- Instructor: Lynne Yun
- Parsons School of Design, Art Media & Technology
- PSAM 3010
- 4:00–6:40pm on Wednesdays, Spring 2022
- Parsons 2 West 13th St. Room #501
Typeface design is a unique and important skill that profoundly affects visible language. The drawing of letterforms intersects with the history of graphic design and technology and affects every aspect of design practice from branding and editorial design to motion and interaction design. This course gives students an overview of the historic context of type design and an introduction to current methods from calligraphy to parametric type. Students will apply their knowledge to design an original typeface.
The Stroke (Weeks 1–3)
Students will be introduced to the history of letterforms and understand the relationship between technology and the written form. Students will learn the basics of calligraphy to complement their theoretical knowledge with practical experience as well as study historical models. Focus will be given to conceptual ideas such as modularity and how the tools influence the form (such as the axis).
The Letter (Weeks 4–5)
Students will be introduced to font-making software and related concepts such as vectors, bezier curves, and multiple masters. Students will practice drawing select letters by digitizing historical scripts or sketches. Focus will be given to conceptual ideas such as spacing, counters, design axis, and variable fonts in the browser.
The Alphabet (Weeks 6–15)
Students will propose and develop a full typeface (ASCII set). Focus will be given to creating a visual system of letterforms, with the consideration of the performability of the typeface in different print and technological settings. There will be an emphasis on spatial concepts such as spacing, where students will learn that designing the negative space is just as important as designing the positive outlines. Toward the end of the unit, students will develop a typeface specimen to showcase their typeface.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
- Understand a historical overview of letterforms
- Understand the modular nature of letterform systems
- Understand how type design intersects with the multidisciplinary nature of communication design
- Articulate and analyze letters and compositions
- Understand how to plot proper bezier vector points
- Designing a working digital typeface and supporting specimen display materials.
- Achieve fluency in industry standard software
- Know resources to seek inspiration & self-improvement
- Assignment 1: Writing calligraphy (Weeks 1–3)
- Assignment 2: Drawing and exporting a variable letter (Weeks 4–5)
- Final Project: Creating a digital typeface and typeface specimen Weeks (6–14)
- Final Project Documentation: Week 15
- Pencil and sharpener
- Eraser
- Ruler
- Masking or artists’ tape
- Pad of 9” x 12” Layout bond or tracing paper
- Black Zig Memory System Calligraphy Markers
- A range of sizes of black markers (.05 micron to fine sharpie)
- Mac with Glyphs app installed
Subject to adjustment.
| Week | Class Material | Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1/26) | ||
| 2 (2/2) | ||
| 3 (2/9) | ||
| 4 (2/16) | ||
| 5 (2/23) | ||
| 6 (3/2) | ||
| 7 (3/9) | ||
| (3/16) | Spring break (no class) | |
| 8 (3/23) | ||
| 9 (3/30) | ||
| 10 (4/6) | ||
| 11 (4/13) | ||
| 12 (4/20) | ||
| 13 (4/27) | ||
| 14 (5/4) | ||
| 15 (5/11) |
Office hours are available in 15-minute time slots, Fridays 3:30–5:30pm. You can book them through this google calendar. (Note: Please cancel the meeting if you can't make it, so the slot is released.)
- Gerard Unger Theory of Type Design. Nai010, 2018
- Fred Smeijers Counterpunch: Making Type in the Sixteenth Century, Designing Typefaces Now. Hyphen Press, 2011.
- Cristóbal Henestrosa, Laura Meseguer, José Scaglione. How to Create Typefaces: from Sketch to Screen. Tipo e, 2017.
- Glyphs Essential Training by Charles Nix
- Glyphs App Tutorial Posts
-
Adhesiontext tool by Miguel Sousa
-
Text for Proofing Fonts by Jonathan Hoefler
-
Spacing Tests by Dan Rhatigan
-
Kern King by Leslie Cabarga
-
Galvanized Jets by Samarskaya & Partners
-
Kerning Pairs by Andre Fuchs
-
Micro Typography:How To Space And Kern Punctuation Marks And Other Symbols
- Punctuation(1): the linguistic side by Lisa Fischbach
- Butterick's Practical Typography
- Letterform Archive Type Specimens
- Parsons Type Design Alumni Projects
- Yale School of Art, Type Design
- Type Media 2018
- Fonts In Use
- Archivio Tipograpfico
- Typographica: Type Reviews, Books, Commentary
- Alphabettes: Commentary by Women in Type
- Attendance 15%
- Active Participation 15%
- First Assignment (Weeks 1–3) 10%
- Second Assignment (Weeks 4–5) 10%
- Final Project (Weeks 5-15) 40%
- Final Project Documentation 10%
- Total: 100%
Attendance, Grading and Work Submission Standards, Program Policies, Making Resources, and University Policies
All CD classes adhere to the same program and university policies: Linked here