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Remy Usman Publication

Introduction to Western Typography (Condensed)

西文文字编排与排版一

This course is an introduction on the principles and techniques surrounding the practice of typography for latin characters. This course is mainly taught in English.

Goals
  • Build/enhance student’s typographic acumen;
  • Develop sense of authorship;
  • Develop attitude;
  • Refine type skills;
  • Play + experiment within strict constraints.

    • Requirements
  • Student who has taken a beginner level course in Chinese Typography;
  • Student who has demonstrated interests in typography.

    • Credits
    To be confirmed

    Required Materials
  • Laptop: preferably a Macbook
  • Adobe InDesign software
  • Easy access to a laser printer
  • Electronic mouse
  • Digital storage device
  • VPN account
  • Non permanent tape
  • Double-sided tape
  • Sketchbook
  • Metal ruler
  • T-Square
  • Bone folder
  • Large 45 deg and 60 deg set squares
  • X-acto knife and blades
  • Cutting mat
  • Rubber cement, spray mount
  • Adhesive Eraser
  • Variety of while cardstock and papers
  • Book-binding thread
  • Needle to fit the thread
  • PVA Glue

    • Attendance
    Attend to all classes is essential. Un-excused absences will result in faults to the participation evaluation. Keep me updated if you need to miss class. In any case, the students are responsible for being up-to-date. Being late will be perceived the same way.

    Evaluation
    You will be evaluated according to your overall engagement in the projects. Your active participation during the semester will also be taken in account.

  • Project (70%)
  • Class participation (+ anticipation)(30%).

    • Assignment Criteria (General)
  • Autonomy, authorship
  • Originality / point of view / attitude
  • Formal approach
  • Execution shows technical skills
  • Give your idea a chance
  • Strangeness factor (Extra points) (?)

    • Schedule
    Week 7
    Monday
  • Course introduction
  • Syllabus overview
  • Presentation: Anatomy of the letter
  • At home: read article on thetype.com/kinkido-4/

    • Thursday
  • Project initiation
  • Font distribution
  • Presentation: Typographic examples
  • Presentation: Approach the blank page (page composition)
  • Presentation: How to setup inDesign in order to properly print at scale (if time permits)
  • Font distribution to all student

  • Approach the blank page.
  • How to make a layout and a grid?
  • Notions:
  •    units: picas/points/cm/inches,
  •    size (font-size),
  •    leading (line-height),
  •    weight (font-weight),
  •    kerning, tracking (letter-space),
  •    word-space,
  •    justified text, ragged text (align left),
  •    color of the text,
  •    uppercase /lowercase /capitals /small caps
  • Kerning/Tracking exercise: choose one word at a point size varying from 100 to 150 points, A4, landscape

    • at home
  • What should be done at home?
  • Research your font

    • Friday
  • Notions:
  •    em /en,
  •    em dash / en dash / hyphens,
  •    ligatures,
  •    top line, midline, baseline,
  •    figures (typography),
  •    folio (typography),
  •    thin-space, hair-space,
  •    indent/first-line indent,
  •    paragraphs,
  •    grid (margins /columns /gutters),
  •    quotations,
  •    glyphs and diacritics,
  •    opentype
  • Project in class: how to start?
  • Start shaping the page: on 1 page
  • Try multiple combinations of size, leading, kerning, tracking, etc.

    • In class and at home
  • Max’s typeface of the day: Fugue
  • Work in class
  • See how your layout works on a double-page spread
    •
    Week 8
    Monday
  • Presentation: Typographic examples
  • Presentation: How to manage a book in InDesign (flow of text)
  • Continue layout works following inputs from Max
  • Add page numbers on your double-page
  • Class consultation

    • Thursday
  • Case study: Carnegie International 57
  • Continue layout works and apply it to a whole text

    • Friday
  • Pursue design in class
  • Max will review layout vs. content
    •
    Week 9
    Monday
  • Presentation: Bookbinding: sewn and glued signatures
  • Presentation: About paper

    • Thursday
  • And if you dare: the article about Opentype 1.8
  • Continue work

    • Friday
  • Planning a small show: discussion
  • Presentation: Modular type
  • Continue work
    •
    Week 10
    Monday
  • Max’s typeface of the day: Futura
  • Preparing project delivery, class presentation
  • Preparing a small show

    • Thursday
  • Setup mini-exhibition
    •