ah teaches graphic design (A Type of History lecture)
A Type of History
Lecture outline
An introduction to typography and working with type in design. Lecture slides will be made available on the day of the lecture (Sept 20).
Peer critique prep
In preparation for today's critiques, please:
- Paste up your project on the wall.
- Make sure you have a pen or pencil ready
- Once ready please raise your hand and I will provide you with a stack of post-its.
Peer critique reminders
For today's peer critique, we will be providing you with a series of prompts to guide your critique. For each critique you provide please make sure to:
- Be specific about what you are referring to.
- Be clear about what is working, or not.
- Explain why it is working, or not.
- Include your name at the bottom of the critique.
Leave your post-its at the project you are providing critique on.
Peer critique process
After each prompt, you will move to the next project (+1 from where you are). Please make sure to leave your critique on a post-it at the project.
Peer critique start
Please move +1 project.
Does the submission appear complete? What is missing?
You have...
Do you understand the structure of this document? Do you know what each section is?
You have...
Do they present the similarities and differences in the existing magazines clearly? Why so or why not?
You have...
What do you like? and what do you wish?
You have...
Extension
Use the critique you have just received as a means for improving your projects. You have until Sunday at 8pm to resubmit as needed.
Today's critique
Our approach
We will be taking the 'I like/I wish' approach again for today's critique: Please start each critique with either 'I like' or 'I wish'.
Today's critique is social
This week I would like you to chat with a neighbour to form your critiques. Let's open up with [waving] 'Hi, my name is ...'
You have 2 minutes to introduce yourself to a neighbour you do not know.
The Printing Press
Let there be type!
Type Measurement
Physical measurements:
- 12 points (p12) is equal to 1 pica (1p).
- 6 picas (6p) is equal to 1 inch (1").
Why are we working in inches?
Measurements lie
While these fonts have been set to the same size, they don't appear to be the same size:
why,why, why, why, why, why
Elements of Type
In this sketch:
- Baseline
- X-height
- Cap-height
- Serif
- Ascender/descender
Serif and Sans
They're best friends
serif & sans
Identifying Type
The serif edition
Humanist
(Centaur)
Transitional
(Times New Roman)
Modern
(Bodoni)
Identifying Type
The sans edition
Humanist
(Gill Sans)
Transitional
(Helvetica)
Geometric
(Futura)
Identifying Type
The other edition
Slab serif
(Rockwell)
Script
(Brush Script)
Graphic
(Comic Sans)
Identifying Type
The meaning(s)
If you had to characterize each of these typefaces, how would you describe them?
I am a typeface that needs characters. Please give me some characters to work with that are clear and define who I am.
I am a typeface that needs characters. Please give me some characters to work with that are clear and define who I am.
I am a typeface that needs characters. Please give me some characters to work with that are clear and define who I am.
Identifying Type
By case, weight, and posture
By case:
- ALL CAPS
- lowercase
- small caps
By weight:
- Normal
- Bold
By posture:
- Normal
- Italics
Any questions?
Typographic Concerns
Legibility vs Readability
In legible type we are looking to be able clearly interpret the type from a distance.
Brisket hamburger leberkas capicola boudin bresaola jerky.
Legibility vs Readability
With readable type we want to be able to comfortably read it for a while.
Veggies es bonus vobis, proinde vos postulo essum magis kohlrabi welsh onion daikon amaranth tatsoi tomatillo melon azuki bean garlic.
Gumbo beet greens corn soko endive gumbo gourd. Parsley shallot courgette tatsoi pea sprouts fava bean collard greens dandelion okra wakame tomato. Dandelion cucumber earthnut pea peanut soko zucchini.
Turnip greens yarrow ricebean rutabaga endive cauliflower sea lettuce kohlrabi amaranth water spinach avocado daikon napa cabbage asparagus winter purslane kale. Celery potato scallion desert raisin horseradish
Kerning
This is when we adjust the spacing between letters to achieve an optimal balance within a word. Let's take a a look at a kerning game, to demonstrate the practice.
Word Spacing
Why paying attention to spacing matters.
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
What Does It Say?
Why might you identify one of these as the latest news?
Latest
News
LATEST
NEWS
Latest
News
Open work time
Time for you to work on:
- Project 2
- Sketching exercise