PROGRAM: Digital Communication Department
COURSE NUMBER/NAME: ARTC 2317 – Typographic Design
CLASS NUMBER & SEMESTER: 58650 - Fall 2010
CREDIT 3 (2 lecture, 4 lab)/ 16 weeks/ 64 hours per semester
WEB ENHANCED COMPONENT: 32 hours
WHERE: West Loop Campus - Room 131
WHEN: Wednesday/5:30 – 9:30 pm
Instructor: Margo Reece
Telephone: 713-718-7903
Email: margo.reece@hccs.edu
Office hours: Wed – 4:3Opm–5:30
Office location: West Loop Campus, room 139B
Concerning office hours: Making an appointment to meet with me is always preferred. You
may drop in during office hours but be aware that another student may have an appointment
scheduled during the time you choose to drop in and you may have to wait, or come back at
another time. Please be sure you keep the appointment you make and if you cannot, let me
know via email 24-hours in advance so I can schedule another student during that time (this is
simple professional courtesy and I will act in kind). If your question does not require discussion
you may contact me via email with any course specific question or concern that you may have.
Remember that the syllabus, the schedule and the assignment handouts are your friend—read
carefully. Those documents are very detailed and contain most of the information you need to
meet course requirements.
Course Description
The exploration of problems in typographic design including computer generated letterforms as
elements of design. Topics include, the theory and techniques of traditional, contemporary, and
experimental typography for advertising and editorial usage.
Prerequisites
ARTC 1325, Introduction to Computer Graphics
ARTC 1302, Digital Imaging I (Adobe Photoshop)
ARTC 1305, Basic Graphic Design
ARTC 1353, Computer Illustration (Adobe Illustrator)
*Pre or Co-requisite: ARTC 2313, Digital Publishing II, Adobe InDesign
EDUC 1301 – page 2
Course Goal
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of typography. Students will become
proficient with typography’s basics: type terminology, type anatomy, type classifications and
proper selection of type, type setting and typographic hierarchy in the layout. Students will
increase their knowledge of, and sensibility toward, typographic details in order to
communicate more professionally with type. Exercises, in combination with visual
problems, provide students the opportunity to develop and reinforce typographic skill.
Student Learning Outcomes
(SLO)
Learning objectives
Students will:
1. utilize digital font technologies
2. understand the distinction between typefaces, fonts, and families…
3. demonstrate skill in recognizing and naming type anatomy and identifying typefaces
4. recognize classifications of type, their function and application
5. make appropriate design decisions concerning typefaces, x-heights, point sizes, leading,
line length, etc. for type setting that supports legibility and readability
6. utilize a visual hierarchy in page design with type
7. understand and utilize simple grids
8. utilize typographic refinements…special characters, typographic punctuation, kerning,
proportional indentions, consistent alignments, etc.
9. demonstrate creativity and conceptual problem solving (ideas) utilizing typography as an
primary element of design and communication
10. practice and strengthen interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
11. demonstrate the ability to meet deadlines
12. add to an effective portfolio.
SCANS or Core Curriculum Statement and Other Standards
Credit: 3 (__ lecture/__ lab)
“Personal Qualities” F14, 15, 16,17 (note the following definition) – The student will display a
high standard of optimism in approaching and completing tasks. Throughout the course, the
student will exert a substantial, sustained level of effort and persevere toward goal attainment,
work to become proficient at doing tasks by setting high standards, paying attention to details,
working cheerfully, even when assigned a challenging task, and REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE
CLASS AND COURSE CONTENT.
EDUC 1301 – page 3
F1 Reading, F2 Writing, F5 Listening, F7 Creative, F8 Decision Making, F9 Problem Solving, F10
Seeing Things in the Minds Eye
16-WEEK CALENDAR
FALL 2010 CALENDAR - TRADITIONAL 16-WEEK SEMESTER
August 21 Saturday
Saturday Registration ( 9am - 1pm )
August 27 Friday
Last Day for 100% Refund
August 28 Saturday
Saturday Registration ( 9am - 1pm )
August 28 Saturday
Classes Begin - Drop/Add/Swap Fee ($15.00) Begins
August 28 - September 14
70% Refund
August 31 Tuesday
Registration Ends Last Day to Add/Swap Classes
September 2 Thursday
Last Day to Drop Classes Online (After this date students can only drop in person
or by letter, see class schedule.)
