Week#1 Activities

The Typography class will begin by looking at the history of the alphabet. This class will focus on the beauty of the letterform itself and you will not be allowed to distort/stretch the type horizontally or vertically. Type is designed proportionally and by distorting/stretching the integrity and beauty of the type is destroyed. By the end of this semester I hope you will begin to appreciate the beauty of each letterform.

1. Read
• Type Rules text: Chpt.#1 Brief History of Type AND
• Chapter #2: From Metal to Mac: Understanding Font Technology
• Origins of the Alphabet
• Timeline
• Basic Type Information and Vocabulary
• History of Typography

2. Assignments
• Moodle Profile
• Historical Styles Paper

RESOURCES
• Hot Metal type , moveable type, type anatomy and more.
• Paper, Leather, Clay and Stone
If you are not familiar with Adobe Indesign, review the videos at
• Learn Adobe Indesign CS4
• A glossary of typographic terms (Adobe resource page)
• Typography glossary (About.com)