WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
COURSE TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
Typography
ART 220
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME
CONTACT
Susan Poulakis
susan.poulakis@sunywcc.edu
917 -531-1896
MEETING DAY/TIME
LOCATION
Wed/8:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
AAB 403
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Well-designed typography is essential to any visual medium that uses text, including video, film,
print publication, and the web. This course is an in depth exploration of type as form. Students
begin with a close study of letterforms followed by projects that explore basic principles of
typography such as hierarchy & alignment, visual sequences, and grid systems. This course is
essential for students interested in pursuing a career in graphic design.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this class, you should be able to:
1.
Conceive and create typographic compositions that employ basic design principles using
Adobe InDesign.
2.
Identify and evaluate basic components of typographic design, including parts of letters
and text elements
3.
Prepare multiple-page documents for professional production
4.
Modify your designs based on evaluation and critique
5.
Present your finished works in a professional manner
6.
Discuss your work, the work of your colleagues, and that of other designers, using
appropriate vocabulary
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Projects
1.
TYPOGRAPHY JOURNAL (ONGOING) images via digital camera
2.
TYPE PROTOTYPE see pages 78-79
3.
WORD COMPOSITIONS
4.
TEXT COMPOSITION
5.
GRID COMPOSITION
6.
POSTER DESIGN
7.
TYPE SPECIMEN
See Course Projects packet for details on each assignment.
Critiques
Group or individual critiques will occur regularly throughout the semester.
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WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
Critiques will be conducted as open, informal forums where you will discuss and comment upon
other students' work in a constructive, critical, and intelligent manner. Some critiques will be
verbal; some will be written. There will be final critiques of finished work for all projects, as well
as group critiques of preliminary work for certain projects throughout the semester.
I expect you to openly question your fellow students on their decisions in regard to concept,
design, and presentation. Be prepared to answer for your work - no decision is made arbitrarily,
and I want to know why you did what you did, and to explain why you believe your design is
effective and appropriate to your concept.
You should have your work finished and ready for show promptly at the beginning of class on
critique days. Work that is turned in late will be dropped one full letter grade (A work becomes a
B; B work becomes a C, etc).
An individual critique of your semester’s work with the instructor will be scheduled for the final
week of class.
Exams/quizzes
Quizzes are multiple choice and cover assigned readings & course material; they will be given
unannounced throughout the semester.
Final exam: Last day of semester; see schedule.
Note: per college rules, all 3 credit courses must conduct a written Final Exam
Homework/Lab work
You will require approximately four hours of computer work per week in addition to limited class
lab time to complete the assignments. PCs and some Macs with appropriate software are available
on campus for your use in AAB 403, TEC 142 & 142A, TEC 25B. Lab hours are posted soon after
the start of each semester; check schedules and plan accordingly.
ASSESSMENT
Grades are determined on a 100-point scale

Projects 1-6
10 points each

Project 7
20 points

Final Exam (mandatory for 3 credit classes)
5 points

Quizzes
5 points

Extra credit may be earned for attending selected lectures or art-related events
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY

Assignments are due as stated above.

A final assignment consists of all assigned portions: sketches, rough drafts, and finished
compositions.

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Assignments turned in on time are graded for full credit. Late assignments will be
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
accepted for up to one week following the due dates; each day an assignment is late will
result in a drop of a letter grade.

Assignments will not be accepted beyond a week after the due dates listed above – do not
wait until the last week/day of class to turn in a semester’s worth of work.