September 6 Monday
Offices Closed - Labor Day Holiday
September 10 Friday
Official Date of Record
September 15 - 20
25% Refund
October 15 Friday
Priority Deadline for Spring 2011 Financial Aid Award
October 15 Friday
Priority Deadline for Fall Completion of Degrees or Certificates
November 18 Thursday
Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals - 4:30 pm
November 24 Wednesday
No Night Classes before Thanksgiving
November 25 - 28
Offices Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1 Wednesday
Veteran’s Advanced-Pay Application Deadline for Spring Session
December 12 Sunday
Instruction Ends
December 13 - 19
Final Examinations
December 19 Sunday
Semester Ends
December 20 Monday
Grades Due by - 12:00 Noon
December 24 Friday
Grades Available to Students
December 20 - December 31
Offices Closed - Christmas Break
Semester Schedule/ Fall 2010 TBA
Instructor: Margo Reece
A schedule guideline only—which may be altered at the instructor’s discretion!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDUC 1301 – page 4
Instructional Methods
Class time will be spent in discussion/practice/critique formats. Web-enhanced components are
designed to complement or support visual projects. Other methods may be used such as
Internet research, presentations, testing, guest lecturers, video, films, or field trips.
Student Assignments
Assignments have been developed that will enhance your learning and contribute to your
understanding of visual communication. Students are required to successfully complete the
following:
Web Enhanced Content Exercises
The web-enhanced components are designed to complement and support the visual projects.
Submitting Exercises
1. Do not attempt to turn in work to the instructor prior to the due date. Assignments will
not be accepted in advance of the class due date.
2. Written assignments must be typed (unless otherwise instructed). Be sure you follow
any formatting guidelines given.
3. Multiple pages submitted on paper (unless otherwise instructed) must be stapled
together in the upper left corner of the pages (no paper clips). Unstapled multiple-page
assignments will be returned to you and docked –10 points off your earned grade for
being late
4. Any assignment turned in for grading without a name will receive a “0”(zero). On
written assignments your name should be in the upper right corner, on visual projects
the lower right followed by the copyright symbol and the year (if the work is original).
5. All written work will be due on paper and/ or electronic form. Note: Failure to turn in
printed files on paper and/or electronic files as assigned (color or B&W) will result in a
grade of “0” (zero)!
6. Late assignment requirements…
a.
Late work will only be accepted in class exactly one week from the due date.
Work must be turned in to the instructor at the beginning of class, the following
week (when your name is called as the roll is taken). NO EXCEPTIONS!
b.
Late work meeting that deadline will be penalized by a reduction of 10 points for
exercises/web enhanced and 20 points for visual projects depending upon
applicable criteria as defined below in “Project Critique Days”.
c.
Work turned in late will be returned to you late.
Late work not meeting the requirements & deadline as defined above will earn a “0” (zero).
*See below “Class Project, Presentation, Exam Days” for additional information.
Assessments
No makeup of quizzes will be permitted without a dated, documented in writing and verifiable
medical or personal emergency for the day(s) missed. In that event, the makeup will be taken
on the student’s own time during lab under supervision, not during class.
EDUC 1301 – page 5
Visual Projects
Concerning Project Critique Days
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


Project critique days are to be treated as an “exam” day. Attendance is mandatory! Please
do not schedule doctor’s appointments, trips out of town, etc., on those days!
If you are present but your project work is not complete and ready for critique—deduct 10
points from your earned grade. You will have one week (the following class meeting to turn
in your work). If you do not meet that deadline you will have earned a”0” (zero) for that
project/presentation.
You are required to present your own work in critique —If your project is complete but you
are not present in class to present it—deduct an additional 10 points from your grade.
In critiques students will be asked to make observations about other’s work. Verbal or
written participation may be required. Polite but honest objectivity is essential to
productive feedback.
