Instructor
Philip DiBello
philip@noideas.biz
Course Description
This course will provide an emphasis on developing your sensitivity to typography. We will discuss when and why certain typographic choices feel relevant and how they are employed in your design. We will do this through both restrictive and open-ended assignments. Projects will be a combination of experimentation and formal exercises with a focus on typographic systems. Together we will discover the details of macro and micro typography.
Central discussion themes are theory, dialogue, process and personal practice. The goal is to inform your personal opinion about design. Classes are a combination of critique, in-class workshops, and one-on-one meetings with occasional guest lectures and critiques.
Throughout the semester readings will be assigned along with each project. They are central to your comprehension of the task at hand. Read them carefully and do your best to challenge the thoughts written within the essay.
Student Expectations
This course is constructed for a higher level junior design student. It assumes you already have knowledge of fundamental design and typographic principals. Some assignments will be open ended. You must take initiative in every project and make it your own. You’re expected to engage in critique, both by giving and receiving feedback.
Your level of effort will dictate your success in this class. You must be disciplined and self-motivated. To get good work here (or anywhere) you must put in the time and effort. This is a space to discuss graphic design in it’s purest form. You’re here for yourself. Not to please your peers, or your professors, or other outside sources. In this classroom we will intentionally subvert capitalist “real world” concerns.
Attendance is critically important to the success of your assignments and your letter grade. You’re required to be in class at it’s start time. Once you walk into the classroom please display your work before you do anything else. It should be hung on the wall, uploaded to the class computer, or set on a table and prepped for presentation. Take pride in your work and display it properly, hang things straight and in an orderly grid, etc.
Attendance Policy
At SVA the individual faculty member determines the number of acceptable absences, if any. My policy is as follows: you’re given one absence without repercussion. Missing a second class is an automatic C. If you miss three classes you will be withdrawn from the course, no exceptions. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Class starts promptly at 3:20, and the classroom door will be closed at 3:30. If the door is closed you are not permitted to enter and your tardiness will be counted as an absence.
Class Schedule & Critique
Critique’s are our way of helping you improve your work. It is an exercise in explaining your ideas and understanding how others react to what you’ve made. Critique’s are only successful if you are willing to participate. If you feel there is not enough room to speak your mind, please make it known. If you are struggling with critique, read the
following explanation. Thank you Mitch Goldstein, Lauren McCarthy, Sasha Portis and Sophie Auger for influencing this style of critiques.
3:20-3:30
Attendance. Hang, display or upload your work
3:30-3:50
Review assignment next steps and materials
3:50-4:10
reading review (if applicable)
4:10-6:10
Critique and project review
Group Critique 1—We go around the room one by one, without an explanation beforehand from you, the maker. The purpose of this is to get a cold read from your peers (and to let the work speak for itself).
Group Critique 2—We go around the room one by one, with an explanation beforehand from you, the maker. The purpose of this is to practice talking about your own work in front of a group of people.
Studio Critique—We meet at
No Ideas Studio for either one-on-one or small group crits, using our library of books as a teaching tool.
Small Groups—We discuss work in small groups of 3 to 4 with minimal instructor participation.
One-on-One—Crits with instructor during an assigned time. Typically towards the end of a project.
Speed Crit—You discuss in pairs for 5–7 minutes with everyone in the class.
Written Feedback—You sit silently and are assigned one of your peers work to write a thoughtful response about their approach.
Grading Breakdown
Grades are a combination of the quality of your work, class participation and progress. Simply showing up will not make you pass the course. You must be prepared for the days lesson, completing any homework or readings assigned and ready to discuss. Completing all assigments and readings awards you a C. Your course grade includes participation (20%), reading discussions (5%), and assignments (75%). Participation considers critiques and the ability to speak to your work. Reading discussion means you actively read the reading in question and shared your point of view in the discussion. Assignment completion considers you delivering a final project, and my review of how successful the project was from a formal, conceptual and technical (digital / physical craft) standpoint.
A
Your work is of exceptional quality and reflects mastery of the material covered in class. Your class participation is outstanding. Your craft is impeccable and you find ways to push design and materiality. You consistently add something new to every project or push your capabilities. Your work steadily improved throughout the semester.
B
Your work is very good and satisfies the goals of the course. You participate in class discussion. Continue to refine your craft, and find those moments to take initiative in any given project and push it beyond it’s boundaries.
C
Your work meets the standards of the course. You could speak up or engage more often during class discussion. Be willing to take more chances with craft and production. You turn in assignments and did not miss more than one class.
F
Your work did not meet the requirements for this class. You did not complete all projects or missed 3 classes. You will receive no credit.
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Students found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty will fail the assignment for which an infraction is suspected and substantiated. More serious violations will be handled through the process enumerated in the SVA Handbook. Put simply, make sure your work is your own.
Students with Disabilities
SVA is committed to providing students with access to their academic programs and courses. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, you must register with Disability Resources by visiting sva.edu/disabilityresources and completing an online accommodation request. To be eligible for accommodations in this course, students must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from Disability Resources. For questions or assistance, please call Disability Resources at 212-592-2396, or visit the office: 340 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010, or email disabilityservices@sva.edu
Pronouns and Chosen Names
Students may indicate their pronouns and preferred/chosen first name through MyServices; this information will then appear on class rosters (go to "
Edit Personal Identity").
Please let me know the preferred name and pronouns by which you would like to be referred, if that information does not already appear on the roster. A student’s chosen name and pronouns should be respected at all times.
Suggested Books
Designing Books by Jost Hochuli ➺PDF
Detail In Typography by Jost Hochuli ➺PDF
The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli ➺PDF
The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst ➺PDF
Typographie: A Manual of Design by Emil Ruder
The New Typography by Jan Tschichold
Grid Systems / Raster Systeme by Josef Müller-Brockmann
The Typographic Desk Reference By Theo Rosendorf
Designing Type by Karen Cheng
Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees by Robert Irwin
Design and Crime (And Other Diatribes) by Hal Foster
Multiple Signatures by Michael Rock
Design as Art by Bruno Munari
Suggested Websites
Butterick’s Practical Typography
Don’t Fear the Internet: Basic HTML & CSS
The Elements of Typographic Style (Web)
Programming Design Systems
Type Resources
Classics
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ITC
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Monotype
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Font Shop
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Linotype
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URW++
Foundries & Independent Type Designers
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Commercial Type
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Klim Type Foundry (Kris Sowersby)
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Dinamo
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Grilli Type
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Swiss Typefaces
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Colophon Foundry
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Optimo
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Lineto
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Our Type
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Tobias Frere-Jones
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Hoefler & Co.
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Production Type
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Letters From Sweden
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Playtype
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Bold Monday
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A2 Type
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Open Foundry (decent, free fonts)
Newer Foundries & Contemporaries
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Radim Pesko
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Milieu Grotesque
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Schick Toikka
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Camelot Typefaces
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Medium Extra Bold
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Or Type
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Oh No Type Co.
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Future Fonts
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A is for
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Source Type
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Pyte
Newer Foundries & Contemporaries
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Radim Pesko
—
Milieu Grotesque
—
Schick Toikka
—
Camelot Typefaces
—
Medium Extra Bold
—
Or Type
—
Oh No Type Co.
—
Future Fonts
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A is for
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Source Type
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Pyte
Type Reviews & Resources
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Font Review Journal
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Typographica
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Fonts in Use
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Typewolf