COURSE NAME
Abecedarium: A Cabinet of Typographic Curiosities
DESN 280-41, 3 credits
Kansas City Art Institute
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Interested in letters, alphabets, syllabaries, or writing systems around the globe? In this course, we explore all things typographic from dropcaps to lettering to type design. We explore the back shelves of used bookstores, visit archives and libraries, look at painted signage, and observe how visual language is read, seen, felt and heard through typography. Through a series of prompts, we study the fundamentals and principles of typography supported by highlights from design histories and contemporary practices. We discuss the differences between lettering (drawing words) and making a font (type design). You will be exposed to a variety of forms of calligraphy and drawing letterforms in order to integrate design systems processes and type design practices into your work.
Abecedarium: A Cabinet of Typographic Curiosities
DESN 280-41, 3 credits
Kansas City Art Institute
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Interested in letters, alphabets, syllabaries, or writing systems around the globe? In this course, we explore all things typographic from dropcaps to lettering to type design. We explore the back shelves of used bookstores, visit archives and libraries, look at painted signage, and observe how visual language is read, seen, felt and heard through typography. Through a series of prompts, we study the fundamentals and principles of typography supported by highlights from design histories and contemporary practices. We discuss the differences between lettering (drawing words) and making a font (type design). You will be exposed to a variety of forms of calligraphy and drawing letterforms in order to integrate design systems processes and type design practices into your work.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
— Develop an understanding of the connections and differences between calligraphy, lettering, and typeface design.
SYLLABI FROM EACH ITERATION OF THE COURSE
Fall 2022 ︎︎︎
Visual excerpts from class lectures
Linda Hall Library Special Collections with Jamie Cumby.
Field Trip, Fall 2022
Field Trip, Fall 2022
Studio visit with Calvert Guthrie at the Kansas City Center for the Ink & Paper Arts
Field Trip, Fall 2022
Field Trip, Fall 2022
Examples of Student Work and Process
Initial calligraphic explorations after introduction to pen and nib processes.
Various students.
Various students.
Calligraphy practice and applied composition by student Adam Lock.
In-class exercise:
Water mop calligraphy
Water mop calligraphy
Process work by student Olivia Scheible
Process work by student Rebecca Wagner
Process work by student Rebecca Wagner