Instructional Materials (COME TO CLASS PREPARED)
1. TEXT: A Typographic Workbook Second Edition by Kate Clair and Cynthia Busic-Snyder
ISBN # 0-471-69690-0 New $26.40/ used $20.00 or less! @Amazon.com/
Pub. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (1-800-225-5945, X23987)
Optional: Adobe Type Library Reference Book published by Peachpit Press, (3rd edition),
ISBN # 0321544722, $29.69 or less @ Amazon.com, (2nd edition), ISBN # 0-321-13646-2
Supplementary books you should have include current reference books on…
Handling fonts in your operating system.
CS4 Adobe Illustrator and InDesign (the manuals are fine).
2. Portable media drive, USB or Firewire Drive (lots of Gigs!).
3. A ream of good quality 24 lb., LASER paper. NOT multipurpose, NOT copy paper.
4. A transparent type ruler (plastic is fine).
5. A small stapler and staples.
6. Notepaper in class everyday for taking notes.
7. Pens/pencils in class everyday for taking notes.
8. Three-ring binder to keep handouts, completed assignments, exercises and your notes.
9. One ream of LASER PAPER, 24 lb. (NOT multipurpose, NOT copy paper).
10. A word processing application (like Microsoft WORD) for data entry.
11. B & W printing must be done on a B & W laser printer.
12. Color printing will be required in the course.
a.
If you have a color printer and paper you can print at home.
EDUC 1301 – page 6
b.
c.
Print color at a service bureau
Color print in the labs during lab time, NOT during class.
HCC Policy Statement - ADA
Services to Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing,
etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services
Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized
to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
For questions, please contact District ADA Coordinator Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the
Disability Counselor at your college.
Southwest College ADA Counselor - Dr. Becky Hauri - 713.718.7910
To visit the ADA Web site, please visit: www.hccs.edu
Then click Future students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information.
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has
been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students.
Instructors are responsible for measuring each student's achievements and also for ensuring
that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has
teaching, grading and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the College’s
policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with
an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are responsible for
conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties,
and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student
accused of scholastic dishonesty. “Scholastic dishonesty”: includes, but is not limited to,
cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another students’ test paper;
 Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test that has not been administered;
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation
of that work in one’s own written or visual work offered for credit.
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written or
visual work offered for credit.
EDUC 1301 – page 7
Repercussions for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular
assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the
College System. (See the Student Handbook!)
HCC Policy Statements
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best
way to succeed in this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in
student success is attendance. Simply put, going to class greatly increases your ability to
succeed. You are expected to attend all lecture and labs regularly. You are responsible for
materials covered during your absences. Class attendance is checked daily. Although it is your
responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you
for excessive absences.
If you are not attending class, you are not learning the information. The information that is
covered in class is vital for your success. Students may be dropped from a course after
accumulating absences in excess of 12.5% hours of instruction. The eight hours of class time
(two night classes or four day classes) would include any total classes missed or for excessive
tardiness or leaving class early.
You may decide NOT to come to class for whatever reason. As an adult making the decision not
to attend, you do not have to notify the instructor prior to missing a class. However, if this
happens too many times, you may suddenly find that you are no longer in the class.
If you miss any class, including the first week, you are responsible for all material missed.
INFORMATION COVERED IN CLASS WILL NOT BE REPEATED FOR TARDY OR ABSENT
STUDENTS! If you must miss class it is your responsibility to make arrangements with another
student to take notes for you over what you missed.
Class attendance frequently equals class success.
Punctuality
Keep in mind that being late or leaving class early are missed hours of instruction. Class begins
at the time indicated in the schedule. You will be counted late if you are not in the classroom to
answer the roll when your name is called. Being late to class is rude, disruptive to your fellow
students and the instructor, and reduces your class participation time.
 There will be no repetition of information for tardy students.
 Being late or leaving before class is dismissed four (4) times will equate to one absence.
 If you come in late to class do not disrupt the class—come in quietly!
 Being late 30 minutes or more to class will equal and be counted as one absence.
