine25%
ProjectProject 2 Book Design35%
EssayTypographic Essay15%

Text References

  • ^ Bringhurst, R. Elements of typographic style.
  • Spiekermann, E., & Ginger, E. M. (1998). Stop stealing sheep and find out how type works. Mountain View, CA: Abode Press.
  • Vanderlans, R. Emigre No. 70: The look back issue. Berkely, CA: Emigre & Gingko Press.
  • Meggs, P., & Purvis, A. (2006). Meggs' history of graphic design. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Roberts, L., & Thrift, J. (2005). The designer and the grid. Brighton: Rotovision.
  • Poyer, R. (2003). No more rules: Graphic design and postmodernism. New Haven, CT: Yale University.
  • Baines, P., & Haslam, R. (2005). Type & typography. New York: Watson-Guptil
  • Donaldson, T. (2008). Shapes for sounds. London: Mark Batty.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

DES2106|1|2