Assignment extensions may be granted on an individual basis depending on extenuating
circumstances; it is your responsibility to let me know about such issues before or when
they occur, not several weeks after the fact.
TOPIC OUTLINE
Week 1 (1.23.13) LETTER
Introductions, Syllabus, Class trip information.
Lecture: font drawing game, letterform terminology
Demo: InDesign workspace
Project: Begin Typographic Journal (1)
Reading: Examine ANATOMY of type pgs. 36, 37. Come to next class prepared to discuss.
Week 2 (1.30.13) LETTER
Lecture: Typographic history, typeface terminology
Demo: InDesign drawing, shapes
Project: Type Prototype: examine pages 78, 79.
Reading: “Letter” section: up to and including pgs. 37.
Week 3 (2.6.13) WORD
Crit Type Prototype
Demo: InDesign working with text, letterspacing, kerning
Project: Word compositions, Typographic Journal (2)
Reading: up to page 83 (finish the Letter chapter.)
Look for an example of hand-rendered type for journal inclusion.
Week 4 (2.13.13) WORD
Pre-critique: Word compositions
Project: Complete Word compositions
Reading: “Text” pp. 87-107
Week 5 (2.20.13) TEXT
Lecture: Text terminology
Demo: InDesign leading, alignment, special characters
Project: Text composition, Typographic Journal (3)
Reading; Finish “Text” chapter.
Week 6 (2.27.13) TEXT
Critique: Text Compositions
Project: Complete Text composition
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WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
Reading: “Grid” pp. 151-177
Week 7 (3.6.13) GRID
Lecture: Grid
Project: Grid, Typographic Journal (4)
Reading: “Grid” pp. 177- end of chapter
Week 8 (3.13.13) HIERARCHY
Lecture: Hierarchy, poster design
Project: Poster
NO Class 3.20.13 College closed for Spring Break
Week 9 (3.27.13) STUDIO SESSION
TYPE SPECIMEN BOOK
Critique: Poster, Typographic Journal (5)
Demo: Indesign master pages, working with documents
Project: Type Specimen book concepts
Week 10 (4.3.13) Also, last day to withdraw from courses.) TYPE SPECIMEN BOOK
Critique: Poster, Typographic Journal (5)
Demo: Indesign master pages, working with documents
Project: Type Specimen book concepts
Week 11 (4.10.13) TYPE SPECIMEN BOOK
Critique: Type Specimen book concepts
Lecture: Print Production processes, terminology
Project: Type Specimen book sample spreads, Typographic Journal (6)
Week 12 (4.17.13) STUDIO SESSION
Project: Type Specimen book, full-scale dummy, Typographic Journal (7)
Week 13 (4.24.13) STUDIO SESSION
Critique: Type Specimen book dummy
Project: Type Specimen book, final
Week 14 (5.1.13) STUDENT SHOW WEEK/STUDIO SESSION
Critique: Type Specimen book
Week 15 (5.8.13) individual reviews
Critique: bring all projects from class to individual review
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WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
Finals Week: Final Exam (5.15.13) is mandatory for all 3 credit courses. You will be asked to
identify typefaces based on classification (e.g. Modern, or Old Style) and multiple choice on type
terms.
Note: This is a general schedule and is subject to change. I will keep you posted on any changes
to the weekly topics.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Thinking with Type, (with companion web site) Ellen Lupton, 2nd Edition. ISBN 978-56898-969-3
ADDL. SITES
Class website: http://characterswelcome.weebly.com
Another source: Designing With Type and Designing with Type/5 sites by James Craig.
REQUIRED/MATERIALS & SUPPLIES

digital storage You will be given general storage space on the campus server for your
work during this semester. This server is NOT SECURE. To follow good digital practices,
you must always back up your work. For this you will need to purchase removable media
of some sort. Methods include external, portable USB drives or firewire hard drives. Most
campus computers are not configured for burning files to CD

digital output you will be required to get your artwork out of the computer for each of the
assignments. This means purchasing output media to print on, for example: photo quality
ink-jet paper, gloss paper, watercolor paper, transparencies, iron-on transfer sheets.

course portfolio you will be expected to save original works and copies of work for easy
reference and access throughout the semester as well as for your final review. A binder
with clear plastic insert sleeves is highly recommended for this purpose.

paper/board good-quality printing paper, including colored paper, cardstock, or other
papers beyond the standard white proofing bond; two-ply black mat board, tracing paper.

sketchbook or notebook for taking notes, sketching, and developing visual ideas will be
necessary throughout the course

sketching pens Sharpie fine point and ultra fine point black markers are recommended; a
soft pencil for type game and quick thumbnails.

cutting tools X-acto knife & blades (no. 11 or no. 2) and metal straightedge.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Westchester Community College provides services for students with documented learning
disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, visual, hearing, and other health
impairments. To learn more about what support services are available visit:
http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/disabilities.htm
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WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SPRING 13 | TYPOGRAPHY
http://www.sunywcc.edu/student_services/disability_services/factsheet.htm
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This class will be conducted in accordance with the college's Student Code of Conduct and basic
standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty
will not be tolerated.
For more information about Westchester Community College's Academic Honesty Policy, visit:
http://www.sunywcc.edu/dep/english/plag/honesty.htm
Visit Westchester Community College's plagiarism homepage for an excellent overview of
plagiarism, and tips on how to avoid it:
http://www.sunywcc.edu/dep/english/plag/plagindex1.htm
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLASSROOM CONDUCT POLICY
In the interest in establishing and maintaining an appropriate learning environment, maximizing
the educational benefits to all students, maintaining an atmosphere of safety and comfort, and
clarifying the faculty and students’ expectation of classroom conduct, the College has established
the following:
1. Students are expected to arrive on time. If you are unavoidably late and the instructor permits
you to enter, please do so quietly and seat yourself quickly.
2. Students are expected to refrain from participating in personal conversations during class.
3. Every student is expected to focus on the class lesson. Please refrain from doing other class
work, reading non-course materials, eating, drinking, or sleeping.
4. Students are expected to use appropriate language at all times and be polite to one another.
5. Students are expected to remain seated during class, unless the student has notified the
instructor or case of an emergency.
6. Students must turn off all cell phones and beepers prior to the beginning of class.
7. Visitors are only allowed with permission from the instructor.
8. Students are expected to refrain from packing up and preparing to leave until the instructor has
dismissed the class. It is the instructor’s responsibility to dismiss the class at the proper time.
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