 You may not leave class until you are dismissed.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course
EDUC 1301 – page 8
prior to the final date of withdrawal. Before, you withdraw from your course; please take the
time to meet with the instructor to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. The instructor
may be able to provide you with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course.
Your success is very important. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law
limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout
their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early
Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a
class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your
responsibility to visit with a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be
available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in
class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you MUST contact a HCC counselor or your
professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR
to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines
vary each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration
calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC
counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response
time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor. Do
not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you
do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class
as your final grade.
Repeat Course Fee
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed
classes. To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice,
are required to pay extra tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students
to pass their courses and to graduate. Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate
to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course
withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor
as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills,
attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might
be available.
Classroom Behavior
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and
maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Your instructor takes this responsibility
very seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for
him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs
of your classmates and assist your instructor achieve this critical goal.
EDUC 1301 – page 9
Use of Camera and/or Recording Devices
As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be
respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow
students and instructor, you will turn off your phone and other electronic devices, and will not
use these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor.
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or
testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable
accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information
regarding reasonable accommodations.
Concerning Cell Phones and Beepers
Cell phones and beepers must be turned OFF before entering the class. Cell phones or beepers
may not be utilized in the classroom at any time. It is extremely rude to talk on the phone in a
classroom—never answer or talk on the phone in the classroom. You may check your messages
during the allocated break time outside of the classroom. If your phone rings during class I will
deduct 5 points from your project grade for that unit. If you answer or talk on a cell phone in
the classroom I will deduct 10 points from your project grade for that unit. Note: If you have a
real emergency and feel you must take a call, quietly leave the room before answering.
Concerning MP3 Players
MP3 players (ipods, etc.), or earphones of any sort are not permitted during class time.
Instructor Requirements
As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:
 Provide a course syllabus and schedule
 Provide the grading scale/formula as to how student grades are determined
 Facilitate an effective learning environment through lectures, discussion, class activities
assessments, and outside assignments
 Provide a description of projects, presentations and assignments
 Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness, late work, test
make-up (if permitted)
 Arrange to meet with individual students as needed.
Student Requirements
To be successful in this class, it is the student’s responsibility to:
 Attend class regularly and participate in class by active listening, discussion, asking
questions and taking notes
 Read and comprehend the assigned readings in the textbook. Use the text as an ongoing
resource throughout the semester.
 Study for quizzes.
EDUC 1301 – page 10


Complete all exercises, assignments and projects
Keep copies of all course handouts, your completed work and class notes.
Grading
Your instructor will conduct assessments that you can use to determine how successful you are
at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and skills) outlined in the
syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, you are encouraged to reflect
on how you study and prepare for each class. Your instructor welcomes a dialogue on what you
discover and may be able to assist you in finding resources on campus that will improve your
performance.
Grading Scale
90 - 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D
Below 60 = F
Grading Percentages
Exercises, and non-visual work: web-research, notebook maintenance, quizzes
Visual Projects
30%
70%
From your instructor: One reason I teach this course and why I think typography matters.
Type is all around us, in everything we read, from product packaging, to billboards, from
greeting cards, to books, to magazines and even graffiti. The early experience of learning to
read and write the alphabet provides the basis for the majority of our learning experiences and
our ability to communicate with others.
Type and printed matter communicate not only information we need or want, but influence our
buying decisions daily. Type and the way it appears affects the selection of products we
purchase whether it be which books we choose to read, which candy bar appeals to us in the
vending machine, which toothpaste convinces us that it will make our teeth the whitest—extra
whitening power! Movie titles prepare us for horror movies or romantic comedies hinting at
what we are about to see. Much of this “selling” process goes on below our awareness, which is
why the art and craft of typography is mostly transparent to the average person. The fact that
type frequently passes before our eyes unnoticed does not reduce its importance and influence
in our daily lives but does indicate seamless communication.
This course will focus on the nuts and bolts of improving your visual communication relating to
all things text/type. Typesetting more professionally will go a long way in improving your
graphic design.
EDUC 1301 – page 11
This is not a software course. You are required to have the software course prerequisites and
already have proficiency in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.