Digital Type Design

SYLLABUS

The course aims to analyze the methodology and train the students in digital type design for use in DTP systems and internet applications. The exercises will focus on learning to operate specialized programs for font design and character codification through the Unicode standard for Latin and Non-Latin character sets.

Theoretical module

1. i) The history of the Greek type design development. In particular, the design directions that were introduced in each historical period with emphasis on the technological, national and educational parameters which informed the chosen paths in the European publishing development.
2. ii) Analytical study of many historical and modern examples for the various structural componets which form the Greek and Latin alphabet. Specifically, their similarities vs their differences, the degree of stroke weight and inclination, the intended applications of the typeface and criteria like rhythmic modulation of letter sequences, positive and negative space of each character etc..

iii) The design methodology for the construction of a typeface from the initial concept, to the formulation of a design approach in terms of aesthetics, historical reference and application for publishing uses.

1. iv) Training on the specialized software for the drawing and engineering procedures of a digital typeface with the use of lectures-presentations, discussion on emblematic paradigms and commentary on major theoretical treatises.

Workshop module

In the workshop the students will implement the broader and specific issues analyzed during the lectures and studied from their research in the Bibliography. The first 6 weeks of the course the participants will complete a specified number of exercises aiming to improve their design awareness and dexterity skills required. The remaining of the course will be devoted to the development and completion of each student’s idea for a typeface. This will help them to familiarize with the procedures, the increasingly complicated technical stages and focus on the demands of a personal goal. Each week the students display their work and participate in a discussion between them that expands their inspiration, debating skills and analytical abilities

ΣΥΝΙΣΤΩΜΕΝΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ

Greek sources

1. Bringhurst, R., 2001, Στοιχεία της τυπογραφικής τέχνης, ΠΕΚ (Εύδοξος).
2. Ματθιόπουλος, Γ., 2009, Ανθολόγιο ελληνικής τυπογραφίας. Συνοπτική ιστορία της τέχνης του εντύπου ελληνικού βιβλίου από τον 15ο έως τον 20ό αιώνα, ΠΕΚ.
3. Μαστορίδης, Κλ., 1999, Casting the Greek Newspaper, Θεσσαλονίκη, ΕΛΙΑ.
4. Μαστορίδης, Κλ., 2006, Χάραξη και χύτευση των ελληνικών τυπογραφικών στοιχείων στον 19ο και 20ό αιώνα, ΥΦΕΝ, τόµος 6, Θεσσαλονίκη.
5. Εταιρεία Ελληνικών Τυπογραφικών Στοιχείων, 1998, Τα ελληνικά γράμματα: Από την σκληρή πέτρα στον σκληρό δίσκο, Διεθνές Συνέδριο, Μ. Μακράκης (επιμ.), Γαλλικό Ινστιτούτο Αθηνών.
6. Scholderer, V., 1927, Greek Printing Types. 1465-1927, Εκδόσεις Τυποφιλία, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1995.

   ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

International Sources

1. Bowman, J.H., 1998. Greek printing types in Britain, from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century, Τypophilia, Thessaloniki.
2. Berry, J. (intr.), 2003, Type & Typography: Highlights from Matrix. Mark Batty Publ.
3. Burke, C., 1998. Paul Renner: The Art of Typography. ‎Princeton Architectural Press.
4. Coles, S., 2012. The Anatomy of Type : a Graphic Guide to 100 typefaces. Harper Design, Νέα Υόρκη.
5. Dwiggins, W.A., 1940. WAD to RR: A Letter about Designing Type. Harvard College Library.
6. Friedl, F. – Ott, N. – Stein, B., 1998, Typo: When, Who, How, Konemann Publ.
7. Goudy, F.W., 1977. Typologia: studies in type design & type making, with comments on the invention of typography, the first types, legibility, and fine printing. University of California Press.
8. Goudy, F., 1952, The Alphabet and Elements of Lettering, Dover Publ.
9. Kinross, R., 2015. Modern Typography: an essay in critical history. Hyphen Press, Λονδίνο.
10. Kindel, E. (Ed.), 2018. Typeform Dialogues, 2nd ed. Hyphen Press, Λονδίνο.
11. Korger, H., 1992, Handbook of Type and Lettering, Design Press.
12. Leonidas, G. (2018) «Enabling modernity: innovation in modulated Greek typefaces, 1998-2007».Philological Encounters. 3 (4). pp. 412-440. 
13. Leonidas, G. (2018), Designing Greek Typefaces.org
14. Nemeth, T., 2017. Arabic Type making in the english world: the influence of technology on the form of Arabic Design, 1908-1933.
15. Majoor, M., 2004. Typotheque: My Type Design Philosophy.
16. McNeil, P., 2017. The visual history of type. Laurence King Publishing, London.
17. Morison, S., 1956, A Tally of Types, Cambridge Univ. Press
18. Mastoridis, K., 1999. Casting the greek newspaper: a study in the morphology of the ephemeris from its origins until the introduction of mechanical setting. ΕΛΙΑ, Θεσσαλονίκη.
19. Smeijers, F., Kinross, R., 1996. Counterpunch: Making Type in the Sixteenth Century, Designing Typefaces Now. Hyphen Press.
20. Tracy, W., 1986. Letters of Credit: a View of Type Design. Gordon Fraser, London.
21. Unger, G., 2018. Theory of Type Design. nai010.

Related periodicals:

1. archivesofdesign.gr
2. Hyphen (περιοδικό Τυπογραφίας)
3. Eye magazine
4. Visible language
5. Emigre

   MODULE CONTENT