From pen to movable type
Teaching typography as an experience
Typography is an essential foundation for graphic design and information design. The teaching of this subject aims to set background knowledge on aspects such as the production and use of letterforms. In this article, we present an approach to teaching typography based on information design as an instrument for understanding and analyze results of students’ production of print posters during classes. We designed an integrative activity that sought to make them experience different facets of typography, from its relation with calligraphy to the sculptural nature of printing types and digital vector drawing on the computer, with an active learning approach.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Active learning for design
- 3.Topics in typography at an undergraduate level
- 4.Class planning
- 5.Teaching typography as an experience
- 5.1Pen making and calligraphy practice
- 5.2Vector drawing and refinement
- 5.3Machining process
- 5.4Typesetting and printing with movable types
- 6.Final remarks
- Acknowledgements
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References